The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-04-22

w uen nlSlt Cdihe puiit up q iOuE
ing fire, and sought my couch beneatl
the counter. Outside it was very cold
and the snow was falling in binding
fakes. | assure you / felt eomfortabl
under the additional coverlets Mrs. Da..
had sent me that morning. Before l re
tired | had unsheathe6 the sabre, so tina
in case of emergency, it would make NJ
unnecessary noise.
1T must have been near mldDlgh
when I awoke. The storm was still
raging. and the room retained but
small degree of heat from the stove.
was about to rise to replenish the fire
for we did not want our large stock o
ink TO freeze, when heard noise a
though n rat was gnawing for dear life
| listened. and soon discovered that tn,
noise was at the front and double door
| rose and cautiously struck light ant
donned my pants and stockings. Tn,
lamp | turned low, and grasping the OLD
sabre approached the door
Sure enough, the noise was On TIT
outside, and | knew man was cuttin.
hole below the strong, large iron bar
The work accomplished, he could inser
his hand, noiselessly remove the bar
and push the door open. With bateC
breath and wildly heating heart listen
ed to the saving; the sabre was poi5ec
above my head and alongside of thu
door. Palmer and palmer grew thu
noise and at last circular piece o
the door was pushed a little inside
Then ! saw two fingers grasp and draw
il ont.
Il waited for the insertion OF III,
hand. for had determined to sever i
with the sabre / heard no noise outside
and supposed the robber was alone. No
long did wait, however, for the reap
pearance of the hand twas thrust i'll
and the fingers moved toward the bar
| struck with all the strength of m!
right ann. The robbers hand fell a
my feet. and the bleeding stump wa:
quickly Withdrawn.
Then above the war of the storm
which seemed 10 increase at every mo
ment heard words and a noise of {
person forcing his way through heav,
drifts.
81 can never Use my right hanC
again l heard the man groan. Oh
God! might have known that tina
stripping was fully armed Curse m!
folly!
picked up the severedmemher an'
examined it at the light. 1t looked a
if it belonged TO man in the meridian
Of life, and the little finger was encircle(
by heavy gold ring, with solitair,
dimond setting. 1t was a right hand
and the tipef the thumb was missing.
wrapped the hand in cotton, laid it il
the desk, and replenishing the fire
watched the door until through the ia
tai opening, saw limbs bending under
their load of snow.
II opened the door, but saw no tracks
it had showed all night and covered W
all traces of the robber. When Devices
came-he always reached the store hal
an hour before DAY. showed him the
hole and the hand. OF course he wa:
astonished
by George, boy he exclaimed
your fears were not groundless. You
may keep that old sabre tillitrusts; ant
from this hour y"ur wages stand in
creased.
"Of course BOYS, was thankful, be-
cause he had knocked under to me, and
because my wages were increased
Great search was made for the robber
but he was not found and | remained in
possession of the ring and the hand
Five years later left Dalton, which
had not been disturbed by robbers since
that memorable night kept the rob
ber's hand in spirits for near fifteen wears
when neglecting it, it spoiled, and
buried it in my lot"
But what did You do with the ring?
asked the traveller, when Mr.. Worder
concluded. had noticed his agitation
Kept it. Nothing could have induced
me to part with it. "
Would YOU not return it TO the
owner?
Perhaps he did not come by it hon
estly-he was a robber You know?
The traveller blushed.
He did, sir, he said.
What do you know about the rims
and the robber p said Mr.. Worden.
"A good deal. Look there" anC
turning up his sleeve he displayed to ouI
gaze a handles wrist.
The robber| the ex-merchant ant
half dozen of our party exclaimed, !
for one, could not keep back the Wort
''robberI
Yes, sir, said the stranger; rob
Der once, but one, thank God, nolongcr
The loss of my right hand reformed me
Oh, never shall ! forget that night-ml
march through the drifts to my compan
ions in the suburbs of Dalton; how
was compelled, to save my life, to hole
snow upon the stump. While my com
rades in crime were binding up tn,
wounded member, | swore by my Goo
to forsake my calling. | have kept my
oath, he went on. Il sought employ
ment when the wound had healed, and
learning to use my left hand, was sue
cessful. ! have amassed wealth--wealth
enough to enable me to spend my re-
naming days in travelling for pleasure
And now, my reformer," he smiled: Il
would ask YOU to return my ring. Did
| come by it dishonesty, would not
make the request; but, as there is a God
| did not. 1t is my mothers. Upor
her death bed, one year before fell int
bad company, she gave it to me, and
told me to wear it always. She PLACED
it on my finger, and wore it through
all my burglarious operations. Give me
the ring, sir, and name your price
Mr.. Worden raised his hat, and we
saw the ring. TWAS very beautiful, and
lo,o nnot not email amount n