IS iffl si'i p TEH,j., INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. "JSZ&'JSZ-' Vol. VII. Now Bloomfleld, Pa., Tuesday, July 8, 1873. r.V-.Nb. sV. IS POBIJSnKD (VERY TUESDAY MORNING, BT PRANK MQBTIMEE & CO., At New Bloomfleld, Terry Co., Pa. Being provided with Steam Power, and large Cylinder and Job-Presswi, we are prepared to do all kinds of Job-Printing In good style and at Low Prices. ADVERTISING BATES I Trn$UntH Cents per lino for one Insertion 13 two Insertions 15 " " three insertions fastness Notices in Local Column 10 Cents er I!?ef ,For longer yearly adv'ts terms will be given upon application. UNCLE WINTHROP'S WATCH. COKCLTJDBD. , SHORTLY after entering the street Henry imagined that his steps were dogged. Street assaults and robberies had been alarmingly frequent of late, and on ascertaining that he was persistently fol lowed by some one, he became not a little apprehensive of an attack. There was but little pasting on the ateet ; now and then a solitary individual would hurry along the pavement, as If aware that it was a suspic ious neighborhood. Henry was far from being a timid man 5 if anything, he was over- daring. Still, the thought of. a sud den attack, of being taken at advantage, awoke any but agreeable feeling, sensa tions, indeed, akin to fear. Save his watch he bore no valuables about him. He had too much good sense to venture abroad in a strange and crowded city, es pecially in the night, with more than a tri fling sum of money. It was not robbery that he feared so much as personal injury, for hewell knew that these desperadoes thought but little of taking human life. He had nothing with which to defend him self, being opposed to the carrying of weapons about the) person. With a six barrelled revolver in his breast pocket he would have felt decidedly more comfort - able. It was not the hearingof footsteps behind him that first led Henry to suspect that he was dogged, but a certain intuition which men sometimes have as a warning of im pending danger. Influenced by this mys tical impression, all of his senses were on the alert. Glancing frequently behind him it was not long ere he detected a man noiselessly, following him. What assured him of this was that when he slackened his pace his follower did the same ; when he quickened it, the unknown increased his ; when he paused, so did his pursuer. Twice Henry retraced his stops for a short dis tance, but the man had vanished, disap peared like a phantom ; yet the moment he resumed his walk, sleuth-houad like, the man was on his track. Henry came to the conclusion that the fellow was shod with felt or rubber, as night-watchmen often are, to prevent their approach being heard. This by no means tended to allay the sus picion that lie had evil designs on him. lie could de nothing, however, but con tinue on his way, whi oh he did with an acoelorated pace, hoping that he might fall in with the police, or reach a less deserted locality. Hurrying along in this manner, he came to a aeighberbeed where the lamps were far apart. He bad left the last some dis tance behind,- and about the same distance ahead was to be seen the feeble glimmer of another. Just then a sharp short whistle Mounded in hie tear, which was immediately followed by a similar one in front. Rightly suspecting that they were signals of carried ' era teg, Henry .slackened his pace, and was iu the act of stepping off the walk to cross the street, when a man sprang out from aa adjoining alley or court and threateningly confronted him. Had Peabody taken a moment forreflee- . tioa, which men seldom do in such an emergency, he would not have attempted resistance, bat have passively allowed the fellow to go " through with him," as the newspapers phrase it ; but being muscular and plucky, ' he was not disposed to suo- cumo wunout a struggle. As he was about making some demonstrations of de fence, ' another man stepped softly np be hind him, and with a blow from a slung shot laid him insensible on the walk. "That's the best way to settle the - hash 1" said the assailant, with a coarse laugh. In a moment the two men were bending over the prostrate form. But few words were said as, with a dexterity that showed long practice in the business, the ruffians "went through" their victim. " Nothing but this ticker," said one of them, as he pocketed Henry's watch; "a poor hand we've made this bout 1" Having finished their job, they roughly tumbled the still insensible body down a short flight of steps leading to a basement story of a building in front of which the attack had been made, and then hastily took themselves off. A moment after, the men left their victim whether dead or alive, little cared they, the blind of the window directly over the steps down which the body had boon flung was cautiously opened, and a head furtively protruded. " I knoVd their voices," was whispered in a woman's tone, as the speaker glanced in the direction the two men bad taken t " 'twas Dick Cadger him that struck the blow, and his pal Bowlegg'd Billy. Hush ! they're coming back I No; all right. I see'd 'em skulking by the lamp-post yonder. Now we'll go and see if there's any life in the poor soul, arter which, Joo, you must hurry and bring the perlice." 80 saying, the head was withdrawn. In a few minutes the basement door at f the foot of the stops was opened, and a man and woman lifted the body that was pressing against it, and carefully took it to a little back room and deposited it upon a bed. The woman took a lamp from a table and flashed the light on Peabody'a face, then placing her hand on his heart, she aid: He's alive; I can feel a flutter like here. Off with you, Joe, to the station, while I see to his hurts." The man, who was the woman's husband rather rough in his appearance, though his face wore a kindly expression, immediately set forth on his errand, while the woman turned her attention to Peabody. She wm a woman of middle age, evident ly Inured to hard work. Her features were very plain, and she would have been con sidered ill-favored, were it not for the gen tle pitying expression of her countenance as she examined the wound on Peabody'a bead. "It was a cruel ugly blow," she said, as she carefully removed the hair from the bruised part, " and it's a marcy it didn't kill him outright. But he is only stunned like, and will soon come to his senses. Let mo think now ; wormwood steeped in vinegar js the best thing I knows on for wounds like this." And setting down the lamp, she immediately busied herself in preparing the lotion. ' The scene revealed to Henry when at last consciousness returned and be gazed bewilderingly around him, led him to ques tion whether he was in the body or out of the body. From the small bedroom in which he found himself he looked into another and larger apartment, used evi dently as a barroom and small huckster shop. In the dim light he raw figures moving to and fro, two or three of them with stars on their breasts, while a murmur of conversation met his ears. Was all this a dream, or was it a reality ? As he gradually collected his scattered senses the truth slowly dawned upon him the fact of his being waylaid and sud denly stricken down. But whore was he now ? How came he in this small room. on this bed t Some slight movement made by him drew the attention of those in the outer room towards him. They immedi ately gathered about the bed, on which, by an effort, Henry managed to assume a sitting posture. Two of them, members of the police, at once questioned him in re gard to the assault, and he related to them succinctly as he could the facts in the oase. Mrs. Regan, the name of the good Samar itan who bad taken him in and bound np his wounds, also told what she knew of the affair, repeating what she had intimated to her husband, tltat the blow was given by Dick Cadger, a notorious offcnder,and that ins pal was iiowlegged Jiilly, as lie was called, one equally well known to the police force. Fortunately, the wound Hunry had re ceived proved not a very serious one, the pain from which bad been greatly mitl gated by the timely appliances of Mrs. Regan. On examination, it was found that be had been gone through with moat thor oughly; but the only . article the loss of which be especially regretted was his watch, which was the gift of the stranger. The police, however, informed him that if Mrs. Regan was correct in her recognition, by their voices, of the party who took it, in a few days they would probably be able to restore it to hlin, in which oase he prom ised them a liberal reward. Engaging one of the officers to accom pany him to his hotel, as soon as his con dition permitted, Houry took his leave of those who had so kindly succored him, with assurances that he should not forget their services, and which he subsequently took care to make good, eliciting by his liberality the remark from the gratified woman, that there was no " sham" about him, but that he was a " perfect gentle man." fi At a late hour in the 'night, or rather, we should say early in the morning, Henry, was glad to find himself once more safe, though sorely bruised, in his hotel. Before parting with the officer he took his address and gave his own, and instructions to re CQYCr the watch, if possible, at whatever cost. For some days Teabody suffered from the effects of the blow and the rough treatment to which he had been subjected, scarcely leaving his boarding-place. An account of the affair appeared in all of the papers, as matter of course, more or less exag gerated. The third day after the assault Henry was requested to call at the office of the chief of police. On going there be was shown a watch, which he immediately recognized aa the one taken from him. Diok Cadger and his pal Bowlegged Billy went then brought before him, but he was unable to reoogniae thonl as his assailants. However, to have done with them, on the strength of Mrs. Regan's testimony, that the fully recognized their voices at the time of the attack, and of a pawnbroker where they had "put up" the watch, they Were in due time tried, convicted and sen tenced to serve the State for a prescribed number of years. This, we may as well montion in passing, was in those forgotten days when justice was not wholly ignored in the courts of New York. On Henry's stating that he was willing to pay liberally for the restoration of the watch, the officer, after a little hesitation, said he wished to make a few inquiries in regard to it. Thereupon he questioned him as to how the article came into his possession originally. Though somewhat surprised at the question and the manner in which it was put, Henry frankly related the circumstances connected with hie own ership of it. 1 " Will you inform me of the same of the donor ?" asked the officer. "That I cannot do," was Henry's reply. " The gentleman was an eutire stranger to me." The chief shook his head as if the answer was not entirely satisfactory. "Well, young man," the officer rejoined, looking uenry Keenly m the eye, " 1 may aa well be plain with you. Information has been lodged at this office that a watch similar to this in ' every respect, was stolen from a gentleman when the disaster you mentioned occurred." " That watch stolen, and I suspected of being the thief I" said Henry, flushing with astonishment and indignation. - " One answering to your name and de scription," replied the ohief, ascribing Henry's rising color to conscious guilt, "is said to be the one whe took it, and I have been reqaested to detain the watch and the person who should claim it, nntil a full in quiry was made into the matter." "Then, Mr. Officer," said nenry, who had recovered from his surprise, "I sup pose that I am to consider myself your prisoner ?" The officer smiled blandly upon his in terlocutor. - " Have you any objections to inform me of the name of the gentleman from whom the watch is supposed to be stolen ?" again asked Henry. "Not in the least. The gentleman's name is Charles Wlnthrop, a well-known merchant of this city." . "And did be state to you that the watch was stolen, and request my detention ? " "Ono; be is still confined at home by his injuries. It was a young man con nected with the family, I think." " Will you oblige me with Mr. Winthrop's address?". " Certainly," replied the officer; I will look for it In the directory. " While he is consulting ' that ponderous volume, ' we will turn ' to other scenes and characters connected with our story,lcavlng Henry to meditate and a bitter 'smile came with the reflection on the inauspL clous events attending ' his starting iu life First, a railroad " smash-up" and a broken arm ; second, an assault, robbery and a broken head; third, a prisoner accused of theft. No marvel that bis mental query should be what next f Severe were the sufferings, and long and tedious the illness of Mr. Winthrop, consequent upon the injuries he had re ceived. For a time life and death hung in the balance, which preponderated almost hopelessly in the direction of the latter ; but careful nursing and a good constitution turned the scales favorably, and when he became convalescent he rallied more speed ily, taking his age into consideration, than the most sanguine hopes had anticipated. It was nearly six months before he was able to leave his sick chamber, and, for a change of . scene, to hobble with the aid of crutches into his sitting-room and library. During all his confinement Clara had been 'ministering angel" indeed to hlm,assid- uous in her attentions, and by her constant care anticipating his every wish. If it had been possible to more closely cement the hearts of uncle and niece, the intercourse and experiences of that sick room most surely perfected the union. Mr. Winthrop had explained to Clara all the circumstances relating to his watch being in Peabody's possession, and was never -tired of eulogizing the latter'i con duct at the time of the disaster, and of acknowledging the obligations nnder which he rested to him, insisting that but for the aid he rendered, his life would have been sacrificed. To all this you may be very sure Clara lent not an impatient or unwil ling ear. ... Bhe had mentioned to her uncle the cir- cumstanoe of her meeting with Mr. Peabody in the cars, and of the suspicions which the sight of his watch had raised in the mind of Edward Perham. She frankly acknowl edged how strongly from the first she was prepossessed with the former, nor did she withold the faot that she had defended him when the latter avowed his belief that he had stolen the watch. The old gentle man cordially commended her for so doing, and was highly indignant that any one ehould mistake the young man for a rogue. Perham had been absent from the city most of the time of Mr. Winthrop's con finement. When in town he had called two or three times on Clara, who, glad of the pretext, excused herself from seeing him on the plea of being engaged in attend. ing on her uncle. On his last visit he sent word to her that he was on the eve of leav ing town for a time, and wished particu larly to see her ; but surmising his object, Clara was more particularly bent on not seeing him, and was obdurate in refusing him an interview. ' ' ' In former years, during his frequent absences, Perham had been in the habit of occasionally writing to her, although Clara never encouraged the correspondence ; but of late no letters had passed between them, and she had hoped that the correspondence would not be renewed. It was greatly to her surprise, therefore, that she one day received a letter addressed in, his well known ' handwriting. But she was vastly more surprised at its contents. The letter commenced with a reiteration of his love for her, and ended with formal proffer of his hand. The former he bad frequently manitested more plainly than was agreeable to her, but this was the first time be bad made an outright proposi tion for marriage. There was something in the phraseology of the letter which irri tated Clara and yet provoked a smile. It evinced a ridiculous assurance of the favor able reception of his suit, at toast, so it struck Clara, while the offer was made as if he was conferring rather than seeking a favor. A scornful flush pasted over Clara's face as she finished the perusal of the letter and tossed it somewhat contemptuously aside, which boded any but a favorable re joinder to the offer it contained. " The letter seems to disturb you; what is it, my child ?" said Mr. Winthrop, who sat opposite to her comfortably bolstered in his sickchair, and who was struck with the effect produced by the letter. Clara had no secrets from her uucle, but she hesitated a moment before replying to Ills remark. She had received the impres sion that her uncle rather countenanced the addresses of Perham, although not a word had passed between them on the subject. ' "Will you please read it, uncle?" she said, taking the lotto; from the table and passing it to him. ' . ' - The old gentleman put on his spactiioles and read the letter through. "' "The young man seems to be very confi dent, " said Mr. Winthrop, with a grave smile, as he handed back the letter. " Have you given him any reason for being so ?" " Say presumptuous, uncle I" was the quick reply ; " no sir, I have not." " And I au very glad to hear you say so, Clara t" rejoined her uncle, emphatically, much to her surprise. " I once entertained a very favorable opinion of Edward Per ham, but it has materially changed." Then, as if in reply to an inquiring look of his niece, he went on to say: 'When I was jammed in the wreck of the cars I called upon a young man sitting at the foot of a tree for assistance, but he took no notice of me. Presently the yonng man Peabody came along, and, espying me, came to my aid. Partly disabled him self, he found that he could not effect my release, ne appealed also to the young man for help, instead of rendering which, he started to move off, pretending to be lame. Peabody followed him, and forced him reluctantly to return with him. It was then I first discovered that this young man, who seemed to lack the common feel ings of humanity, was Edward Perham." " Why, did he not know you, uncle ?" asked Clara. " No, my child, neither would you have recognized me, my features wore so dis guised by the blood from the wound in my forehead, and soot and dirt." 1 But why did you not make yourself known?" ' It was my first impulse, but I was so disgusted with the spirit he manifested that I refrained; besides, before I waa. fairly extricated, he took himself off. His. contemptible conduct brought out in. stronger light the noble actions of Peabody.. Although suffering from a severe wound, he behaved heroically from the first occur-, renceof the disaster; and fnm the time be fell in with me until we parted, he did. not for a moment relax in his attention to. 1. I am glad, my child," concluded Mr.. Winthrop, "to know that you hav.e not. placed your affections on one so utterly un worthy of them as Edward reruam. Some two or three weeks after the con versation between Clara and her undo, Perham returned to the city. On the day of his return he had read in the papers an account of the Waylaying of Peabody, and the robbery of his watch. Smarting undct the peremptory refusal of his suit by Clara, received but a short time before, and be lieving, from what he had observed in the cars, and from Clara's subsequent defence of him, that Peabody stood high in her favor, he thought that now was the oppor tunity to prove that his suspicions- were " well founded. He thought, moreover, if he oould bring about Peabody's conviction for robbing her uncle, the mortification it would occasion her would be some slight revenge for Clara's rejection of bira. With out consulting Mr. Winthrop in the matter he had lodged the information and request with the chiof of police already alluded to. In the afternoon of the day of his arrest Henry appeared in a justice oourt, to an swer to the charge preferred against him. Aa Mr. Perham took the stand, Henry was surprised to find that his former fellow passenger in the cars was his accuser. Could it be that Miss Weston also believed him guilty? The possibility that such might be the case pained him not a little. This being but a preliminary examina tion, the full merits of the case were not entered into, the main object being to elicit evidence sufficient to hold the accused for future trial. , , . Mr. Perbani's statement was, that to the best of his belief the watoh belonged to Mr. Charles Winthrop; that it was in his possession at the time of the railroad disas ter, but when he was brought home the watch was not' to be found; that the day after the accident he saw the watch in tho possession of the accsued, which watch was now on his honor's desk. The chief of police stated that the prisoner's account of the watch . being In his possession was, that it was given to him soon after the ac cident occurred; that the donor of it was a perfect stranger , to him that he did not even know his name. . Robberies of the unfortunate victims of railroad disasters had become of such fre quency that the publio mind was keenly exited on the subjeot. , Strenuous efforts bad been made to secure some one impli cated in the crime, that an example might be made of him to deter others from such heinous aots. An arrest on a charge of this kind was sufficient to create a preju dice againBt the accused, and there were but few, if any, then present in the oourt room who were not perfectly satisfied of Henry's guilt. 1 . ; Peabody had let matters take their course asking po questions, making no re mark, his silence telling against him nn til the justice asked him if he had anything to say in his defence. Very calm, Very de liberate was Henry's reply: ,' COXTIHOED ON SECOND ti.0.
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