Year: 1878

9s@ There had been person killed in Col :. ville-a dreadful crime had been com mitted, the telegram said-and was se- lected to go down and work up the case.

 It was my trade or profession then hunting down thieves and assassins and had been so long at the business, that 8 telegram announcing any such case was taken as coolly as if the dispatch had related to some ordinary affair.

 a Before noon was at Colville. It was little hamlet about 20 miles from New York, and three miles away from the railroad I had answered the telegram before leaving New, York, and people were therefore expecting me. As I stepped on the platform a asfarmer came ; up and inquired my name, and was re- quested to take seat in aais Aone-horse ph@ton for drive to the village. He was greatly excited, and we had scarcely started when he commenced talking.

 soon learned that 8 lady was the yic- tiIn-a rich old spinster, named Miss Williams. She was woman about fifty five years old, living in the best house in the village, and was possessed of some fortune. She had never been married, but years before had adopted a boy, who was nowlayoung man of twenty. These two, with couple of servants, made up the family. .aa g I learned that the family always re- tired at nine o'clock. If Tom, the adopt ed, was out, as was frequently the case, the front door was left unlocked for him to come in. He was not considered a bad young man i; but he drank a little, smoked a good deal, wore good clothes, and might be chased under the head of 'sfast. !" As for the servants, I had seen them, and that was enough. Without asking them word would have taken my oath that they were innocent.

 In working up case always had a theory, and l worked to prove that my theory was right. In this case it was that Tom was guilty, and I started to prove it. Going down stairs I entered the bedroom. The dead body was still there, The blow had been dealt with terrible force, and any one of the four o1 five wounds would have been fatal. The deceased was in her night-dress lying on the bed, ,andI was not long in ascertainlne that she had been placed there after death, or after insensibility.

 There were stains on the bed. on the wall, and on the carpet at the furthe, end of the room. Getting down on my hands and knees, I found that corner of the carpet had been 1oosened ane turning it back discovered two or nor, bank notes on the floor. This, then, ,hat been hiding place for her money, O which she was supposed to have larg' sum. s- s.....-l lg.ss. 44.e5

 I decided that the assassin crept in tore up the carpet and was discovered al he was seizing the money. The old lad, had got out of bed.and approached him and was struck down as they stood to together In the corner. This was yer, strong evidence against Tom. Had sh awoke to discover stranger in the room she would not have left her bed-or tn the chances were against it-and she cer tainly would have been struck down nea it, instead of after reaching the corner She had been killed in the corner-ant then her body placed on the bed-I wa sure of 1t.

 If had wanted any further evidenc against Tom, I found 1t about the corpse From the finger nail of the index fnge of the right hand waved three or fou blue threads-tiny little things, which hundred pairs of eyes would have passe over. There was slit in the nail, an 1t had caught coat sleeve and torn tn little threads out. They told me ths Tom had blue blouse coat, and then knew she had torn the threads out g she clutched him in her dying struggles

 We'll, what do you think ?" inquire the constable, as finished my examins tion. Ust

 want to see Tom," answered.

 Why, surely you don't suspect him.

 Certainly not. I want to hear h statement, replied.

 One of them went and brought him.

 saw from the first glimpse that he ha made up his mind to ssbrazen it out. " H was good looking young fellow, fae pale and anxious, and saw by his s, teeth that he was bracing himself up .bafde me. s

 {" You will please to give me a plai statement of the affair, so far as you wel concerned, said, as he took seat.