The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-14
But Stuart was himself detected and

NSJSS~SA
gloomy.
He was aware that public sentiment
was against him, and he felt that he
could enjoy no rest or peace Of mind
while the awful shadow Of doubt rested
upon him.
After his release, Stuart called upon
Paxton.
The detective received Harland very
cordially, and the latter sold very ab-
ruptly:
part in the work you have undertaken
for my salvation. Tell me how to help
you. must do something"
Il understand how you feel, and !
honor you for your inability to rest
while others are laboring to unearth the
mystery in the solution Of which you
have a vital interest. But you are
novice in the business" answered Pax
ton.
But I have an interest to work aa
no other man can feel bound to-
True. And you would be more likely
than any one else to recognize the man
who exchanged overcoats with you, even
If he were disguised. Yoc might under
take q search for the villain on your own
account. Chance may favor you," said
Paxton.
He saw that the young man was in
clined to brood upon his misfortune,
and he wished to divert his mind, even
though he had no great hope for the
result.
rom that day Stuart Harland seemed
to have but one object in life, and that
one motive was 10 find the man whose
acquaintance he made on the train on
the night Of the murder.
Paxton had resolved to attempt to
take up the trail Of Marion Oakburn
and the suspected man from the house OF
the female fence" whose name, by the
way, was Mrs. Kits. Paxton, person
ally and through tho instrumentality OF
his agents, acquired a surprising fund
Of information regarding the woman.
Among other items, the detective
learned that Mrs. Kits had acquired q
modest frtune in the pursuit Of her
nefarious and illegal business. That
she was the owner Of real estate in the
neighborhood where she dwelt, and that
she employed rascally old drunken
lawyer by the name Of Ajax Crawley to
transact all her business.
The circumstance was discovered by
one OF Paxton,s agents that, on the last
night Of every month, Ajax Crawley was
in the habit Of visiting the old woman
and arranging her accounts for rent and
the like.
Mrs. Kits was one Of those women OF
whom the notorious Mother Mandel.
baum, the female fence" Of whose
career the newspapers at the time Of hel
exposure and fight from New York, gave
an account, is type.
It was Paxton's idea that Mrs. Kite
knew where Marion Oakburn and tho
man, whose escape the latter had favor.
ed, were now in hiding.
Believing this, his course was clearly
indicated.
He must win the old woman's conf.
dence.
To accomplish this, he had determined
to impersonate Ajax Crawley, and &C.
cordingly Paxton visited the rascally old
lawyer, who occupied dingy little den,
called by courtesy an Office, in the neigh.
borhood Of Mrs. Kits abode.
It was the detectives purpose to study
the character he meant to impersonate.
Paxton invented an excuse for his
call, and during the interview he closely
studied his man.
When he loft Crawle-'s Office the de.
tective carried with him sample OF
Ajax Crawley's peculiar chirography,
which no had appropriated, and in his
mind there was q mental picture OF his
living model.
Two days subsequently was the last
day OF the present month, and on that
afternoon, through the instrumentality
of one Of Paxton assistants, MIR. Aja9
Crawley, attorney at law, became help.
lessly intoxicated, and he was arrested
and locked up for the night.
Assured that the real Crawley could
not appear upon the scene to thwart
him and expose his ruse, Paxton dis.
guised himself to perfectly represent
Crawley, and set out for the den Of the
female fence"
He had appeared before half dozeb
of his agents in his Office, where his
marvellous disguise was completed, and
they had one and all assured him thai
there vas no possibility Of his identity
If such men, Experienced as they were
IN disguises and past masters OF all the
arts of their strange vocation, gave the
detective this assurance, he could have
little cause to fear the woman with
whom he had 10 deal, cunning though
she was.
Paxton arrived at Mrs. Kits house a.
about eight o'clock in the evening.
He was accompanied by one Of hi
men, q shrewd fellow, who had been II
Paxton's service long time. He re-
NAMED without.
It CHANGED that this man and Paxton
had both acquired the trade Of telegra..
ply in their youth, and since they had
been thrown together in detective work,
they had utilized their knowledge OF this
art serviceably more than once.
After Mrs. Kits had seen Paxton's
face through the wicket in the door, she
admitted him without delay.
We'll, you are in time, Ajax. Here'a
an old friend Of yours. What's the mat
ter with your Have you been drinking
luo much that you don't recognize him7'
said Mrs. kits. And she pointed to q
low -browed, thick-set man, who was
seated at the further side Of the room,
smoking short black pipe.
OF course the detective did not know
the name Of this dangerous-l looking fel-
low, but he was equal to the emergency,
and initiating the voice Of Ajax Crawley,
nc said. crossing to the fellow:
How are you, old man? Didn't
notice you until Mother kits spoke"
"Tolerable, Ajax, tolerable," answered
the other.
Some conversation followed, and as
they turned to desk, Mrs. Kits said:
SWELL vou NAV aa we'll oct tn work