Year: 1872




connected. wealthy and of distinguished
social position, one night mysteriously dis
appeared. His family were In intense
distress, and his business in consequent
disorder. He left his store at a late hour,
ostensibly TO go home but before going,
contrary TO his usual practice, put into his
pocket large sum of money.


His way led along Peters street. on the
bank of the river, but far down in tho
Third district OF the city. His life may
have been sacrificed and his body thrown
+ 10 the flood that rolled at his feet Police
regulations at that time were bad, and
crimes of this description were not unfre-
quently perpetrated. A little way back
from the street was n ruinous building,
half tumbling to decay, and inhabited by
number of people, men and women in
ured to vice and living by robbery.


Among the bank notes Mr.. Crosby was
know to possess was one for $500 with the
word Canal" written on the back. The
rest were of various denominations and
without peculiar identity.


Mr.. - and myself visited the resi-
dence of the missing man, at the request of
his wife, and by her we were charged with
the duty of tracing out and bringing to
justice his supposed murders. She was a
tall elegant looking lady, of commanding
presence and great culture. The wealth
of her rich beauty and fine mind were in
herited by her daughter, a girl scarcely
twenty. The terrible bereavement had
paralyzed the senses of the mother. bat
had aroused the energy and FIRE of the
young girls nature. More like a beauti-
full Nemesis than an ordinary woman she
appeared to us AS we entered the room
she was in the act of consoling the mother
The long black hair had escaped from its
confinement and had almost enyeloped her
person in it's ebony tresses The great
luminous eyes were fearful, but flashing
and full of FIRE The face was dark with
the blood of her Spanish race, but the fig
ure was queenly, slender and fauluess to
q model Starting up as we entered the
room, she inquired very hastily, and almost
fiercely, thought


Are you the detectives ~


1--WE are" and mentioned our names.


1t must speak to You in private, she
said, and led the way to an adjoining
apartment


What do you think Of the matter" she
asked when out of hearing of her mother.


"As yet an opinion would he mere guess
work" replied.


Nevertheless l have come TO one
have no doubt that he was murdered, and
that the deed was committed somewhere
near the old ruinous building near the
river"


Some such idea has Gro sed my mind
but there is no trace as yet which can lead
to the proof of it,"


1--WE will find it out, rest assured" she
said, and to this end you must cooperate
with me, and now listen to what have 70
say. Tonight at twelve o'clock precisely
do you two visit the old building. will
be there. Ask for the young woman who
applied at nightfall 10 them for shelter
Let your object be. apparently, to arrest
her"


But DO not unuerSbAnu.


But you will. | am going there al
| dark, disguised as beggar girl. By the
| time you come my information will have
been collected"


Twill read the guilty secret she said
| "If the criminal is there however deep
in his heart he may bury it"


Strange as it may appear, made nc
attempt to dissuade her from her purpose
! / could not. ! felt as If the beautiful
| creature exercised over me magnetic
control


Those AGO Quainted with the city at thi,
period can form some idea of the DANCE
OF the plot we had formed. To us it wa
matter of daily occurrence. But for tn
young girl, inexperienced and tenderl,
1 nursed, to thrust herself INTO the YER,
house of the unscrupulous and desperate
wretches who were suspected Of this crime
was simply appalling. 1t would not do
however. to go t. the place before the hou
appointed for our coming, for that woult
defeat the object in view. II was there
fore with many . misgiving and uneAsi
moss but poorly concealed. we bided on
time. But We determined to be there a
tho very moment, and the clock was OF
the stroke Of midnight when we knockes
at the door The outside Of the hous
gave no signs of life within. The shutter
were securely fastened, and no ray o
light penetrated the darkness but mui
fed sound of voices reached our ears, unit
our knocks hushed them 70 whisper
There was momentary hesitation. as
counseling together, and then the doc
was opened wide.


1t was long low room, dusty and brown
from age. About dozen persons wer
seated around. but every eye was tnrne'
TO the door. Two men had risen to thei
feet and stood in an attitude which nigh
mean defence, before the fireplace; bu
the object that attracted our atte, ou wa
ayoung girl sitting in the cornel OF th
apartment Her face was as dark as
gypsy's. and the long hair hung loose OF
her shoulders; her dress was poor mate
rial ragged and unclean. Patches ant
rents had almost changed its hue and dis
guised it's texture. She seemed too thinl
clad for that cold night and her slende