Year: 1878

times contains q strange, weird history
FOUND DEAD. Over the mysterious
separation of soul and body is flung the
silence of death. The mute lips tell no
tale, the silent wound bresthes no
name that might betrsy the hand that
did it. An awe steals over the heart
as ono stands IN the presence of the
mysterious dead Age had not Grip
pied the strong limbs-the erect and
vigorous body showed no signs of
decay. but life had suddenly gone out
as the flame of a lamp expires.


Standing i'll this very spot. said Mr.
F.. with the lights from street-lamps
playing ftfully through the darkness,
saw sight, years ago, which. used as
| had been to deeds of violence, nearly
curdled my blood with horror.


1t was late at night, and Mr. |. and
myself had been down IN the city watch
ing u case that detained us late. A
group of men standing near the waters
edge attracted our attention. Drawing
near, W. found them examining the
body of man just drawn from the
bay.


He has been drowned :. said one. l
heard his scream an hour ago as he fell
into the water.


The speaker was fisherman, who
slept in his boat under the wharf.


Il was asleep at the time he said,
his cry awakened me. l sprang up as
hastily as could and rowed my boat
to the spot, but the man had disap-





there was no current there, and that
the body must lay where it sunk. so /
called for help, and we searched the
place and found it at last


who is it :? some one euquired.


A lantern was held close to the pale.
upturned fice. and started back as
recognized the features of an old
friend.


Tear open the vest and rub him;
there may be life in him yet


1t was no sooner said than done. but
as the clothes were torn apart. a san
guine stain met the eye. The shirt was
crimson with blood. A shiver ran
throw the crowd as this was removed,
and deep wound was disclosed in the
breast Murder


Pale lips repeated the exclamation.
In the presence of death, what voice
was ever loud and full? Yes. it WAS
murder. The hand that dealt the
blow was cunning one and used to the
stroke. 1t had been struck, too. un-
awared. There was no contortion of
the body. The cut was clear, deep,
and penetrating. The hand of an as
sassin had welded the knife that made
the cut.


While yet we bent around the pros
trated body. woman, pale as death,
horror in her eyes, and her white lips
speechlsss. parted the crowd and knelt
beside the murdered man. 1t was his
wife.


Some one had told her. They lived
but block away. Close TO the pale
face of the dead was placed the liv-
ing one; the little hand stroked nerv-
ously the wet hair and clinging gar
ments, and then with low cry repeat.
ed, frantically:


Oh. no! not dead not dead Do
not say he is dead


But the stony eyes gave back no
glance TO the anguish in her own-no
voice replied to the thrilling cry of the
girlish- wife beside him.


We lifted him up and carried him to
the station house. and then the inquest
was held. and the virdict, FOUND
DEAD.


And so the circumstance passed ou:
of mems minds, was forgotten save by
the few who loved him. and the officers
tracing out the nameless murderer.
This was no easy task. Days and
weeks went by--months fled, aud the
mystery only deepened. Who did it 5
Time and again, when almost on the
point of solving the mystery. we had
failed. We had traced hum to secret
interviews, sometimes at one place,
sometimes at another; aud once / had
discovered that 9 young girl and he
were seen walking late at night at
this very place. and man IN the dis-
tance following them-a dark browed.
dangerous looking man. Perhaps TINS
might be a clue. followed il up. l
almost haunted the house where the
girl was seen to 60 Inquiries at last
came to nothing. She had left IT; l
advertised; my carefully-worded invi-
tatious 10 an interview met with no
success; rewards were equally unavaii'
ing, and the post office stood me IN no
better account. Whoever tho murder
or was he was q shrewd one. almost