Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-07-29

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felt half ashamed of myself, for, in honest
truth, my estimate of Frank Cherrute's s
character was founded only upon the
fact that he wore blue dress coat with
brass buttons. He appeared to be all
frankness and honesty; his face was re-
markably intelligent and pleasant in ex-
preston; and each hours acquaintance
with him served to impress me with a
more favorable opinion Of him. l pre-
tend to be an excellent Judge of human
nature, but must confess that this young
fellows character puzzled me greatly.
We'll, the sequel OF my character will
prove to the reader how near l came to
guessing the truth.
As | was saying, 1t was not long be-
fore disposition showed itself on the
part Of the passengers to become socia
BILE. On the second day out from St.
Louis this inclination led to a general
sociability. Desiring to be very partic.
ular and truthful in my narrative,I must
add that only one man in the whole
crowd kept aloof from the rest-a gen.
tleman in black suit and white choker;
long hair and bushy whiskers, who sat
day and night at side-tabe near his
state-room, peering through pair OF
green spectacles into the pages Of di-
lapidated work that looked as if it night
be Hebrew work written in the time
of Moses. In every crowd you will find
one or two just such unsociable charac-
ters as this gentleman, whom some of
the passengers set down as a Mormon
Elder, whilst others asserted that he
must be Baron Won Humboldt bimself,
or some other distinguished foreigner on
his travels. Curiosity led us to exam.
inc the passenger list, when we discov-
cred that the studious Strangers name
was DR.. Herman Biukcrwissel. and that
his destination was New. Orleans. AL
though he sat right AZ our elbows. when
Cherrute, Merton, Bigbce and l were
conversins, yet not word did we sue
| coed in cliciting from our dull neighbor.
We at length concluded that he did not
understand our language. and so ceased
our endeavors to draw him into CONVEX
saton.
But, my gracious! if stop on the
road to describe every passenger on the
boat, ] perceive it will be tedious ur
ney to the end Of my narrative, which
principe concerns Mr.. Merton and his
ten thousand dollars, Frank Cherrute
and his blue dress coat with brass but
tons, and Tom Bigbce and his pair Of
extraordinary gloves. 1, is on these
gloves that the interest Of my story
'hangs." They were of peculiar
make, and excited our ina nation one
night as we were seated around the
stove. After they had ben sufficiently
examined by US all, Tom put them, as he
thought in his coat pocket /, Happen
ed, however. tha, one OF them fell upon
the floor. Cherrute quickly picked it
up. saying, "iou have dropped one.
and obligingly stuck it In Toms pocket
for him, instead Of handing it to the
owner. At ie4st we supposed he had
put it in the pocket with the other; al
though subsequent events convinced me
that Mr.. Chesru,e had mere 7 pretend
ed" to do SO, and that he had retained
the odd glove TOR a vile purpose then
only known to himself.
( That night. Mr.. Mer.on's ten thou
sand dollars were stolen from his state.
room His trunk had been broken open
during the night, and the little box con.
tanning his treasure and quantity Of
papers had been distracted.
/ Merton discovered his loss early next
morning. Wild with excitement, he
immediately spread tie intelligence
throughout the boat. The hubbub ere
ated was immense; and every man and
woman aboard suggested plan for fe;-
ret,ing out the thief. Frank Cherrute
proposed that Merton's state.room should
be searched. as some clue might have
been left there by which to detect the
robber.
The room was searched, and a clue
was found-in the shape Of AN ODD
GLOVE that had been left behind by the
thief. 1t was one of these gloves that
Tom Bigbee had been seen to wear the
evening before. Merton rushed into
the cabin with this evidence of Tom $
guilt. and exclaimed
There stands the thief Bigbee is
the owner of this glove. and charge
him with the theft of my money !"
Toms amazement may be imagined
upon being thus accused, My own as
tonishment was no less. l had known
him from childhood. and was confident
that more honorable, upright man new
er trod the earth.
"lmpossibls :! Indignantly cried.
But the excited loser Of the money
could not be induced to withdraw the
charge. No one but himself. he said,
had been permitted to enter his state
room since he had taken possession of it
Some body had entered it without his
knowledge during the preceding night,
and stolen the money. The thief had
fortunately left this clue to his identity.
He had seen the glove in Bisbee's pos
session before the robbery, and he now
demanded that his trunks should be
searched.
Don't be too hasty." eagerly inter-
posed Frank Cherrutc. "there may be
other gloves of the same kind as Mr..
Bigbee's, and if that gentleman can pro-
duce his pair, claim that your suspi-
c.ons are unjust"
Tom instantly examined his pockets,
and thoroughly, but fruitlessly. He