The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-05-12

appointment to be in measure prepared
for the worse. She knew he intended to
bring her book. He had spken of it.
That must have been the parcel he went
back for. OF course she never doubted
him, and no one dared to hint at what
had been whispered in her absence.
For weeks. sir, The authorities were at
work. Immense rewards were offered for
the burglars, and for the recovery, alive
or dead, of young Benjamin Wade, but
without the least effect.
We were notified of every body washed
ashore, and of every unknown man found
dead for months, and at last there were
few who did not laugh at poor Ben's
friends for their credulity.
1t seemed plain to them-and NAV
Heaven not Judge them as they Judged
their brother-Ben Wade " as guilty
Poor Lucy never looked up 1t was
easy enough to see that her heart was
broken, and in year she died-inst a
week too soon to hear what shall tell
you.
One morning l was very busy at my
desk in the office when gentleman came
and asked for either Mr. Morris or Mr..
Grinby. Old Mr.. Grinby was at home
with the gout, but Mr.. Morris and the
young gentleman were in. / saw the gen.
tieman was clergyman and fancied he
had called to solicit a subscription for
some mission to the heather, or Sunday
school, or new church. But his first
words made me start They were these
You remember, of course, burglary
that was committed here year ago, or
more
l could not keep my seat then, but
went forward, trembling like leaf.
Young MIR. Grinby had turned quite
faint, and was leaning against the wall for
support.
You are agitated,' said the clergyman !;
Il fear you. will be still more affected by
what you must soon hear. A person now
in custody, condemned TO execution, has
confession to make to yousin regard to
that affair-a very horrible one, fear
He took card from his pocket and
wrote few lines.
| II you will call at the prison any time
! TO day, you will not be too late 1t is
Friday, and he is to suffer execution at
dawn. Present this, if you please, aud
l implore you, ask no questions now
Before they could say much he was
gone. Afraid, think, to be the first to
tell the story, our gentlemen called cab
and took me with them at my request.
! They seemed TO expect US at the prison,
and we were admitted. But in the mar
/ rO,.y onrrilor Marie of,DnaI
Gentlemen he said, you must nerve
yourselves. Have you reflected that you
may see Benjamin Wade when yunder
door is opened 2
Young Grinby put his hand upon his
heart, and seemed turning faint again
! 1t was the first time the thought entered
my mind, and it was blow. 1t stagger-
ed me.
The next minute the turnkey flung the
/ door open, and we were in the cell. On
/ the floor lay mana broad shouldered
fellow, in rough garments-who seemed
to have cast himself down in grief or ter
ror 1t was not Ben Wade At first |
thought had never seen the face he lifted
! as he rose. In a moment it came TO me
1t was the leader of the gang who had
been arrested for that old attempt at rob-
berry, when we had found little Ben in the
stone vault.
You've come, have you p said he, sit
ting down on the stone seat, 'and | see
you know me. They've caught me again,
and it's murder this time, and I've got to
swing. If it wasn't for that, no person
'ud have got this out of me. But Eve
promised, and | always keep my WORD, -
l do. You remember young man call
ed Ben Wade 2
'What of him 2 we cried in a breath.
Not much-he didn't rob your place,
that's all. We done it-Dick Burch,
and Slippery Tom and me. Tell you
how it was You know that boy inform
ed on US, and l was locked mp for hard
labor for more years than most men live.
| didn't stay, thought cut off and came
home. And the first thing l did was to
VOW vengeance on that boy. Why, there
he was, gay young buck, in fine togs,
with the handling of money, and thought
of, and trusted, just for having done for
us Proud, too wouldn't speak 20 US
in the street. Threatened to give infor-
nation if he ever saw one of US prowline
about. | heard it all. | swore I'd fix
him and it seemed TO come to me.
'One night l was agoiu' to Slapper':
shades to have drink. BuTch was will
me and in a quiet sort of street we came
up TO Ben, in a mighty hurry.
sd have knocked him on the head
but Burch stopped me.
See what he's up to-, says he. AnC
we followed. He went down TO you
place, and went in. He left the doc
aiar, and we made the best of it. Hi
was coming out, with book or somethin;
in his hand, and we met him. He wa
plucky, tell you. One of US wouldn'
have got off SO easy but we were tw'