The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-20
So saving. be turned and moved off.

So saying, he turned and moved off.
Jack did not follow. The latter en-.
trusted to his care had been taken away
from him, and he felt that it was biz
duty to endeavor to getit back.
He did not believe it contained mucl
money, but he knew that the captain
was a poor man, who had largo fami
ly at home dependent upon hin for sup
port.
II will search for the rascal who hal
the letter, and endeavor to obtain it
while / am able to Creep" muttered th,
brave boy. SIT never shall be said o
me that allowed myself to be turned
from the path of duty by any man tina
ever breathed.
He picked up stout strick, and NOV
ing hither and thither, peered carefully
through the shrubbery that rose in thie.s
masses all around him. The moonlight .,
struggling through the branches over
his head, afforded poor ligbS LOT
search, still the boy persevered, nopius
to see the fugitive before long. MOI wa.
he disappointed, for suddenly tnere was
a rustline ahead of bin, and up rose the
man he Vas after, running toward the
The fearless youth darted after him,
shont;ng 70 the vigilante, who was not
vet ont Sight, to follow him.
The officer did SO; but he was still
some distance from the boy, when the
thief, finding himself near the edge of a
swamp, turned and leveled pistol at
the head of the youth.
"Back, you young dog" he gritted
through his teeth, "Back, if you value
your lifew
Jack pretended to be very much
alarmed. He turned and ran few
steps, then whirling round, continued
on after the fugitive, who, believing be
had frightened the boy 80 that he would
not follow him further, was now run.
ming swiftly along the edge of the
swamp.
Swift and stealthy as an Indian, Jack
pursued, until he was within q few yards
of the follow, whose course was now
obstructed by a number of "bog holes,
when he hurled his stick at the mans
head. 1t struck him on the temple, and
half stunned and bewildered he stag
gered to the side, sinking almost to hi:
hips in the marsh. He drew his pistol
however, and discharged it at the boy
but the weapon being leveled with I'M
steady aim the bullet passed over the
lads head, just gazing the right temple
of the vigilante, who was now fast com
ing.
While the thief was yet flounderinG
in the mud, his pursuors seized him ant
dragged him to the dry land.
Then he was handcuffed, and the let
ter, which had not yet been opened, wa
taken from him.
"My precious letter. cried Jack, mucl
overioyed: Il have it at lastw
While the vigilante was conducting
the thief to headquarters, the lad hur
ried to the landing, and was about tc
hail shore boat, VIXEN somebody
touched him on the shoulder.
He turned and beheld his captain, who
looked much agitat9d.
"The letterw he gasped;" hope you
did not part with it! 1 have been look
ing all over town for you. i gave you
the wrong envelope-one containing Q
five.hundred dollar bank bill If You
have given it to John the Spaniard; he
has probably lighted his cigar with ii
before now; for he is half blind, and
as have paid for the cheese, he will
think the bill is simply an Older to
have it sent. see you have not the box
-
In a few words Jack now related his
adventure, and produced the precious
envelope.
"God bless your cried the captain
But for your noble behavior you see how
great would have been my loss"
~ did not suppose, the letter contain
ed more than two or three dollar" said
Jack.
"And yet You were determined to get
it back" said the captain, patting him
approvingly on the back.
"Yes, sir; because it was entrusted to my
care"
Three years later, when the vessel
arrived home, the captain gave an &C
count of Jacks exploit to the ship
owner.
"Ah, here's person we can trustn
said the owner.
And he gave Jack the command of one
Of his best vessels:
The youth made profitable voyage
and when be returned he went int
business as an oil merchant. Every
customer knew this young man could b'
relied upon-his word was sacrcd-con
fdence in him was never displaced; ant
80 business flowed upon him rapidly
and he is now one of our most intluen'
tial citizens.
lie is generous as he is rich; he il
ever doing good with his money and thi
makes him very happy man.
Such happiness will be sure to fol
low the efforts of those who, in ever!
sense of the words, are Jaid9alto hei
trust.