The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-07-04

the sidewalk. A moment more, and til,
doorway was thronged with people. TIL,
actual culprit had caused an alarm t.
be given to the police. Two officers en-
tered hastily. Jennie came rushing
through the throng. She instinctivel,
hurried toward her fathers prostrat,
form on the floor, and with shrek fel
across him as he lay.
go father speak to mel" she cried
Barr regained his feet. He was be
wildered-confused. Why did all thes,
people stare Mt him with such threaten
ing looks?
You are my prisoner" said one o.
the officers, placing his hand ON Barr,
shoulder. "We are too late, fear, t.
save life, but not to secure the guilt,
one. 1 arrest YOU"
For what" demanded Barr, for the
moment stupefied.
"For robbery and MURDER" returned
the officer.
No-no my father lives Heaven
be praised r exclaimed Jennie.
The law-student could only STAN.
mer,-
"Ia-prisoner! /"
The party present did not look up.
ward; they were intently gazing on the
stricken group below. Had they done
SO, they would have seen the idiot-boy
peering over the partition with an in
sane grin overspreading his face, while
on his head he had grotesquely placed
the cap of the really guilty one.
A physician was soon called in. Jen-
ME, assured of her fathers safety, essay
ed to look at the person accused of the
assault. As her eye caught Bars she
involuntarily started back with amaze.
ment.
"You are mistaken, friend" she ex-
claimed that gentleman is innocent. u
And then, abashcd 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 man. s mind,
following and using chain of circum-
stances, had fcrrcted out the cause even
before he had learned the effect. The
sergeant of police instinctively detained
the boy who gave the alarm, and through
him, within very few moments, had in
his custody the very thief, though the
officer knew not at the time the form of
crime which had been committed, nor
that he had the real culprit but hold
ing the man to await developments, he
took him ut once to the scene of the as
saiilt.
The miscreant's evident reluctance
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 desperate
attempt to escape. Hewas quickly con-
quered' and confronted by the victim.
Old Huntley, now partially recovered,
could not recognize his assailant. So
far then the fellows chances for eluding
Justice were favorable. 1t was now no
ticed that his hat was missing, and he
could give no reasonable account of its
loss but this told nothing.
Suddenly. the assembled crowd were
startled by wild cry from overhead.
Looking up they beheld Jack, the idiot
boy, peering in at the fanlight. Hith-
ertO 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 p
The idiots only answer was a sense
less grin, while with one hand he point
ed to the sergeant's prisoner. The man
stood confounded and sclf-convictea.
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 inauspicious be-
ginning of an acquaintance between
Richmond Barr and Jennie Huntley
was followed by year of mutual love,
and ended in a joyous wedding.