The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01
CHAPTER I.



A drizzling rain had set in. This was
daubly uncomfortable by reason OF the
sharp winds that whisued around street
corners. and threatened 60 turn my UNI
lrciia wrong side outwaros. IA accor-
f.nce with my usual bad luck. 1 was the
..stc-ran-on" that night With the Their
momctcr AT thirty-four degrees. no pros
reets for a "bracer." tired and hungry
lot 10 speak OF a spicy note from the
managing editor that morning. because
of sensational scoop with which
another paper presented me. the situation
vas a gloomy one. TO add 20 my dis
comfort. the street lights in that portion
az the city went out a few minutes az
GER / left the editorial department. and
f was almost case Of feeling ones way
a.ong
Tramping onward through wind and
weather. I had passed Monroe street.
distant clock foiled 3. Scarcely had the
sound died away when a large, bulky
woman. with disheveicd hair, opened
the front door Of n modest two-story
brick house. and stood looking first one
nav. then the other. Standing in a flood
o. light. the expression Of her face was
PALE CHASTITY. AS i passed the door she
approached me, and asked abruptly:
Who are your
"A newspaper reporter said /, feeling
ttat for once / was in luck
For Heavens sake come along then;
lmebOdys killed Mr.. Lawton. and I'm
ITO by myself" she exclaimed. pitfuly.
This startling Information was followed
hv q dense silence. The woman glared
90 me while / thought Of the best means
o, utilizing this opportunity TO get even
With the contemporary who had caused
mo no little trouble that day. Nothing
hu, the quick painting breath Of my
newly made acquaintance was audible.
sle vas very much agitated. This was
natural She was Of the excitable kind.
She weighed something less than two
hundred, had q figure like a flour barrel.
arl triple chin to correspondence Of
l0.sa great good-naturei women whose
fr accomplishments are preparing a
beautiful meal and dOctoring cough.
10 took me six minutes TO inform the
Office that murder had come TO light.
and also % secure an officer. whom l
prevailed upon 70 keep his mouth shut
far am hour Having explained 10 the
hue-coat what | knew Of the case. a few
minutes later we three were making an
effort 20 open the mans door, which we
found boted on the inside. After several
efforts we succeeded. Sergeant ---- and
] bringing our united weight against IL.
The first object to attract our attention
was tHe form OF a man that lay with
the head resting against one of the legs
of q lounge. The man was Of a fine ply
sInun Pie micht have been fOrty-fve
years Of age. The eyes. of a dark hazel
nuf were overshadowed with heavy.
irregular hrows. Thin lips. slightly turned
down at the corners. and prominent lines
about the mouth. together with a hard,
worn look left the impression that the
unfortunate fellow had been sorely taxed
with some great passion.
There was considerable disorder in the
arrangement Of the furniture. small
table was overturned. Several papers
were scattered about the floor. and there
was evidence that a struggle had taken
place. But wheref was the other partici-
pant. This question crossed my mind
vm. ] took a hurried survey Of the
apartments. Some pretty etchings,
number " nick-nacks. and trinkets, in
Guiding cut-gass odor bottle. a puff
l.E tali "a dozen sachet bags, and other
trfes usually seen on woman's dresser,
suggested the theory that the occupant
Has man Of some taste.
lu the centre OF the room was a round
table upon which were several handsome
iy-houu1 books. some crumpled papers,
and the pages of "a manuscript careiessly
arranged. CHANGING over these ] found
hGllet with the words. My History"
written I'm prominent letters on the mar
Sin. s glimpse Of what appeared TO De
miniature portrait on the inside aroused
my curiosity. This j slipped into my
pocket. while the others bent over the
form Of the man.
On the throat could be distinctly seen
several bruises and finger prints. a froth
OFF The mouth and peculiar hue of the
face pointed 90 the conclusion that poison
lad been used. There was mysterious
somethrs about the case that fascinated
ue / longed for several hours TO pre-
pare story setting forth the details.
bat the minutes rolled by with distract
g rapidity. and after a brief interview
with the landlady 1 was in a cab thun-
lerlng down the street at a break-neck
rm for the office
ln twenty-five minutes my cOpy-more
tian a column in length-was in the com
Insrg-r0oms. Ii was my first big
".co,p." The thought OF my exclusive
Isat 900 the history. too, scarcely per
mitted me to secure an hours sleep that
morning.
UfrTR