Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-09-16

Barr regained his feet. He wa
bewildered-confused. Why die
all these people stare at him will
such threatening looks?
"You are my prisoner" said one
of the officers. Placing his hand
on Barr's shoulder. ave are too
late, fear, to save life, but not to
secure the guilty one. l arrest
you !"
"For what p demanded Barr, fol
the moment stupified.
"For robbery and MURDER" re-
turned the officer.
"No-no my father lives Heav-
en- be praised !" exclaimed Jennie.
The law-student could only stam-
mer,-
I-a-prisoner! Il
The party present did not look
upward; they were intently gazing
on the stricken group below. Had
they done so, they would have seen
the idiot-boy peering over the par
tition with an insane grin over
spreading his face, while on his
head he had grotesquely placed the
cap of the really guilty one.
A physician was soon called in.
Jennie, assured of her fathers safe
ty, essayed to look at the person ac-
cused of the assault. AS her eye
caught Barr's she involuntarily
started back with amazement.
"You are mistaken, friend" she
exclaimed; "that gentleman is in
nocent." And then, abashed at
what might seem to be an act Of
boldness on her part, she shrank
back from the gaze of the crowd,
and placed her whole attention on
her father.
During the progress of this scene
the subtle shrewdness of one mans
mind, following and using chain
of circumstances, had ferreted out
the cause even before he had learn
ed the effect. The sergeant of po-
lice instinctiyely detained the boy
who gave the alarm and through
him, within q very few moments
had in his custody the very thief
though the officer knew not at the
time the form Of crime which haC
been committed, nor that he ha(
the real culprit ; but holding tht
man to await developments, he tool
him at once to the scene of assault
The miscreant's evident reluct
ancc to proceed in that direction
} confirmed the sergeant's suspicious
: and warned him to be vigilant
When they arrived at the house
.. the man made q desperate attemp
/ to escape. He was quickly con
t quored and confronted by the vic
/ tim.
Old Huntly, now partially recov
cred, could not recognize his as
sailant. So far then the fellow:
chances for eluding justice were
favorable. 1t was now noticed thai
his hat was missing, and he coult
: give no reasonable account for it,
} loss; but this told nothing.
Suddenly the assembled crow(
were started by a wild cry from
overhead. Looking up they be-
held Jack, the idiot-boy, peering in
at the fanlight. Hitherto n silent
witness of the whole scene, he now
appeared to convict the guilty for
on his head he wore the strange
cap.
"That cap is not yours, jack" ex-
claimed Barr; "where did you get
it!'
The idiots only answer was a
senseless, grin, while with one hand
he pointed to the sergeant's prison
er. The man stood confounded and
selfconvicted. They searched him
and found the gold. His guilt, so
plainly exposed, confirmed Barr's
innocence.
1t need only to be added that old
Huntley recovered his health and
his dollars, and that this inauspici-
Gus beginning of an acquaintance
between Richmond Barr and Jen-
ME Huntley was followed by year
of mutual love and ended in o joy
Gus wedding.