The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-08-20

The slow creature was little net
tied.
"Wa'al, yes now," retorted one of
the miners working away.
GA day is twenty-four hours" re-
marked the stupid man sarcastically.
"Wa'al, s'pose it is ?"
"Then you have knowed it day.
You're smart, I admit but not that
smart"
"What'll you bet ?''
"Twenty dollars and drinks all
around"
"Done.'
In those days bet, if nothing
worse, grew out Of every slight diff
ference of opinion, no matter how
trifing subject.
The money was staked.
"That's easy"
"Who brought the news ?"
"Dave Long-one of our mass.
He'd been down to Marysville, over
Sunday, on BENDER
"Where is he ?"
"At our cabin. He's cooking this
week"
swell, drop them tools. You're
all dry, and SO am I. Dave Smith,
is it ?"
"No. Dave Long"
All laid down their tools, and the
party started towards the cabin to
have the bet decided and get the
drinks.
"Now, remember" said the green
stranger, "I'm willin to pay if 1
lose but days twenty-four hours"
"Well ?"
"Msrk, then, it's just eleven now."
He looked at his watch.
There were several watches in
the party. All were referred to,
and they varied but little.
"Let me see," said the miner, who
had wsgered with the new conner
"let me see. Why, of course you'll
lose, stranger. 1t wasn't morn ten
yesterday mornin' when Dave come,
and he took his time getting dinner
ready which we ate at twelve"
"To be sure" said another.
'Oh, watt" said the stranger,
"Leave it to him."
GAIL right. He knows for he
has watch, an had timed himself
comm from Marysville."
They reached the cabin, David
Long, according to the custom, was
serving his turn at keeping house
for the week.
"Dave."
"Hello !" replied gruff voice
within"
"Come out here"
"What's wantin' ?"
"We've got up a bet, drinks in
cluded, and it's left for you to de-
eide"
Dave Long came to the door-a
big, hurley fellow.
"This man here-I don't know
his name"
BLOSSOM" put in the stranger.
swell, Blossom, he came round
and went to tell us news. 'Twss
about that murder you know. Itold
him he had been asleep, and was be-
hind the age. Now, the bet is that
we've knowed it a day-twenty-
four hours-you brought the news,
and know whether we have or not"
"Now, honor BRIGHT" said the
self,styled Blossom. "Think first
l know you wouldn't say what wasn't
true, but you might forget. It's now
just after 'leven. Can you say you
got here with the news before this
time yesterday ?' Think now"
Dave Long ruminated.
eyes for l looked at my watch
to see how long I'd been coming.
1t was only two or three minutes af-
ter ten."
care you sure ?"
"Certain F; could swear to it."
"For, you know" put In one Of
the others, "that you got dinner
after you come"
eyes, durn it don't / know"
''But," said the stranger, maybe
you didn't tell the news right away ?"
eS L Clu.
Sand brought it straight from
Marysville ?'
eyes"
"All right. I've lost. Now for
the drinks. Give us your hand,
Dave Long"
"There it is, stranger"
With movement so quick that
the eye could not follow it, the in
9uisitive stranger snatched both the
hands of Dave Long, brought them
together, and the astonished specta-
tors saw their comrade standing with
q pair of handouts on his wrist.
They also saw the new arrival, the
man that lacked energy, the man
who had been asleep for twenty-four
hours, the man with the mild name
of Blossoms, standing at their COM
rade's elbow, with a firm hand on
his collar and rev Oliver at his tenn
pie.
"You're my prisoner. Move an
inch and you're dead man. l ar
rest you for the murder of Mrs.
Wolf. l am detective Black, Of
Sacramento. Neighbors, I've lost
the bet !"
Long was fairly paraylzed. He
could neither move nor speak.
A clamor arose among his COM
RAIDS.
"Stranger, no nonsense. Dave
Long never did such a thing. He's
above such a crime. Let him go !
We can't stand here"
sStand back p said the fearless
officer. "It will 60 hard with any
one who interferes. This man is
guilty, and l can convince you."
"But how do you know ?"
"Keep cool, and I'll tell you. He
came here yesterday morning at ten
o'clock, and told you all about the
murder that was not discovered In
Marysville till nine. Did he walk
fifteen miles in an hour ?'
David Long was as pale as death,
and he stood trembling from head to
foot-the picture of guilt. His COM
rades looked on bewildered.
"You see," continued Black, by
way of further explanation, sit was
on his guilty mind, and he couldn't
help blurting it out, considering Of
course, that the murder would be
discovered at daylight. or sooner.
Luckily it was not known till nine
o'clock-except to the murderer,
and he has very kindly volunteered