The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-04

with these various young girls"
The inspector hesitated, but not
long. There was truth in the artists
eye, and he was glad to recognize it.
"Mr. Degraw," said he, "it is not
usual for us to give so much advantage
to a man charged with q crime as to
| tell him the reasons for his arrest.
But am willing, in consideration Of
| your name, which is rapidly growing
illustrious in the art you have chosen,
| to lay before you these facts. First,
the gentleman who haunted the steps
of the Miss Rogers who attends Miss
Hadden's school wrote her letter,
which, if not signed by his name con-
| tained O card which revealed it, and
that name was yours, Hamilton De-
graw.' Secondly, lest you should ar
que that this card carried no weight
| with it, as it might be q stolen one in
| troduced into this communication by
the unprincipled author Of the same I
| will add that some days previous to its
receipt this same young lady was
walking in the street and saw the
gentleman who was supposed to have
written this letter drop his cigarette
case. AS he did not perceive that he
had done this she had the opportunity
Of picking it up. She did so, and be-
bold! upon one side of this cigarette
case a monogram was inscribed, the
letters of which are undeniably an
H and a d. Thirdly, We have in
our possession another letter, written
by q gentleman Of this city to differ
ent Jenny Rogers, in which a Mr..
Hamilton Degraw is introduced to her
notice. And this letter was carried to
her by q person of similar characteris-
tics to your own, as was the box of
bonbons received by the girl who was
supposed to have died from the poison
which had been infused into them, but
you will say no man can have mo-
nopoly upon any one name, nor are
you the only person in the town who
can answer to the general description
of tall form and easy manners, black
mustache and gray eyes. This is true,
but it is strange to have them united,
and that in the person Of one who does
not deny that he possesses an intense
interest in one of the unfortunates who
bear this fatal name"
1T may be strange, but the world is
full of strange things. know a man
who went from New York to San
Francisco, and there, out Of all the
women who inhabited that town made
the acquaintance and married a girl
who was by blood his own sister,
though he did not know it and never
could understand why the announce
ment of his marriage affected his faith
er to such an extent as to drive him
into a speedy grave. Is not that a
stranger fact than this?'
perhaps, but"
II know there is q conspiracy
against girls by the name of Jenny
Rogers, but how came to know it?
BY hearing it spoken Of here. Byrd
can testify to that" =,
"And l." spoke up Mr.. Gryce.
"The question is: Was that the first
you heard Of it," quoth the inspector.
"No; the question is: Am the man
who has been seen in connection with
these innocent girls? I swear I am
not, and I expect to be able to prove
it. Have you any specimens of his
handwriting here?
Mr.. Gryce produced the letter given
him by the Detroit heiress.
Compare it with this memorandum
I wrote this morning." urged the art
list, tearing a leaf from his notebook
and handing it to them.
There is but little similarity" adj
judged the inspector.
But this letter to Miss Rogers is
manifestly in a disguised handwrit-
ing" objected Mr.. Gryce.
1T is immaterial," quoth Mr.. De-
graw ANY witness who saw the
writer will at once tell you upon view
ing my face that am not he."
You are willing to submit to this
test?"
"Of course; why else do insist upon
my innocence?"
The smile he gave them was irresist-
ible. They all three showed the inhu-
ence it had upon them, and the inspec-
tor, looking at Mr.. Byrd, made quick
| and meaning gesture.
The detective seeing it nodded and
went toward the door, but was stopped
on his way out by the artist saying,
forcibly:
II snail not be satisfied unless you
bring witnesses also who can prove /
am not the gentleman who carried let
ters OF Introduction to the Miss Rogers
you have alluded to, nor the person
who bought bonbons which are said to
have been poisoned. I desire COM
plete justification and you can give it
to me-"
I'VE shall be only too happy re-
turned the inspector, and gave Byrd a
second look, which sent him speedily
cut.
1T will be some time before these
persons can be got together" observed
the inspector. as the door closed upon
the youthful detective. will you sit
down, Mr.. Degraw?"
with pleasure, SIR" rejoined the
artist He did not notice that his
chair was so placed as to be in easy
view from the open door, but if he
had he would have taken it even with
greater alacrity.
Mr.. Gryce, having business to attend
to. soon went ont. and presently the