The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-11-08
MISCEILANY Y.
The Detected Traitor.

AC hDCktIGSG s. . &akaOBs
The proud and wealthy James Ag-
moor, silk and velvet merchant of Broad
way, New York, was just entering his
superb bazaar, as one of his clerks re-
spectfully saluted him, and started to
pass out.
&" Mr. Clair, I shall desire your pres
ence in my office ere long" said the mer-
chant. "Do not leave the store until |
have spoken with you"
There was an omiuous sterpness in his
tone that attracted the quick ear of Thorn
ton Clair, and as he gazed after his pom
pous chief, who strobe on with unusual
haste, his eye caught that Of Hiram
Mould, the cashier, peering with uncon-
cealed malice through the mahogany bars
OF his desk. Thornton CLAIR had arrived
/ IN New York four months before from
some city Of the far West, and upon ap-
plying to James Agmoor, his manly and
Intelligent face had so pleased that gen
tlemau that his services were Immediate
! ly accepted, and be was given the respon-
/ sible post Of collector.
This was by no means agreeable to the
envious Mould, nor did his vexation di-
minish as he saw that James Agmoor dai.
| Iy grew more and more attached to the
youth
While Clair stood awaiting the expect
ed summons, and as Mr.. Agmoor entered
his private Office, the cashier moved from
bis seat, and following his principal, care
fully closed the green baize door after
him.
1t was strange to see the proud and
pompous airof the lordly merchant change
to one ofin-conceaIed fear and disgust, as
the cashier bid him good day and seated
himself near him, facing him, and having
the office table between them.
"Iou have considered my propositions,
James Agmoor," said he in a smooth, soft
voice, sleek and silky as the precious fab
RIGS that were about them.
James Agmoor buried his face in his
hands for a moment, and then sweeping
back his snow white hair, said huskily:
81 have, Hiram Mould, l have !" and
his face, pale and red by turns, again
sought the cover of his trembling hands.
| have told my daughter that you de-
landed her for a wife. She told me to
tell you that she would rather be a beg
gar in the streets than the wife of Hiram
Mould
Il told her all" burst from the quiv-
ering lips of the merchant. 1" | told her
that Hiram Mould was tie master Of her
father; that ere she was born | commit
ted a crime-a crime whose ever present
guilt has blanched my hair before have
numbered my frrty-ffth year"
And then she relented 2"
" She asked me to tell her of that crime.
replied Agmoor, and as he spoke his eyes
grew bright, and he looked Hiram Mould
full in the face. 81 told her. She said
the deed was not crime-that the blow
was dealt in self.defence that killed
Charles Harper And so it was. Hiram
Mould, you know it was"
Were we in court, |, the on y witness
of the act, James Agmoor, | would swear
that it was-premedItated murder"
James Agmoor's eyes closed with a
shudder, and again the trembling hands
hid his pallid face.
81 would swear" resumed Hiram
Mould, as his sharp, white teeth brlstled
from his sneering lips, "and the jury
would believe every word, that one sum
mer's evening some twenty years ago,
saw James Agmoor, who had refused to
fight in fair and open combat with Charles
Harper, crouching auld the bushes that
bordered the highway through jersey
woods and as Charles Harper was riding
unsus pectingly by, l saw James Agmoor
spring from his covert and strike him to
the earth with club would swear that
James Agmoor then and there murdered
Charles Harper, and buried the body
where | could find the bones; aye, find
the watch that should identify the body.
"All false !" cried the merchant, arous-
ing himself a moment. "'Twas James
Agmoor who was dragged from his horse
by Charles Harper. Twas Hiram Mould