Year: 1870

Oy one, ana the case was 1ntruSted
to well known detective of the city
with full powers and authority to
act in it as he thought best.


This gentleman, crediting the old
adage that 'two heads are better
than one" procured the services of
a companion who had often been
specially retained for cases of this
kind. After having been put in pos
session Of all the information that
could be given him, the character of
the young lady, her portrait, her
dress, the names her companions
with their addresses, her admirers,
and sundry little peculiar character
istics, he set himself to work to solve
the problem.


Both the detectives agreed at once
on one point, although they carefully
kept it to themselves. As the ofic-
er in question remarked to the writ
er Of these lines-"Whenever a girl
suddenly runs away in this fashion,
man is at the bottom of it. Let us
only find the man, and the rest will
be easy" He thereupon cautiously
questioned her sister, and even the
domestics as to whether any one gen
tleman had appeared to be more
agreeable than any other. No; she
had never exhibited any decided
preference Did any one see to
whom the letter was directed which
she carried to the post on the day of
her leaving? No; it was not even
certain that she had letter at ALL
Could he see any of her writing?
Yes, plenty oft; and he hereupon
secured a speciman.


lie then prepared a carefully writ
ten description, and forwarded it,
together with her likeness, to the
various police stations in this city
and other large towns. lie visited
every hole and corner of New York
watched the railway depots, and in
terTogated the clerks. The hue and
cry was raised everywhere, but rails
ed in vain.


Now and again a message would
DC sent to him, saying that a young
lady answering the description Of
the truant was at some distant town
and thither at once wonld the de-
tective repair, only to find that he
had his journey for his pains, and
that he was as much at the sea as
ever. Once he fancied that he saw
Miss Archbold in a carriage in
Broadway, and followed it for long
time, only to acknowledge himself
again mistaken; but he was convinc-
ed never theless that she had not
left the country, and he much boubt-
ed whether she had left the town.


He had carefully examined, or
caused to be examined, all the books
Of the various steamship companies,
and 'interviewed'' their agents, to no
purpose. The girl had melted into
the air without leaving trace be-
hind her, and the trail was about as
difficult to follow up as that of a
mosquito over a rock.


An unusual liberal reward had
been offered by Mr.. Horton for any
information that could lead to her
recovery, and constant applications
were made by individuals who pro-
fessed either to have seen her them
selves or to have heard from some
friend who had seen her, and many
a wild-goose chase was the result,
until at last the detective began to
fear that she had made away with
herself and actually'visited the Nor
que more than once when the body
of a dead woman was advertised.
Still he did not relinquish his .origi-
nal idea, and when pressed by his
companion to try some other tack,
only repeated what he had said be-
fore.


depend upon it, a man is at the
battom oft" One day new thought
struck, him, aud absured as it ap-
peared, even to himself, he determ-
iaed on giving it a fair trial, and
and startled his brother officer by re-
marking;


"Daye, l am going to watch old Hor
ton" The other laughed at him, but
did not oppose his suggestion, as it
gave at least q promise of something
to do. Mr.. Horton, in common with
many other gentleman, was extreme
ly fond of driving, and an afternoon
hardly passed without his ordering
his buggy. He had, of late, been
much worked at his office, and fire
quently slept at a hotel when he
found it too late to enjoy an evening
at home. There was nothing extra
ordinary in all this-more particular
ly as that home was no longer as
cheerful as it used to be before the
death of the father aud the loss OF
the daughter-and no one had paid
any attention to his conduct.


The detective commenced his es-
pionage Immediately, and MI. Hor-
ton was carefully followed wherever
he went, His drives were usually in
the direction of Harlem; and as he
was but little learned in horses, and
would have as soon thought of dri-
wing q locomotive as a fast trotter
the officer became curious to sec
what it was that induced him so con-
stantly to patIogize that road. He
therefore hired vehicle, and having
instructed the coachman to follow
Mr.. Horizons buggy, waited patiently
for the upshQt, whatever 1t might be


Ofone thing he was soon convinced
Wherever Mr.. Horton drove, it was
not to Harlem, for after pursuing
that direction for q short dis
tance he turned his horse's head and
drove back towards the city. Close
ly followed by the detective IN the
fly, he drove to a house in the imme-
diate neighnorhood of the New York
Hotel. Here he drew up, and hay
ing rung the bell, entered with the
air Of a man who was perfectly at
home. The detective, in the mean
time, left his carriage and took UP a
position where he could command
every thing without being himself
visible. Nearly an hour elapsed, and
Mr.. Horton did not reappear. What
on earth is he up to ? thought the de
tective; there must be some great at
traction here, and lie congratulated
himself on the step he had taken.


Presently the front-door opened