The Cotton Factory Times. — 1889-09-27 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

LUCAS, PRIVATE DETECTIVE.  Sixth Avenue, New York. "May I ask, Mr. Lucas, what your business is with me ?" I ventured, after reading the card. "Well, that is cool, I must say," drawled the detective. "After looking the town over for a fellow, and finding him, to ask what his business with you may be." I began to lose temper and patience. "Excuse my bluntness, Mr. Lucas, but I know you did not come here simply to oblige me. You have some purpose of your own to serve. If, as I suppose, we are interested in the same work, and can aid each other, I, for my part, am willing to join hands with you. But my time is precious, and I have none of it to waste in badinage." "1 like your bluntness, sir, and will proceed. You are right. I do want your help. 1I am, however, engaged in an affair of the late Mr. Clinton's, about which you probably know nothing. If I can aid you, however, in clearing up the tragedy of last evening, I am perfectly willing to do it." "First, then, let me ask you, as a detective, to tell me whether you believe Lucy Gray killed her grandfather? You were present at the inquest, and had a chance to form an opinion." The detective sat in silence for half a minute, and then said :  "The evidence produced at the inqnest, in itself, Would convict her, without a question of doubt. Professionally, I would pronounce her guilty. Personally, I would like to prove her innocent. I think I would not make a mistake in saying that you, in your heart, would like to see Miss Gray proven innocent of the charge of murder—of patricide. Your official position is an awkward one in this instance. Will you trust me enough to let me help to do the work which you would like to do yourself ?'' . . . .  Something seemed to inspire me with faith in this man's honour and good will. I arose and walked over to where he sat, and, taking him by the hand, said: .  " I will trust you and join with you in the work of running down the assassins at Redbank. But how shall we go about it ?"  "Tell me what you have discovered?" He smiled at the effect his unexpected request had on me, and then continued: "That may not be agreeable, eh? Well, I'll not insist on it. But you are to have an interview shortly with Mrs. Bruce, the housekeeper. Never mind how I found it out; suffice that I know of it. Now, you and Mrs. Bruce are two clever people, no doubt, who know a good many things about Redbank and its people, but I doubt whether you both could put your knpwledge together so as to prove anything. Hear me out. I have, as you already know, been in Mr. Clinton's secret employ, and know some parts of his history that neither you nor Mrs. Bruce suspect. What this is you may both learn in good time. Just now I will say that I know enough, to begin with, which will be a tree upon which to graft the facts that Mrs. Bruce may furnish, in such a way that they will bear fruit." "And your theory is—" "That there is a gigantic conspiracy of some kind which has cost one life and threatens more. Now I am going to be more trusting in you than you are in me." He produced a little memorandum book, and handing it to me, said: _  "Be "so kind as to carefully read what I have written in that little book. It contains pertinent information which I gathered from the villagers after the inquest last night, and which may, in good time, help us, aided by further testimony, in working out a most gigantic conspiracy." The contents of the book were in the form of questions and answers, and ran thus : Q.—How long has Charles Clinton lived in Millville  A.—A little more Om a year. Q.—Where did he come from? A.—From Virginia, dfhere he owned similar mills.  Q.—NS as anybody instrumental in bringing him to Millville V