The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-04-30

heavily handcuffed, was followed to the
doors of the Jail by hooting mob, and
the heavy doors closed on him until Le
should be taken out for execution.
The three weeks of grace had exri- |
red, and the condemned man looked out
through his grated windows ON the las;
sunset he should ever behold.
His eyes were suffused with tears. for
a minister of the Gospel had just quit
ted him. entreating him thar he would
not go into eternity with falsehood on
his lips.
''Only one more night" he murmur-
ed, land then comes the day that has
no tomorrow.
He had not seen the door open, nor
heard a footstep beside him until hand
rested or his shoulder, and noble,
manly face, looking into his, said
''Thank God, dear Tom, you are
free!' but Tom only threw up his hands,
and retreated in horror:
Have you come to mock me at the
last hour? he cried. ''Why could you
not leave me to my fate, rs it is p
Because l can never forgive myself
for what You have already suffered,
from blind folly on one side, and a.
strange force of whimsical circumstan-
ces on the other" replied the voice, in
too natural and hearty tones for any
ghost, Don't you see l am Bob Hern-
don in the flesh, and that it is all cruel
mistaken Come, my dear fellow, here
are host of friends. Ned Kean, Tom
Lyon, and I can't say who, come to es-
cort you back to the home from which
you were so unjustly taken "
And there, indeed, were all tie old
familiar faces, smiling and shedding
tears at one and the same time, about
him. Tom was rather hard of under
standing at first, but the story was easily
enough told.
The body found in the pit was chat
Of Mike Jones. who had died of heart
disease. He, the said Jones, was the
burglar who had been shot by Crouch
while attempting to break into his store
few nights before the disaster by
which he was falsely supposed to have
perisheG. He had hurried to Herndon's
Office, under the fear of death; showed
his wound, and promised, if the doctor
would save his life, he would tell him
about the great bank robbery on the
1st of January. He then confessed
that he and fellow named Worsham,
in the pits, had participated in the burg
larry; but that the money, with the box
belonging to Herndon, had been taken
to Canada by the principal robber, q
fellow from the city, called Kelly; and
that he would inform where the man
and goods could be found Herndon
had then dressed Jones's wound, fear
ing to search for the bullet, as The man
was known to have heart disease, and
had put on bim one of his-the doctor s
old linen shirts. He had then prom
sed Jones that he should be taken al
states evidence, and escape prosecu
! ton, if he would keep silent, and have
an eye on Worsham while he-the doc
tor-should start secretly to Canada -
Herndon had withdrawn his last bank
deposit partly for this purpose; had
gone to the pit to command Mike Jones
to keep ar eye on Worsham, and if nee
essary, have him arrested, to prevent
him from telegraphing to his accom-
plice, Kelly, and thwarting his plans :
While in the pit, Jones had told him OF
some circumstances which assured him
of the speedy recovery Of their prop
erty; and he was thus enable to lend
Crouch the amount that had been near
hanging him. He bad been so secret,
because, in case Jones was tell the truth,
he wished to have every advantage of
the communication He, Herndon, had
reached the depot too late for the d6#n
passenger train, and had taken the
freight train, half an hour later, In THIS
manner he had started; and hurried
swiftly through TO British America
Mike Jones had evidently hid himself
in tie niche where he was found, to
watch the movements OF Worsham, and
while there had been stricken with para
lysis Of the heart. The doctor and
Jones being both reported missing.
Worsham.bad probably suspected some.
thing, and going off, as he had
done, had sent some sort of intelligence
to Kelly; for Herndon, with his corps
of experienced detectives, had only sue
ceeded in capturing Kelly within the
last week, when, returning within the
territory of the United States, he had
fallen, by merest chance, upon a home
paper, and been astounded by the re-
port of his own murder, and the con-
Yiction of Thomas Crouch.
This was the story.
1t is needless to speak of Toms tri-
umphal march home, or the joy of the
two beautiful young girls, who had
learned of Herndon's return, and were
eagerly awaiting their arrival. Tom
confessed that he had been maddened
by the evident suspicious that attached
to him and being appalled, himself al
the force of the evidence, had shot OF
the pistol at Mr. Fleet, without being al
all conscious Of what he did; but the
affair was hushed up, and the kind hear
ted constable declared he had rather
have been wounded quite severely than
for Tom Crouch to have any thing
more to do with law, Of which he him
self was beginning to entertain con
siderable disgust.
DR.. Herndon and Minnie Cronch wer,
married but few weeks afterwards, ant
it is reported that Tom Lyon and Annie
are soon to follow their example, ,'hougl
there are many who declare that if Ton
/ had not carefully concealed from tha
high h-spirited young lady his belief il
: her brothers guilt, he would have fount
it much more diflfcelt to win her con
viction.
As for Ned Kean. he was heard tt
regret that Tom Crouch was not girl
too, that he might have taken one of th'
family.
Gg When they do get religion dow
: in those Southern country towns, the!
COON to do il thOrOnoliy and i'm oOO(