Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-11-17
The Detected Traitor.
By WM. II. PECK.

| broadway, New I ork, was just enter
ing his superb bazaar, as one Of his
clerks respectfully saluted him, and
started to pass on.
"Mr. Clair, I shall desire your pres
ence in my Office ere long, said the
mercbant.-'Do not leave the store un-
I'll have spoken with you"
| There was an oninous sternness in
his tone that attracted the quick ear OF
Thornton Clair; and as he gazed after
his pompous chief, who strobe on with
unusual haste, his eye caught that OF
Hiram Mould, the cashier, peering
with unconcealed 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 applying to James
Agmoor, his manly and intelligent face
had 50 pleased that gentleman that his
services were Immediately accepted,
and he was given tho responsible post
Of collector.
This was by no means agreeable to
the envious Mould, nor did his vexa-
ton diminish as he saw that James Ag-
moor daily grew more and more at
tached to the youth.
While Clair was awaiting the expec-
ted summons, and as Mr.. Agmoor en-
tered his private office, the cashier
moved from his seat, and followed his
principal, carefully closing the green
baize door after him.
It was strange to see the proud aud
pompous air Of the lordly merchant
change to one OF ill-concealed fesr and
disgust, as the cashier bade him good
day and seated himself near him, hay
ing the office table between them.
"You have considered my PROPOSE
ton, James Agmoor,'' said he, in a
smooth, soft voice, sleek and silky as
the precious fabrics that were about
him.
james Agmoor buried his fece In his
hands fora moment, and then sweep
ing back bis snow-white HAIR, said
huskily:
II have! Hiram Mould, I have p
and his face, pale and red by turns,
sought the cover Of his hands. II have
told my daughter that you demanded
her for wife. She told me to tell you
that she had rather be d beggar in the
streets than the wife of Hiram Mould.
81 told her ALL" burst from the quiv-
ering lips Of the merchant. II told
her that Hiram Mould wax the master
Of her father; and that I had commit
ed a crilne-a crime whose ever-pres-
cnt guilt had blanchcd my hair before
I had numbered 1ny forty-ffth year.
"And she relented -
"She asked me to tell her of that
crime," replied Agnocr, and as he
spoke bis eye grew bright and looked
Hiram Mould full in the face. Il told
her. She said the deed wss not crime
the blow was dealt in self defence
that killed Charles Harper. And SO it
was, Hiram Mould, you know it was"
ever we in court, and / the only
witness Of the act, James Agmoor, I
would swear that it was-premeditated
murder"
James Agmoor's eyes closed with q
shudder, and again the trembling hands
hid the paliid face.
'tI would swear" resumed Hiram
Mould, as his sharp white teeth brist-
led from bis sneering lips, "and the
jury would believe every word, that
| one summer evening some twenty
years ago, saw James Agmoor; who
had refused to fight in fair and open
combat with Charles Harper, crouch
ing amid the bushes that bordered the
highway through Jersey woods; and
as Charles Harper was riding unsus-
pectingly, / saw James Agmoor spring
from his covert and strike him to the
earth with club. would swear that
James Agmoor then and there nnur.
dered Charles Harper, and burie i the
body where I could find the bones {;
aye, and the watch that would identi-
fly the body"
Call false!'' cried the merchant,
arousing himself for moment. "James
Agmoor was dragged from his horse
by Charles Harper! Twas Hiram
Mould who prompted the assault for
purposes of his own-because he hated
each with deadly hate. Yes, Hiram
|, Mould first made us, who were till then
bosom friends, bitter enemies. He
struck me, l returned the blow; he
drew his knife and stabbed me, but be-
| fore I fell senseless / wrested the weap-
on from him and dealt him fatal thrust
that prostrated him also. We fell to-
gether-ahke unconcious-1 in swoon,
he dead. When senses and feelings
returned to me, I was in your house
| Y0ss. Hiram Mould, hid the BODY where