The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-11-09
porter, had passed HIM in the street,
and young Wade had said:
7 What's the time, Mike ?"

Il
and young Wade had said:
What's the time, Mike ?"
The porter told him.
{" shall be too late" he said. e
have an engagement, and l must g
back to our place for parcel I've fol
gotten"
An apple woman on the corner ha
seen him enter. He often bought fru
from her for lunch, and she knew hir
well by sight.
There the news ended until Mix
going in to light the fires, found th
place scene ofconfusion-desks an
safes rifled, papers strewn about, an
every mark of systematic burglary.
Later in the day Lucy Evans cam
| down. Her brother had sent word {
what had occurred. She believe
some terrible accident had happene
to Ben, and begged the firm to spar
no effort to discover him. She wa
almost distracted, and who can won
der. They had been going together
it seemed, to see some play the nigh
before, and she had been sufficient
alarmed by his failing to keep the ar
pointment to be in measure prepare
for the worst. She knew he intende
bringing her book. He had spoke
of it. That must have been the parce
he went back for. Ofcourse she neve
doubted him, and no one had dared E
hint at what had been whispered il
her presence.
For weeks, sir, the authorities wer
at work. Immense rewards were of
fered for the burglars, and for the re
oil d.,
jamin Wade, but without the leas
effect. h1 ~ 1
We were notified of every bod,
washed ashore, and every unknown
man found dead for months, and a
last there were few who did not Iaugl
at poor Ben's friends for their cfedn
1ity. - 2sR aIY @ - ~ d3its
It seemed plain to them-and ma,
heaven not Judge them as they Judged
their brother-Ben Wade was guilty
Poor Lucy never looked up. 1t wa.
easy enough to see that her heart wal
broken, and in year she died, Just {
week too soon TO hear what shall tel
you. H'rt jif oi
One morning was very busy al
my desk in the Office, when gentle
man came in and asked for Mr.. Morris
or Mr.. Grinby. Old Mr.. Grinby was
hoffe with the gout, but Mr.. Morris
and the young gentleman were in. ]
saw the gentleman was a Clergyman
and fancied.he had called to solicit
to the heather, or Sun.
day School, or new church. But his
first words made me start. They
were these: iaa
You remember, of conrse, bur-
glary committed here a year ago or
MORE"
could not keep my seat then, but
came forward trembling like leaf.
Young Mr.. Grinby had turned quite
faint, and was leaning against the wall
for support. t ~
You are agitated," /" said the clergy
man +" fear you will be still more
Affected by what you must hear. A
person now in custody, condemned to
has confession to make to
you in regard to that affair-a very
horrible one / fear" @
He took card from his pocket and
wrote a few lines.
If you will call at the prison any
ime to-day you will not be- too late.
Tomorrow is Friday, and he is to
'uffer execution at dawn. Present
his if you please, and I implore you
Isk no questions now" as.iIi ~ F.
Before they could say much he was
rome, afraid, think, to be the first to
ell the story, and our gentlemen
.alled a cab and took me with them at
nv request. They seemed to expect
Is at the prison, and we were admit
ed, but in the narrow corridor Nor
is stopped us. 4 al.ibsi
Gentlemen" he said, ".you must
.erve yourselves. Have you reflected
hat you may see Benjamin Wade
yhen yonder door is opened ?"
Young Grinby put his hand upon
lis heart, and seemed turning faint
gain. It was the first time the
hought had staggered me.
The next moment the turnkey flung
he door open and we were in the cell.
IN the floor lay mana broad-shoul-
lered fellow, in rough garments
Vhoiseemed to have cast himself down
n grief or terror. 1t was not Ben
Wade. At first / thought had never
cen the face he lifted as he arose. In
moment it came to me. 1t was the
sader of the gang who had been ar
ested for that bold attempt at robbery
7hen we had found little Ben in the
tone vault. sli G9s h
you've come, have you?" said he.
itting down on the stone seat, sand /
ee you know me. They've caught
he again, and it's murder this time,
nd I've got to swing. If it wasn't
Or that, no person 'ud have got this
ut of me. But I've promised, and I
ways keep my word, L do. You re-
lember a young man called Ben
Vade ?" --s.-.-
eeWhat of him ?" we said in breath.
'sNot much he didn't rob your place, |
lat's all. We done it-Dfck' Burch, /
lippery Tom and me. Tell you how |
was, You know that boy informed |
n us, and was locked up for labor
,r more years than most men live.
didn't stay, though; I cut off
i'd came home. And the first thing
did was to vow vengeance on that
oy. Why, there he was, a gay young
uck, in fine togs, with the handling
money, and thought of and trusted
Ist for having done for US. Proud,
20 !; would't speak to us in the street
threatened to give Information if he
yer saw one of us prowling about. /
card it all. / swore I'd fix him /; and
seemed to come to me. -,
"One night 1 was going to Slapper's
lades to have drink. Burch was
ith me and in quiet sort of street
e came up to Ben in a mighty hur-
t1'd have knocked him on the head,
1T Burch stopped me-" uHde. q sGf ~
"See what he's up to, said he. And
e followed. He went down to your
ace, and went in. He left the door
ar, and we made the best of it. He
as coming out with a book, or some ,
ing, in his hand, and we met him.
e was plucky, tell you. One of.us
ouldn't have got off so easy but we
ere two to one. We gagged and tied
m, and made a clean sweep of the
ace that night" aha 5
Sand BENNY God, did Ben think
Q would not believe him ?"cried Mr.. {
rinby. Gle had but to come to us
tell the truth. Where is he? Do {
,u know? Speak p !
The robber was turning the hue of
hes. His words came slowly. His
es glanced over his shoulder and he