The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-11-08
The Detected Traitor.
BY WILLIAM c. PECK.

The proud and wealthy James
Agmoor, silk and velvet merchant
Of Broadway, New York, was just
entering his superb bazaar, as ono
of his clerks respectfully saluted
him, and started to pass out. s.l.
! "AGr. Clair, l shall desire your
! presence in my Office ere long" said
the merchant "do not leave the
store until i have spoken with
you." a..r-.-.. ... - ......
There was an ominous stcrnness
in his tone that attracted the quick
ear Of Thornton Clair, and as he
! gazcd after his pompous chief, who
strobe on with unusual haste, his
eye caught that of Hiram Mould,
the chashior, pecring with uncon-
cealed malice through the mahog-
any bars of his desk. Thornton
Clair had arrived in New York
four months before from some city
OF the far West and upon applying
to James Agmoor, his manly and
intelligent face had s. pleased that
gentleman that his services were
Immediately accepted, and he was
given the responsible post of col
lectOr. .0..
This was by no means agreeable
to the envious Mould, nor did his
vexation diminish as he saw that
James Agmoor daily grew more
and more attached to the youth.
While Clair stood awaiting the
expected summons, and as Mr.. Ag-
moor entered his private Office, the
cashier moved from his seat, and
following his principal, carefully
closed the green baise door after
him. ... -.r ....r
1t was strange to see the proud
and pompous air of he lordly mer-
chant change to one of ill-conceal-
ed fear and disgust as the cashier
bade him good day and seated him
self near him, facing him, and hav-
ing tho Office table between them.
"You have considered my prop
ositions, James Agmoor," said he,
in a smooth, soft voice, sleek and
silky as the precious fabrics that
were about them.
James Agmoor buried his face in
his hands for 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
tembling hands.
81 have told my daughter that
you demanded her for a wife. She
told me to tell you that she would
rather be beggar in the streets
than the wife Of Hiram Mould"
81 told her ALL" burst from the
quivering lips Of the merchant. 81
told her that Hiram Mould was the
master of her father; that ere she
was born | had committed crime
"a crime that has blanchcd my
hair before | have numbered my
,forty-fitth year." .. ....
"And then she relented?"
"She asked me to tell her of that
crimc," replied Agmoor, and as he
spoke his eyes grew bright, and
looked Hiram Mould full in the
face. 81 told her. She said the
deed was not a 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, l the only
witness of the act, James Agmoor,
| would swear that it was premedi-
tated murder" a-.
James Agmoor's eyes closed with
shudder, and again the trembling
hands hid his pallid face.
81 would swear" resumed Hiram
Mould, as his sharp white teeth
bristled from his sneering lips,
"and the jury would believe every
word, that one summers evening,
some twenty years ago, l saw
James Agmoor, who had refused
to fight in fair and open combat
with Charles Harper, crouching
amid the bushes that bordered the
highway through Jersey woods;
and as Charles Harper was riding
unsuspectingly by, I saw James
Agmoor spring from his covet and
strike him to the earth with a club
4 would swear that James Ag-
moor then and there murdered
Charles Harper, and buried the
body where / could find the bones;
aye, find the watch that should
identify the body" l.-- 'a'
GAIL false!' cried the merchant
arousing himself a moment
"HSTwas Agmoor who dragged from
his horse Charles Harper!-
Twas Hiram Mould who prompted
the assault for purposes Of his own
because he hated each with a
deadly hate. You, Hiram Mould
| first made us, who were till then,
bosom friends, bitter enemies. He
struck, mel returned the blow;
| lie drew his knife and stabbed me-
but before I fell senselcgs / wrested,