The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-07-27


with tho glass Of broken pane, aud
blood dropped down upon my clothes.
But l was too angry to feel the pain I;
and bound up the wound with u
handkerchief. Then ] trudged on,
meaning to look for work next day.
So l did, but I found none. Then
the thought struck mo to mako my
way to and see Peggy. IL
would be a comfort to me whatever
came. So I turned my steps in tba,
direction, and kept on until night fell.
Then, faint and weary I lay down uo-
der some bushes aud fell asleep.
Out of that sleep was aroused bv
q shout and a clutch Of strong hands
Men stood about mo One shouted
my namo. They held me fast aud
bound me.
struggled but it was Of no use.
Numbers wcro against my single
strength.
"What are your Robbers /? I've
nothing worth the taking" | said, at
last and when standing still, saw
faces I knew about mo-those Of the
farm bands at my old masters.
You know well, Jack Malone
said one, "lf bc did speak au il-word
at last, he was q good man 10 the
main, and you'd worked for him three
yesrs. You might have answered him
as you liked, but to try to murder him
was too horrible. We didn't think
it Of you, Jack-wo didn't think
it,"
MurderedW 1 cried, "is old mas
ter murdered Why lay it to me' |
swear | never hurt him !"
IF be is not quite dead it's none of
your fault" cried another man--
Don't pcrjuro yourself-look at the
blood on your clothes"
The blood from my hand was 10
clo,s aud smesrs all over my vest |
feel my heart turn sick when | think Of
! il.
"Master will clear me-" said.
"He says it was you,' said one OF
the men. "At least, he nodded yes,
when We asked hin if you did it,
"Thcn old master was not righ. 10
his mind l said He'd never be
against me-
After that heard the whole. Mas
ter had paid the men and dismissed
Mark. lie had only said "sll right
| am tired Of work." aud had eaten
breakfast there, aud left in sight Of all.
But ! was gone and when they
found the master, who was always up
at cock.crow, was on the aoor sense.
l,ss, they thought him dead ct FIRST.
He had been robbed Of bis pocket
book, watch, and an ol1-fashioned
pin he always wore in his haudksr-
Ohisf-the painted head Of Q lady set
around with what he used TO toll US
wore pearls-an ornament older than
his grandfather.
They found nothing around me, OF
course, but tho quarrel aud my cut
baud made the case hard against me.
Tho master dying as they thought
him, had been able to speak at odd
times aud said that, to the bsst Of his
kno " ledge and belief, was tho as.
salient. 1t was dark, to ts sure, but
10 the struggle no felt that the man
wore cap, aud was the only hand
who had anything but = straw hat.
besides he come from the inner pas
sage and down the stairs. aud did not
break in through door or window as
q burglar would have done. And l
was the only missing member in the
household. SO lay in prison with
this awful charge upon me, until they
knew whether master would live OF
die; and my greatest grief was for
Peggy.
keep it from her," begged them
"until she must know it,"
Aud they we're kind and did /; spd
her letters wsre sent to me in prison
II was = weary time, and the one droE
Of comfort 10 II came with those letters
| had Eve from her when, at the enc
Of one, came this;
| "DEAR JACK IL never hide any
thing from you, and I do not want to
boast Of my ,onquests q thing l woulc
never do but just to lot you know
keep no secrets to myself, | mus, tsl
YOU what has happsued. Our maste
has hired a man, . lazy fellow that
diskked at frat sight, Marx Hulke
by name, and wha. should he do ba
take u notion 10 NE, or pretend &
do SO, trying his best to sit up wit
me Afler his work hours, aud fo,iowin,
A n e III a.