The evening times., 1896-09-17

For more than q month employees OF the
District building have been nursing u
secret, not for The purpose of reveiiing
in the-exclusive enjoyment of it, but in
reality TO gather informatio upon which
To expose what promised to be refarious
-plotto prosecute a fair young maiden, ap-
parently aged 10.
From the elevated windows in the rear
suf the domicile of the District govern
ment the details were from time to time
observed, and as each successive link was
!. added TO the chain o. indubitable proof, che
Observers and gatherers were the more
-'ccnfident and determined. Justice should
their lofty altitude.
Just below It's municipal building, on
c street, between Four and-s-halfand Sixth
streets, there is a tenement house, No.
% 459, small and unpretcntious, but yet cap
able OF acComm odating four families, ali
Mailing from ancient Rome.
- The story, as told TO The Times, was
that in the attic of This building a pretty
daughter of Italy Was being kept pris-
oner for sone unknown reason, and thct
the ofrense for which she was held was
due to the maneuvers OF one Cupid, that
+ frisky little god OF love.
THEY HEARD QUARELLING.
Evidence was not lacking. The sounds of
angry contention could be plainly head, at
intervals, and taunts and threats Were free
ly exchanged. The very words overheard
tended to confirm the grave suspicious of
injustice, or Worse, and the acts of op-
preston observed fTom time to tine ser.ed
TO make assurance doubly sure.
The sdn.r face appeared daily at a small
window in the "a bic OF the tenement house.
ana il was observed to be frequently bathed
in tears. Apparently forth comfort of the
Supposed-to-be prisoner, a system of sig
mails was improvised whereby she commune
Gated with young girl III neiehboring
house, ana frequently they exchanged CON
fiienceS A cord was suspended from the
window, and the neighbor girl, passing over
the roofs of the intervening houses, attach
Ell pIckac ccS To The end, which were dra VII
up IL the prise by the inmate. Notes were
often exchanged in this way, and THIS
strengthened the belief that there was
Jnan Al the bottom OF the affair, a reversal
OF the usual conditions.
One day recently hot words passed in
The top OF the building The contention
grew loud and shrill, and 1t was said that
the maiden got the worst OF it. since she
was afterward observed at the window
with her clothing in a dilii iiated condi-
ton and apI arently in great grief.
THE PRISONERS WORDS.
She was challenged that day from the
lower premises by those who seemed to be
aware of the girls dereliction her love
Of the man IN the case-and the tauut was
coupled with u reference to a married
man- Nothing daInted, the girl resi- olded
with the declaration that married man
was. in her estimation, much TO be pre-
:erred to the beasts below. whose per-
secutions she was then compelled to un-
dergo,
Such Il state of affairs, of the particulars
of which the foregoing is hut an outline
could not long exist without attracting
Official attention.
News of II reached tie ears of Agent
wilson OF tie Humane Society, and his
duty obliged him to investigate He cali
ed at the Louise yesterda yarcrnoon and
stated his suspicious to those who opened
the door.
Mr.. Wilson was not cordially received.
on the contrary his greeting was any
thing hut pleasant, aud it was demanded
VI ti-il llt 10 dbOut HIS iiuS!UtSS- lUt
charge was Indignantly denied, and final
y the agent was invited to go up stairs
~ the attic room and investigate fully for
himself
He was dealing with the ladies' of the
household. and informed them that he
would for the present take thor word
for 1t, and declined to accpet their chal-
ienEe. They were promptly informed. tow-
ever. that anger upon their part would
avail nothing.
THE AGENTS AUTHORITY
His authority to inquire was ample,
and If it became his duty to return he
would do so with the law for the protec-
ton of children to back him.
Later there was an angry demonstration
in the back yard OF the premises. Violent
gestures were made in the direction of
the nmEicipal building, for it had tran
srired in the interview with Mr.. Wilson
that the Information had come from that.
source. Threats were made that de-
mand for proof of the charge and redress
would he made instantly, all of which
We're, of course, futile.
There is a sequel to this story, and tn out