The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-01-10

the look Of dumb wretchedness, of Sup
pressed terror that glowed in them made
me shudder and forbade the question
what might be the cause. Next moment
the block was relieved, the carriage roll
ed away, and pursued my own affairs.
II almost wish had not begun this
tale for the end is painfully sad. 1t
was. if | remember rightly. two or three
weeks later that ! was returning one
fine moonlight night from Staten Island
with a boa,load of passengers. l, as
usual, riding at the stern. We had just
made our South ferry moorings and the
usual rush had only begun at the other
end Of the boat, when voice cried out,
Look there. it's woman" Turning
back with the rest | looked down into
the water and there. bobbing about on
the choppy waves, with her poor dead
face toward the moon. | saw her again.
She was not SO much changed this time.
! knew her at once. but probably would
not have done so but for that glimpse
| had of her in the carriage"
"KiIled herself, l suppose" said one
listener
Did you ever find out who she was?"
inquired another
YES did"
He who had first asked for the story
seemed too impressed to offer a remark.
Il felt it a personal duty to follow the
body to the morgue. There | found she
was being described as belonging to the
poorer class. and small wonder. for she
was dressed in rags. Then | told what
! knew and advised that she should be
mentioned is of good family though dis
guised in common clothing. This hint Sc
cured her Identification. Her parents and
brother came. though they supposed her
visiting friends in the west. The family
were very grateful TO me and volunteered
a little Of her history. II was the com
mon one During their absence she had
become acquainted with a blackguard,
who robbed her Of money. jewels and her
honor. He persuaded her to conceal his
name and identity. and. worse luck, she
loved HIM and was faithful TO him to
the end. though how much he had to do
with her death is uncertain.
"There were two things at the inquest
that struck me as strange r. first, the
doctors could not be positive that she died
by drowning; second, Teddy Lannan.
boatman identified the body as that of
one Of n couple who had hired boat for
a row, but had never returned. His boat
was picked up. capSized. two days after
the inquest. He did not think it strange
that woman in rags should he going for
a pleasure row and then said he did not
notice she was in rags. He could not de
scribe her companion, but it was a man.
1t was not for business To be too inquisi-
tive. 1t was not till inquiries were made
/ of him by the police that he mentioned
the subject at all, even the loss of his
/ boat"
Its a queer tale" observed the friend
at the table but you ought TO he de-
/ tectiye with your talent" And there was
4 a slur mingled in the compliment.
I'D turn one tonight if | thought
/ could find that seoundrel."
why. they were undoubtedly drowned
together 80 | should say, committed sui
eide"
81 don't believe they did" returned the
actor, absorbed in his thoughts.
And even if you had found your man
alive, you say, there was never Il title OF
evidence to connect him with the girl
DEATH"
"Never a scrap, never a clew-till-til
now" And the speaker brought his iis
down with a crash on the table as he al
lowed his chair to recover its normal po
sition.
"What is it?' asked several in a breath
The actors expressive eyebrows WERE
drawn down into fierce frown as h,
glared at the man opposite him. After {
moments pause he spoke, but he wa'
struggling with intense excitement.
81 passed a man on the Brooklyn bridge
the night | met you who motioned hi
pipe toward me in a significant manner
which might we'll have been an invitation
to me to ask for a light. Your signal.
can swear that man was Teddy Lannan
the boatman. Your appointment was
with him few days before the girls
death. And now know you for her es
cort that day on Broadway, when | frs
saw your face and hers!"
Murmurs of SHAME" "arrest him,
"get an officer" were heard on all sides.
You're a fool" was the savage an
swer, but be had turned deathly pale.
~ have a very good memory for faces
SIR" cried the actor, "and | don't believe
in chance. Stay where you are"