Year: 1874

HENRY DELARRE is we'll known in this
city. This recital will make him better
known. He was and is as much gentle
man Of means and leisure as anything
else; though when he is busted with any
occupation it is that of real estate. His
circle of intimate acquaintances is not
very extensive. He has few firm, warm
friends; but were he once more to drop
out of life as suddenly and completely as
is narrated in this story he would be
hardly missed; In a fortnight he would
be forgotten; for business men forget as
water runs smoothly and swiftly.


Delarre is young and handsome.
Likewise he is in love. Combine in
man lucre, love and loveliness, and he be-
comes irresistible. These very attributes
nearly brought him to death. At the
same time they unquestionably saved his
life. Keeping these preliminaries in
mind the reader can understand his ad-
venture.


In the West Division, near tho corner of
Madison and Halsted, was located six
months ago the millinery establishment of
Mrs. Albert Larken. Among the employees
was Miss Bessie Shannon, a quiet, black
haired and black-eyed girl of twenty two
or three years of age, tall, stately, and
remarkably good looking. If she had not
possessed these attractions possibly De-
larre in his passing the store, in his
meeting her occasionally morning and
night as he went from his home to busi-
ness, might have felt no desire to make
her acquaintance and finally to fall in love
with her; and she might have become
the wife of a commonplace Smith, Jones,
or Brown without being the heroine she
now is. As it happily transpired, De:
larre did become enamored of her and
she Of him, to their mutual joy and sor-
row. Their love-poem ran its rhythmical
lines for four months, or until the first
day of May. Each was happy according
to their telnperaments. The man made a
business of his affection and thought
nothing too good for her. The woman
set him up in her heart as an idol and
worshiped the lively, generous and
whole-souled man.


On the first day Of May Henry Delarre
disappeared as completely and mysteri-
ously as if he had fallen into fiery fur
mace and been consumed. The last per
sou who saw him, so far as known, was
Miss Bessie Shannon, whom he left at the
threshold of her own home on Friday
evening, May 1. She said "good-by,''
fingered at the door until she saw him
turn the corner, and then with light
heart turned away from her departing
lover and the fate toward which he was
moving. Mr.. Delarre did not appear at
home that night; nor was he to be found
at his place of business or elsewhere the
following day. His room was in its usual
orderly array. His Office showed no evi.
dence of flight His bank account had no
heavy drafts against it, and his business





covered within two hours on the morning
alarm was felt for his safety by his friends
Shannon and from the world. 1t was
thought for time that he might have
been Unexpectedly called into the country
on business; but dispatches sent to the
various points where he was most likely
to go failed to discover any clew to hi.
whereabouts. And when, in the course o.
casual conversation with his betrothed
it was found when and where she saw him
last, his friends feared the worst. Adver
tisements were Immediately placed in thu
Sunday morning papers, and large re
ward was offered to both the city and
private police, to incite them to every
effort to ascertain his fate. In justice tc
the police it should be said that they
worked nobly, for Mr.. Delarre was well
and favorably known by many on the
force. But every effort was in vain. MOI
trace could be obtained of the unfortu
nate man. The river was dragged as 6
last resort, without other effect than tc
disturb the body of an unfortunate suicide
reposing in its Shiny bed.


The wild agony of Miss Shannon, wher
she learned, Sunday night, of the disap
pearance of her lover, was indescribable
For few minutes she sat like statue
and then burst into lamentations which
were in themselves an affliCtiOn for those
compelled to remain at her side. Th'
whole night long she paced her room
sleepless, fearless, and tireless. Then, il
very weakness, she sank to sleep. From
that slumber she awoke q changed
woman, stern look on her face and il
her eyes.


l will find him, dead or alive" sh,
said to those at her side. II: is nv task
my hope, my purpose in life. NV onl,
obstacle will be the shortness of tn,
days."


"The police are trying to find him, VI sale
Mr.. Delarre, the father.


"The police are stupid" she cried
Henry has not dropped into the earth
If he has been murdered, his body can b,
found" And in that belief she began he
labors.


Tuesday morning detective came t
Mr.. Delarre.


II think-and it's but a suspicion, 81,
mind you that your sons body is at a.
The man faltered at the whitening fac
before him and stopped.


proc Sd!" commanded Mr., Delarre
"Tell the Worst,"