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Vol. VIII.
Now Ulooiuiloltl, I3 n., Tuesday, December 15, 1874.
No. SO.
sjs 11 fpi '' TitiW'iiTi 1
mi
5 i
57
III .
if i i a
Sir
2M
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THE BOWERTON MYSTERY.
IT was a quiet place with few strangers
arriving within its borders.
When, therefore, the mail-coach one day
brought to Bowerton, an old lady and a
young ono, who appeared to be mother and
daughter, excitement ran high.
The proprietor of t he Bowerton IIouso,
who was his clerk, hostler, and table-waiter,
was for a day or two the most popular
man iu town.
The old lady was quite feeble, he said,
and the daughter was very affectionate and
very handsome, lie didn't know where
they were going, but they registered them
selves from Boston. Name was Wyett
young lady's name was Helen. lie hoped
they wouldn't leave tor a long time trav
elers were not any too plenty at Bowerton,
and landlords found it hard work to scratch
along. Talked about locating at Bowerton
if they could find a suitable cottage.
The Wyetts dually found a suitable cot
tage, and soon afterward they began to re
ceive heavy packages and boxes from the
nearest railway station.
Then it was that the responsible gossips
of Bowerton were worked nearly to death,
but each one was sustained by a fine pro
fessional pride which enabled them to pass
creditably through that most exciting
period.
For years they had skilfully pried into
each othor's privato affairs, but then they
had some starting-place, some clue ; now,
alas ! there was not in all Bowerton a sin
gle person who had emigrated from Boston
where the Wyetts had lived. Worse still,
there was not a single Bowortonian who
had a Boston correspondent.
But Bowerton was not to be baulked
in its strivings after accurate intelligence.
From Squire Brown, who leased Mrs.
Wyett a cottage, it was learned that Mrs.
Wyett bad made payment by check on an
excellent Boston bank. The poor but re
spectable female who washed the floors of
the cottage informed the publio that the
whole first floor was to bo carpeted with
Brussels. The postmaster's clerk ascer
tained and stated that Mrs. Wyett received
two religious papers per week, whereas no
one else in Bowerton took more thau one.
The grocer said that Mrs. Wyett was, by
jingo, the sort ef person he liked to trade
With wouldn't have anything that wasn't
the very best. The man who helped to do
the unpacking was willing to take oath
that among tho books were a full set of
Barnes' Notes, and two sets of commen
taries, while Mrs. Battle, who lived in the
bouse next to the cottage and who was
suddenly, on hearing the clashing of crock
ery next door, moved . to neighborly kind
ness to the extent of carrying in a nico hot
pie to the newcomers, declared that as she
hoped to be saved there wasn't a bit of
crockery in that house which wasn't pure
china.
Bowerton asked no more. Brussels car
pets, religious tendencies, a bank account,
the ability to live on the best that the mar
ket afforded, and to eat it from china, and
china only why, either one of these qual
ifications was a voucher of respectability,
and any two of them constituted a patent
aristocracy of the Bowerton standard.
Bowerton opened its doors and heartily
welcomed Mrs. and Miss Wyett.
It is grievous to relate, but the coming
of these estimable people was the cause of
considerable trouble in Bowerton.
Bowerton, like ail other places, contained
lovers, and some of the young men were
. not so blinded by the charms of their own
particular lady friends as to be oblivious to
the beauty of Miss Wyett.
Finally Jack Whi'flor, who was of a first
. family, and was a store-clerk besides, pro
posed to Miss Wyett and was declined ;
then the young ladies of Bowerton thought
that perhaps Helen Wyett had some sense
after aU.
Then young Baggs, son of a deceased
Congressman, wished to make Miss Wyett
mistress of the Baggs mansion and sharer
of the Baggs money, but his offer was re
jected.
When at last the one unmarried minister
of Bowerton, who had been the desire of
many hearts, manfully admitted that he
had proposed and been rejected, and that
Miss Wyett had informed him that she
was already engaged, all tho Bowerton
girls declared that Ilelen Wyett was a
darling old thing, and that it was perfectly
shameful that she couldn't be let alone.
After thus proving that their own hearts
were ia the right place, all the Bowerton
girls asked each other who the lucky man
could be.
Of course he couldn't bo a Bowerton
man, for Miss Wyett was seldom seen in
company with any gentloman. He must
be a Boston man be was probably very
literary Boston men always were.
Besides, if he was at all fit for her, he
must certainly be very handsome.
Suddenly Miss Wyett became the rago
among the Bowerton girls. Blushiugly
and gushingly they told her of their own
loves, and they showed her their lovers, or
pictures of those gentlemen.
Miss Wyett listened, smiled and sympa
thized, and when they sat silent expectant
of similar confidences, they were dis
appointed, and whon they endeavored to
learn even the slightest particular of Helen
Wyett's love, sho changed the subject of
conversation so quickly and decidedly
that they had not the courage to re
new the attempt.
But while most Bowertonians despaired
of learning much more about the Wyetts,
and especially about Helen's lover, there
was one who had resolved, not to know the
favored man, but to do him some frightful
injury, and that was little Guzzy.
Though Guzzy's frame was small, his
soul was immense, and Helen's failure to
comprehend Guzzy's greatness when be
laid it all at her feet had made Guzzy ex
tremely bilious and gloomy.
Many a night, when Guzzy's soul and
body should have been taking their rest,
they roamed in company up and down the
quiet street on which the Wyett's cottage
was located, and Guzzy's eyes, instead of
being fixed on tho sweet pictures in dream
land, gazed vigilantly iu the direction of
Mrs. Wyett's gate.
At length there came a time when most
men would have despaired.
Love is warm, but what warmth is proof
against the chilling blasts and pelting rains
of the equinoctial storm?
But then it was that the fervor of little
Guzzy's soul showed itself; for, wrapped
in the folds of a waterproof overcoat, he
paced his accustomed beat with the calm
ness of a faithful policeman.
And he had his reward.
As one night he stood unseen against tho
back-ground of a high wall, opposite the
residence of Mrs. Wyett he heard tho gate
hor gate creak on its hinges.
It could bo no ordinary visitor, for it was
after nine o'clock it must be he.
Hah I the lights were out 1 lie would bo
disappointed, the villain I Now was the
time, while his heart would bo bleeding
with sorrow, to wither him with reproach
es. To be sure he seemed a large man, while
Guzzy was very small, but Guzzy believed
his own thin legs to be faithful in an emer
gency. The unknown man knocked softly at the
front door, then he seemed to tap at sever
al of the windows.
Suddenly he raised ono of tho windows,
and Guzzy, who had not until then sus
pected that he had been watching a house
breaker, sped away like the wind and
alarmed the solitary constable of Bower
ton. That functionary requested Guzzy to no
tify Squire Jones, justice of the peace, that
there was business ahead, and then hasten
ed away himself.
Guzzy labored industriously for some
moiaeuts, for Squire Jones was very old,
and very cautious, and very stupid ; but he
was at last fully aroused, and then Guzzy
had an oportunity to reflect on the great
ness which would be his whon Bowerton
knew of his meritorious action.
An iustaut later the coustablo entered,
followed by two smart-looking men, who
"hud between thorn a third man, securely
handcuffed.
The priuouer was a very haudsome, intel
ligent-looking young man, except for a
pair of restless, over-bright eyes.
"There's a difference of opinion 'bout
who the prisoner belongs to," said the
constable, addressing the squire ; "and we
agreed to leave the matter to you. When
1 reached the bouse, theso gentlemen al
ready had him in hand, and they claim he's
aa escaped convict, and that they've track
ed him from the prison right straight to
Bowerton."
The prisoner gave the officer a very
wicked look, while thoso officials produced
their warrants, and banded them to the
justice for inspection.
Guzzy seemed to himself to grow big
with accumulating importance
" The officers seemed to be duly author
ized," said the squire, after, a long and
minute examination of their papers; "but
they should identify the prisoner as the
escaped convict for whom they are
searching."
" Here's his description," said one of the
officers, " in an advertisement : 1 Escaped
from tho Penitentiary, on the th instant,
William Boigb, aliat Bay Billy, alia Hand
some ; age, twenty-eight ; height, five feet
ten inches ; complexion dark, hair black,
eyes dark brown, mole on left cheek ; gen
eral appearance handsome, manly and in
telligent. A skilful and dangorousburglar.
Sentenced in 1800 to five years' imprison
ment two years yet to serve.' "That,"
continued the officer, "describes him to a
dot; and, if there's any further doubt,
look here !"
As he spoke, he unclasped a cloak which
the prisoner wore, and disclosed the strip
ed uniform of the prisoner.
" There seems no reasonable doubt in
this case and the prisoner will have to go
back to prison," said the justice. " But I
must detain him until I ascertain whether
he has stolen anything from Mrs. Wyett's
residence. In case he has done so, we can
prosecute at the expiration of his term."
Tho prisoner seemed almost convulsed
with rage, though of a sort which one of
the officers whispered to the other ho did
not exactly understand. '
Guzzy eyed him resentfully, and glared
at the officers with considerable- disfavor.
Guzzy was a law-abiding man, but to
have an expected triumph belittled and
postponed because of foreign interference
was enough to blind almost any man's
judicial eyesight.
"Well," said one of the officers, put him
in tho lock-np, and investigate in the morn
ing. ' Why, would you believe it, judge?
they say Billy has one of the finest wives
in the Commonwealth handsome, well
educated, religious, rich, and of good fami
ly. Of course she did not know what his
profession was when she married him."
Again the prisoner seemed convulsed
with that strauge rage which the officer
did not understand. But the officers were
tired, and they were too familiar with the
disapprobation of prisoners to be seriously
affected by it ; so, after an appoiutment by
the squire, and a final glare of indication
from little Guzzy, they started, under the
coustablo's guidance, to the lock-up.
Suddonly the door was thrown open,
and there appeared, with unooverod head,
streaming hair, weeping, yet eager eyes,
and mud-splashed garments, Helen Wyett.
Every one started, the officers stared,
the squire looked a degree or two less stu
pid, and hastened to button his dressing
gown ; tho restless eyes of the convict fell
on Helen's beautiful face, and were restless
no longer ; while little Guzzy assumed a
dignified pose which did not seem at all
consistent with his confused and shame
faced countenance.
"We may as well finish this case to
night, if Miss Wyett is prepared to testi
fy," said the squire, at length. "Have
you lost anything, Miss Wyett?"
"No," said Helon; "but I have found
my dearest treasure my own husband."
And putting her arms around the con
vict's neck, she kissed him, and then, drop
ping her bead on his shoulder, she sobbed
violently.
The squire was startled into complete
wakefulness, and as the moral aspect of
the Bceue presented iUtclf to him, he groau
ed :
"Onequally yoked with an onbeliever 1"
The officers looked if they were depraved
yet remorseful convicts themselves, while
little Guzzy's diminutive dimensions seem
ed to contract perceptibly.
At length the convict quieted his wifo,
and persuaded her to return to her home,
with a promise from tho officers that she
should Bee him in the morning.
Now, the jail at Bowerton, like every
thing else in the town, was decidedly an
tiquated, and consisted simply of a thickly
walled room in a building which contained
several officers and living apartmeuts.
A couple of hours rolled away, and loft
Beigb still silting moody and silent on the
single bedstead in the Boworton jail.
Suddonly tho train f his thought was
Interrupted by a low "stt stt" from the
one little, high, grated window of the jail.
The prisoner looked up quickly, and saw
the shadow of a man's head outside the
grating.
"Bellow!" whispered Beigh, hurrying
under the window.
"Are you aloue?" inquired tho shadow.
"Yes," replied the prisoner.
" All right, then," whispered the voice.
" There art secrets which no vulgar ear
should bear. My name 1b Guzzy. I have
been in love with your wife. I hadn't any
idea she was married ; but I've brought
you my apology."
" I'll forgive you," whispered the crim
inal ; but "
"'Tain't that kind of an apology," whis
perod Guzzy. "It's a steel one a tool
one of those things that gunsmiths shorten
gun-barrels with. If thoy can Baw a rifle
barrel in two in five minutes, you ought to
get out of here insido of an hour."
"Not quite," whispored Beigh. "My
hands and feet are ironed."
"Then I'll do the job myself," whisper
ed Guzzy, as be applied the tool to one of
the bars ;" for it will be daylight within
two hours."
The unaccustomed labor for Guzzy was
a bookkeeper made his arms ache severe
ly, but still he sawed away.
He wondered what his employer would
say should be be found out, but still he
sawed.
Visions of the uplifted hands and horror
stricken countenances of his brother
church members came before his eyes, and
the effect of his example upon his Sun
day school class, should ho be discovered,
tormented his soul ; but neither of these
influences affected his saw.
" Bar after bar disappeared, and when
Guzzy finally stopped to rest, Beigh saw a
small square of black sky, unobstructed by
any bars whatever.
"Now," whispered Guzzy, "I'll drop in
a small box you can stand on, bo you can
put your bands out and let mo filo off your
irons. I brought a filo or two, thinking
they might come bandy."
Five minutes later thd convict, his hands
unbound, crawled through the window,
and was helped to the ground by Guzzy.
Seizing the file from the little bookkeeper,
Boigh commenced freeing his feet. Sud
denly he stopped, and whispered :
" You'd better go now. I can take care
of myself, but if those cursed officers
should take a notion to look around, it
would go hard with you. Iiun, God bless
you, run !"
But little Guzzy straightened himself,
and folded his arms.
The convict rasped away rapidly, and
finally dropped the file and the fragments
of the last fetter. The he seized little
Guzzy's hand.
" My friend," said be," criminal though
I am, I am man enough to appreciate your
Manliness and honor. I think I am smart
enough to keep myself free, now I am out
of jail. But, if ever you want a friend, tell
Helen, she will know where I am, and I
will serve you, no matter what tho pain
and risk."
"Thank you," said Guzzy ; but the
only favor I'll ask of you might as well be
named now, and you ought to be able to
do it without paiu or risk either. It's on
ly this : be au honest man, for Helen's
sake." 1
Beigh dropped bis bead.
" There are men who would die daily for
the sake of making her happy, but you've
put it out of their power, seeing you've
married her," oontinuod Guzzy, "I'm
nothing to her, and can't be, but for her
sake to-night l'vo broken open the gun
smith's shop, broken a jail, and" here he
stopped and picked up a bundle "robbed
my' own employer's store of a suit of
clothes for you, so you mayn't be oaught
again in those prison stripes. If I've made
myself a criminal for hor sake, can't her
husband be au honest man for tho same
reason '"
The convict wrung the baud of his pre
server. He seemed to be trying to speak,
but to have some great obstruction in his
lurou;. ,
Suddenly a bright light shone on the two
men, and a voice was hoard exclaiming in
low but very ferocious tones :
" Do it, you scoundrel, or I'll put a bul
let through your head 1''
Both men looked uptothewiudow'of the
cell, anoVsaw a bulls-eye lantern, the muz
zle of a pistol, and the Bower'on consta
ble. The constable's light eye, the sights of
his pistol, and the breast of the convict
were on the same visual line.
"I've halt you covered for the last ten
minutes. I only held in to find out who
was helping you ; but I heard too much
for my credit as a faithful officer. Now,
what are you going to do ?"
"Turn over a new leaf," said the con
vict, bursting into tears.
"Then, got out," whispered the officer,
"and be lively, too its almost daybreak."
"I'll tell you what to do," said little
Guzzy, when the constable whispered :
" Wait until I got out of hearing."
The excitement which possessed Bower
ton the next morning, when tho events of
the previous night were made publio, was
beyond the descriptive powers of the best
linguists in the village. Helen Wyett a
burglar's wife 1 At first the Bowertonians
scarcely know whether to recognize her at
all, and before they were able to arrive at
a conclusion the intelligence of the convict's
escape, the breaking open of the gun
smith's shop, the finding of tho frontdoor
of Caching's store ajar, and the discovery
by Cashing that at least one suit of valua
ble clothing had been taken, came upon
tho astonished villagers and rendered them
incapable of reason, and of every other
mental attribute except wonder.
That tho prisoner had an accomplice
seemed certain, and some suspicious souls
suggested that the prisoner's wife might
have been the person ; but as one of the
officers declared he had watched her house
all night for fear of some such an attempt,,
that theory was abandoned.
For somo days Helen Wyett gavo the
Bowertonians no occasion to modify their
conduct toward hor, for she kept herself
constantly out of sight.
When, however, she did appear in the
Btreet agaiu, she met only the kindest look
and salutations, for the venerablo Squire
Jones bad talked incessantly in praise of
her courage and affection, and the squire's
fellow-townsmen know that whon their
principal magistrate was affected to tender
ness and morcy, it was from causes which
would have simply overwhelmed any ordi
nary mortal.
It was months before Bowerton gossip
descended again to its normal lovel ; for a
few weeks after the escape of Beigh, little
Guzzy, who had never been supposed to
haveunuBual credit, and whose family cer
tainly hadn't any money, left bis employer
and started an opposition storo.
Next to small scandal, financo was the
favorite burden of conversation at Bower
ton, bo the source of Guzzy's sudden pros
perity was so industriously sought and
surmised that the gossips were soon at
needles' points about it.
Thou it was suddenly noised abroad that
Mrs. Baggs, Sr., who knew everybody, had
given Guzzy a letter of iutroduction to the
Governor of the State.
Bowerton was simply confounded. What
could he want? The Governor had very
few appointments at his disposal, and none
of them were fit for Guzzy, oxcopt those
for which Guzzy was not fit. liven the
local politicians became excited, and both
sides consultod Guzzy.
Finally, when Guzzy started for the
State capitol, and Helen Wyett, as people
still called her,accompanicd him, the people
of Bowerton put on countenances of hope
loss resignation, and of a mute expectation
wbich nothing could astonish.
It might be an elopement it might be
that they were going as missionaries ; but
no one expressed a positive opinion, and
every one expressed a perfect willingness to
believe anything that was supported by
even a shadow of proof.
Their mute agony was suddonly ended,
for within forty-eight hours Guzzy and his
traveling compauion returned.
The latter seemed unusually happy for
the wile of a convict, while the former
went straight to Squire Jones and tho con
stables. Half an hour later all Bowerton
knew that William Boigh, aliat Bay Billy,
alias Handsome, had received a full and
free pardon from the Governor.
The next dav Bowerton saw a tall, hand-
rsome strangor, with downcast eyes, walk
rapidly througn the principal slreet.aud
disappear behind Mis. Wyett's gate. A
day later, and Boworton was eleetriflod by
the intelligence that the ex-burglar had
been installed as clork in Guzzy's store.
People said it was a shame that nobody
knew how soon Boigh might take to his old
Uieks again. Nevertheless, they crowded
to Guzzy's store to look at him, until
shrewd people begun to wonder whether
Guzzy hadn't really tuken Boigh as a sort
of advertisement to draw trade. ,
A few mouths later, however, they
changed their opinion, for the constable,
after the expiration of his term of office,
and while under the Influence of a glass
too muoh, reluted the whole history of the
night of Beigu's first arrival at Bowerton.
The Bowertonians were law-abiding peo
ple; but, somehow, "Guzzy's customers in
creased from that very day, and his. pros
perity did not decline even alter "Guzzy &
Beigh' was the sign over the door of tho
store which had been built and stocked
with Mrs. Wyett's money.