The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-09-23

Il mah, sir, anG he saio nc vail ioi
an answer
Then suppose he's waiting?'
Yes, sir
Very we'll show him In !
Soon there was light tap at the door,
the servant ushered in the stranger, who
was vergng on sixty, was OF a rough APP
pearance and attire, wore an Old gray over
coat, buttoned to,ihe throat, and a pair Of
green goggles, and his whole dress was
saturated with rain.
Take seat, said the banker, pointing
to chair near the fire.
No, thank you, | II stand, was the
gruff reply. You got my letter, and OF
course you know my business, he adj
ded
You alluded to this, | suppose, replied
the banker producing the letter which had
caused him so much perturbation.
Yes
I do not understand it. You must have
made mistake.
No mistake at all. was present TWEEN
ty years ago the tenth OF next October,
and saw you, Stephen Edwards, shoot the
man-and if you deny it III have you 10
prison before morning. I've laid my plans
and got everything sure and II you go
! to playing innocent. and refuse my terms,
| | H take care to see you die stretching
hemp
The banker then turned pale in spite
of himself, shrugged aud staggered to
! seat.
| You are in my power, he continued,
and can only escape the hanging you de-
serve in one way. Pay me over to.mor
row night, suitlng your own convenience
a. to time and place, the sum OF enc huns
Gr d thousand dollars.
Can give tit would ruin me.
Just as you say reioined the other
making towards the door You know
what will follow if go this way.
He argued, urged and implored for mer
cy at less fearful cost In vain. At last
the banker-seeing ruin, disgrace and
death before him ifhe refused-agraed to
terms. He also agreed to meet the strang
er with the required SIM ON the following
night, in front of st. Paul's church, Both
were punctual to the fixed time, and bills
and checks to the amount Of one hundred
thousand dollars changed hands.
A month later there was a tremendous
run on the bank on which Stephen Ed
wards was the principal owner. 1t was soon
| broken and closed. Then the sheriff was
set TO work by eager creditors, and the real
estate and personal property of the late
millionaire was seized and sold, leaving him
beggar and just claims unsatieGed -
Fashionable friends deserted the family, and
the proud nobleman refused the hand of
the ruined bankers accomplished daugh
| ter.
In the very midst of his disgrace and
circulation, Stephen Edwards encountered
the man who had turned pale and become
so aglGated IN his presence short time be
! fore
L rather think you do not know me,
sir, said the gentleman with a formal
bow.
Your face seems somewhat familiar, hut
| cannot name you returned Stcpen Ell
wards.
Permit me to bring myself to your rec
objection, then, as | wish you to know me-
| 4 little more than six weeks ago | was
talking with you on business, and you OBJ
came agitatcd.
All, yes-I remember you now
Let NE tell you why | was thus affected
My eye CHANGED on curious seal which
once belonged to a merchant named Phil
ip s dDey, who was shot in the western
part of this state twenty years ago and
on looking at your features closely, | knew
you to be the villain who committed the
foul deed.
'Mcrciful God = exclaimed the astonish-
ed banker viii blanched face aud quaked
form.
Yes, | know you pursued the other,
| and week after disguised myself and
had an interview with you in your own
mansion. You remember that Of course Z?
But, gaspcd the trembling wretch, did
| not pay your own price to keep the fatal
secret?
Yes, and with that very money, and
with what | could command, was enabled
to buy enough of your bills to make that
run upon your bank that broke it and forced
ruin upon you
And what would you do, now that
am ruined?' inquired the other, with the
deadly calmness of desperation
Now that | have had my revenge, |
want you to know that | myself am the
man you attempted to murder and did
rob. | am Philip Sidney +! Behold where
the ball struck and glanced and he took
of his hat and showed it,
Goo be praised CALCULATED the other,
God be praised that you are yet living,
and unable to restrain his emotion, he burst
into tears. oh, sir, he continued, you
have taken load from my soul Though
poverty, beggary and disgrace are staring
me IN the face. | am not guilty Of murder,
and am more happy than [ have been in
twenty years, with all the luxurious sur
roundings of wealth. 1t was my first and
my last crime [ have been able to tell
how | was induced to so outrage my nature
as on that fearful occasion. Now, sir, do
with with me what you wil-only | pray
be mercltul to my innocent family"
forgive you, returned the other ex
tending his hand. I forgive you. You
have been fearfully punished already, and
as God has seen fit to preserve US and
! bring us together, let us hope, for our
present and future savation, to endeavor
to so live as to deserve the blessings we re-
celve. l will restore to You enough to
place you and your family above want, and
tor the rest, know we shall. soon have to
render an account ia another world.
Philip Sydney kept his word, AID with
a start in the world and an sy conscience,
the yet enterprising Stephen Edwards ac-
| cumula ed another respectable fortune,
much of which he spent in charity.
| pb;Ep GyIpo,, - h,