The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-15
VOL. ~.

q
60 80 away. since az any moment the miss
ing man might appear, and the ceremony
proceed, The cnn ,,any Was very dreary
however everyone knew what had hap
pcned, gaiety was cut OF the question, aud
the only amusement was "a rush 10 the
door Of the hall every time anyone came
in hopes Of seeing the pleasant brown hec
II Dick Strong.
Charlie Strong went down 60 the hotel
en- thc chance that for some mexpllcable
cause Dick had returned there. No, be
had not been seen. Mr.. Strong next in
Quirod Of the policemen along the route II
anyone had been taken suddenly Ill, as
this suppoSition had occurred as possible
explanation Of Dicks ahSencc-his splendid
health rendered il rather an absurd one.
No, nothing unusual had happened, except
thar theTs had been fire on Broadway
and great crowd This was the news
With which the young gentleman came
back "a the house, and the non-apPearance
OF the bridegroom seemed stranger than
ever.
Poor Edith sat in her MONS looking
/. like pale and stricken flower; her brides
maids and friends were gathered around
her doing what they could 10 cheer her,
but she grew hopelessly sad. The hodrs
Of tie wedding evening stole By without
any news OF her lover. From time 20
time when there Was the hustle of an
arrival below, one OF the girls looked out
20 see il Mr.. Strong bad come, but each
time only 20 rrtum with fresh disappoint-
ment, 50 that in the bridal-oom, Ss well
as in the parlor, there was gloom and
anxiety.
/ And now 20 tell of the man who had 50
strangely disappeared. When he parted
from his cousin, Dick, a. Charlie had said,
went straight mp Broadway, which was
the nearest road To Mr.. Weldon's home ON
! West Twenty-sixth street. When he had
passed Union Square, he saw that quite n
crowd Of people was assembled IN front Of
one OF the stores, from the upper windows
! OF which smoke was issuing. No thoughts
/ Of turning aside 10 avoid the throng oc-
Z Cured 20 Mr.. Strong's mind; no, be was
broad-shoul and powerful, and be
began 10 push the thnong, elbowing right
and left, and hurrying on at little less
than his usual brisk pace. He had pro-
cee6ed in this way, getting good many
angry looks, and some very uncompiImen-
/ tary remarks, TO whica be had paid no
manner of heed until he had reached a
4 point where the crush was densest. Here
he was iostled about somewhat rudely, IN
spite Of his endeavOrs 10 forge ahead IN
4 checked. He began to feel little angry
/ at what seemed the unnecessary amount
of hustling he received, and was pushing
on rather unoercmoniouSly when he was
suddenly grasped by a man, fully ~
powerful a. himself, who cried out" You
I havegot my watch Police Police stop
thief Poliee!n
( The msn roared out the words in a voice
that rang above all the murmurs Of the
crowd, and Dick in fury OF rage turned
upon bim like tiger.
Z - You internal scoundrel, what do yol
meant Let me GU! Let me 20, l say p
lie struggled fiercely, but the man who
seized him by the shoulder had him at
disadvantage, and continued TO shout
Police! Help help! Stop thief"
In a moment three or four men had
hold OF Mr.. Strong, who fought and Faved
in his wrath and indignation, and then
two policemen appeared on the scene and
summarily took him into custody.
"There you scamp-nOw we've got you!'
cried the man in triumph.
Dick glared at him, almost speechlcsS
with anger, though he managed 10 say to
the policemen:
''You surely don't intend TO take me
into custody OF the charge Of that maniac r
Indeed we do, my good man, and you
might as well come along pcaceably.n
Now if there was one thing that more
than another Dick Strong despised, it was
any Blasting Of position, or family, or
money. lie had always declared that
people would know a man was gentle
man without any need-ol telling them so,
and that "it wasn't any consequence what
a man wore il be only behaved himself
He had fiattered himself that be looked,
despite the roughness Of bis dress, too
much the well-bred gentleman ever TO be
doubted, and vet here were these two
policemen calling him My good man.
hustling him along, and no way TO get out
Of the scrape but 70 try to convince them
that he was not common thief
Thus the unfortunate bridegroom was
pulled through the crowd, people staring
az hun, the policemen holding him fast by
the arms, and his captor following close at
their heels, giving vent 10 feelings Of en-
ioyment in occasional eXclamations OF
!. Scoundrell' Scamp!n But be couldn't
come il over men &c. Goaded at last
beyond endurance, Dick suddenly turned
upon him /:
But | haven't got your watch, ] tell
you You ought TO know what you're
talking about, before accusing an honest
man in this way"
"None OF that now" said the policeman
roughly; "Come along quietly"
"Wcill see well scen shouted the
tcImentor.
And thus was Dick led along, a misera-
bic captive. Men looked curiously at him
as they passed, women drew back in hor-
ror from the criminal. Never had poor
Strong so louged for the face Of an acquain-
tance. but none met him. IL was growing
dark and was not an hour when any one
he knew was ikelyIto be out. In the side
street very few persons were abroad; and
so they reached the station-house For
some little distance Dick had been quite
silent; and recovering from his rage, had
tried to think what might be best for him
to do. Once in the dirty room Of deten-
ton fresh cause for anger speedily arose.
The robbed man, who gave his name as
John Clark, showed as a very respectable
dressed person when in the light, and
displayed the dangling end of handsome
watch-chain, from which the watch had
been wrcsted.
"The ring was a little wOrn," be said,
and broke with the pull. ] felt Il, and
saw the hand that grasped the watch. IL
was brown and uDgloved, like his" point
ing 10 Dick, who as usual was ungloved
4" turned round quickly and caught him.
Now see if you don't find the watch on
him"
ats all an infamous lie - said Dick.
What should want Of his beggarly
watch ~
/" The prisoner had better be quiet and
let himself be searched" replied the police
captain.
g Search me and welcome" retorted
Dick, pulling off his overeoat, thereby
bringing 10 view his handsome dress suit.
The men looked nc each other in sur
prise. al didn't think he was Il swell
cove" said one she looked like the COM
mon kind"
"Mr. Strong now drew out his own
watch, which was an elegant chronometer.
aHere," said he to his captor, "why
should a man want TO rob you when he
has such time-piece as that 2"
at was stolen too, Tve no doubt, -
repIied Mr. Clark, imperturbably.
Dick nearly fell into rage again.