The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-07

1T Is not that. You m1sapprehend me.
Come with me, and permit me to ex-
plain" answered Paxton.
Hedden followed the detective as he
moved forward thus speaking.
AL right, If it's anything I can do
without betraying old friends he said.
Paxton did not reply until his Office
was reached, and he knew there was no
possibility Of being overheard by any
one who might make adverse use OF his
confidence.
Then he said:
.You have heard Of John Oakburn's
murder. Very good. I want to fnd the
assassin, whom I suspect is hiding In
the city. He Is novice in crime, un-
known to the police, and therefore q
stranger to you. Will you help me9
You can 90 unquestioned into secret
haunts Of the dangerous classes where
nv men or myself could never pene-
trate. Through you the cowardly slay-
er Of poor old man may be brought to
justice"
Il don't like the work, but I want to
prove my gratitude to you and I'll un-
dertake it." answered Saul Hedden after
q moment Of reflection.
Its bargain!" cried Paxton, and he
reached his hand across the table and
pressed that of the ex-convict.
Then he gave his new ally minute
description Of the man whom he believed
to be John Oakburn's murderer.
That same day the ex-convict began
his task Of exploring the slums Of the
great city in quest Of the assassin.
Fortune seemed to have favored him
In the undertaking beyond anything
Paxton had hoped, and the light Of q
new day. had not dawned before he re-
ported to the detective that he believed
he had stumbled upon the supposed
assassin's hiding place at the very out
set.
He is in the den Of an old female
Yence'-a receiver Of stolen property
and at this hour we shall find no one In
the place but the hag who is the keeper
of the place, and our man, said Hedden,
in conclusion.
Paxton was elated.
He hurriedly provided himself with
disguise, and when all his preparations
were completed ne SAID TO his new as
sistant:
Lead the way. I am determined to
arrest the assassin without delay. We
will 60 alone, as do not wish to awaken
the suspicion Of our game, which there
would be great risk Of doing were we
accompanied by force
Right. The people in the locality
into which am about to lead you are
suspicious, and most Of them are in
league with the old fence, whose custom
ers they sometimes are. A force would
surely arouse suspicion. Word Of Our
approach would surely be passed to the
old woman before we arrived, and We
would have our trouble for our pains"
said Hedden.
Then Paxton and the latter hastened
from the office.
From the description which Hedden
had given him Of the female fences Sc
cret guest, Paxton did not doubt that he
was really the man he had SO long una
vailingly undertaken 10 capture.
The detective believed that success
was now almost within his grasp.
He would hesitate at no danger now.
The house Of the female fence was
soon REACHED:
Saul Hedden raped on the door in a
peculiar way, and after sliding panel,
through which she saw the ex-convict,
the old female admitted the detective
and his companion.
Hedden vouched for the detective.
Its oil right, Gamar; only Hedden
and friend!" called out the old woman,
and thereupon the interior door opened
and man came forth.
Despite the fact that he was slightly
disguised, the detective recognized the
man whom he believed to be John Oak
burns assassin.
up with your hands! you are my
prisoner"
But even as the detective spoke, the
stranger bounded backward through the
door, and as Paxton leveled his pistol at
his vanishing form, young girl sud-
denly appeared in the place left vacant
on the Threshold.
At the sight Of the girl who 30 anex.
pectedly confronted him, Paxtor reeled
back as though he believed he beheld an
apparition.
The girl in the door was Marian Oak.
burn!
Only for second did Paxton lose his
presence Of mind.
Then he dashed forward to prevent the
escape of the man who had disappeared,
but Marion barred his way.
A pistol appeared in her hand, and as
she leveled the deadly weapon full 1t
the detective, she cried in ringing tones
Halt, or f1reI Back for your lifel'
ITo BE coaTrNuEnl