Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-07-28

me IL missing, SAID MI. MOTIFS, shutting
the office door upon US three. HE was
seen to return late in the evening. He was
one of the band of housebreakcrs when we
took him in, and many declare the charac-
ter to be formed a. six years old. He was
nine. believe he has been won back to
his old ways"
"You will not express your belief to 9th.
ers, " said Mr.. Grinby.
mot as yet, most certainly" said Mr..
Morris.
Well, sir, that WAS bitter cold day to
me--a bitter day. Wecould learn nothing
of young Wade after eight o'clock on the
previous night. Then several had seen
him. He taken tea at little cotfee-house.
as he sometimes did when be did not in
tend to return home until quite late, and
had said to some one there, ~ must 20
60 back TO the Office, have forgotten some.
thing"
Half an hour afterward Mike, the porter,
had passed him in the street. and young
Wade had said
whats the time, Mike?
The porter told him,
II shall be too late, he said. 81 have
OIL ChSuhCmCHt, anu hi4ol Ky DdCh w our
place for parcel I've forgotten.
An apple woman on the corner had seen
him enter. He often bought fruit from her
for lunch, and she kaew him by sight.
There the news ended, until Mike, going
in to light the fires, found the place scene
of confusion desks and safes rifed, papers
strewed about, and every mark of syssemat.
ic burglary.
Lat in the day Lucy Evans came down.
Her brother had sent her word o. nat had
occurred. She believed some accident had
happened to Ben, and begged the firm to
spare no efforts to discover him. She was
almost distracted, and who can wonder?
They had been going together, it seemed,
to see some play the night before, and she
had been sufficiently alarmed by his failing
to keep the appointment to be in meas
ure prepared for worse. She knew he in.
tended to bring her book. He had spok-
en- 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 presence,
For weeks, sir, the authorities were at
work. Immense rewards were offered for
the burglars, and the recovery alive or
dead of young Benjamin Wade, but with
out the least effect.
We were notified of everybody washed
ashore, and of every unknown man found
dead for months, and at last there were
few men who did not laugh at poor Ben's
friends for their credulty.
1t seemed plain to them-and may heav-
en- not judge them as they judged their
brother-Ben. Wade was guilty
Poor Lucy never looked up. 1t was easy
enough to see that her heart was broken,
and in year she died, just week too
soon to hear what shall tell you.
One morning WAS very busy at my desk
in my office, when gentleman came in and
asked for either MIR. Morris or Mr.. Grinby.
Old Mr. Grinby was at home with the govt,
but MIR. Morris and the young gentleman
were in. l saw the gentleman was clergy
man, and fancied he had called to solicit
subscription for someo 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
committed here year ago, or more"
IoulN NV hCVP LIZ oCos tuOht pds WOW
forward, trembling like a leaf
Young Mr.. Grinby had turned quite faint,
and was leaning against the wall for sup
port
"You are agitated," said the clergyman /;
II fear you will be still more affected by
what you must soon hear. A person now in
custody, condemned to execution, has q
confession to make to you in regard to the
AFFAIR." very horrible one, fear"
He took card from his pocket, and
wrote q few lines.
IF you will call at the prison any time
to-day, you will not be too late. 1t is Fri
day, and he is to suffer execution at dawn.
Present this, if you please, and | implore
You to ask no questions now.
Before they could say much he was gone,
afraid, think, to be the first to tell the
story, ana our gentlemen called a cab and
took me with them at my request. They
seemed to expect us at tie prison, and We
were admitted. But in the narrow corridor
Morris stopped us.
Gentlemen, he said, "you must nerve
yourselves. Have you reflect that you
may see Benjamin Wade when yonder door
is opened
Young Grinby put his hand upon his
heart and seemed turning faint again. 1t
was the first time the thought had entered
my mind, and 1t was blow. 1t stag
gered me.
The next minute the turnkey flung the
door open, and We were in the cell. On
the door lay mana broad-shouldered
felow--in rough garments-who seemed to
have cast himself down in grief or terror.
II was not Ben. Wade, At first thought
| never had seen the face be lifted as he
rose. In a moment 1t came to me.
1t was the leader of the gang who had
been arrested for tEat old attempt at rob
berry when we had found little Ben in the
stone yault.
You've come, have your be said sitting
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.
Ii il wasn't for that, no person I'D have
rot this out of me- But I've promised,
and always keep my promise, de. lon
remember young man called Ben. Wade;'
What of him. we cried in breath.