The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-07-27
. Frank arose and looked around

II have. Circumstantlal evidence
has condemned me. admit 1T looks
as if | did the deed; but am gulltless
of murder Dropping my percussion
cap box in a mountain stream, returned
for more; for without caps my gun was
useless. 1t was lovely night, and
determined to enter the house by my
room window, get the caps, and return
without awakening my uncle. tied
my horse to the fence, sprang into the
window, and then heard a loud crash,
a call out, and shrek in the direction
of my uncle's room. | rushed thlther
"a dark form dashed by me in the I'M
certain light Of the room, and | tell
over something upon the floor. With
fear in my heart l arose, lighted can
die, and saw my uncle's body covered
with blood, gold scattered upon the
floor, and my own knife, which had
done the deed, lying near. Ipicked up
the knife, and thus was found by the.
negro and seen by the peddler. AS
God is my witness, did not murder
the good old man who has protected
me throughout life, and whom loved
as though he was my own father |
am guiltless of the deed, but submit to
my fate !"
A silence fell upon all; there were,
however, but few who believed the
youths statement; among the latter
was Mr.. Dewes and his family, who,
through all remained staunch friends.
Frank Mercer was to be hung-to
die an ignominious death on the gal
lows-and hundreds focked to the lit
tie town where the execution was to
take place, to see him die. How they
were disappointed to find that the night
before he had escaped! How, no one
knew; but he had left note addressed
to the iailor, thanking him for the kind
ness shown him while he was III his
charge, and his regrets that his escape
might cause him trouble, but saying
that he had had an opportunity of cs-
Gaping, and took advantage of ii, for
he had no idea of dying an ignominious
death for an act he was not guilty of,
thereby to crafty the curiosity of "A
gaping crowd. Freedom was offered
him, and he accepted it, and he hoped
he would yet be able to prove his III
nocence.
This was about the subject of the let
ter, and when it was published in the
local papers, there We're some who were
glad that the boy had escaped the gal
lows.
MERGERS property was, in his will,
all left to Frank, and it was found To
be considerable. Trustees assumed
charge of it, and before long the quiet
community had settled down to lis
usual routine, and the murder and es-
cape were in a short time almost for
gotten.
Ten years passed away and no word
Of the fugitive had been heard, and
the people believed him dead. One ex-
ception was Mary Dewes, now grown
to womanhood. She had never believed
him dead, and through her life had
treasured Franks image in her inmost
heart, the mystery that hung around
him but adding strength to her regard.
Her sisters had married, her mother
was dead, and, together with her faith
er, they had lived at the old homestead.
Business calling Mr.. Dewes to Ha-
vana, he took Mary with him, and they
set sail from Charleston in fine ship
running South. They had been some
days at sea, when in the dead of night
the fearful cry of g" fire" was heard,
which aroused all from slumber. In
vain were efforts made to quench the
flames. The seamen in fright rushed
into the only available boat, and it
sank with them, and left them strug-
Cling in the ocean, borne away by the
winds and waves, while Mr.. Dewes and
Mary, the Captain of the ship. and a
few others, were huddling away upon
the stern, awaiting the fearful doom
that must, to all appearance, overtake
them.
"Sail hop
The joyous cry came from the Cap.
tain, who had been straining his eyes
over the ocean, in hopes of seeing some
vessel coming to save them. Swiftly
flying toward them came low, rakish,
schooner, which ever and
anon sent llp a lirht To nrOya to those