Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-02-20

l
good news to old Jacob Moss.'
'Am to open the shop, grandfather p
''Do just as it suits thyself, child, we
shall be rich enough not to care about the
shop"
While talking he consulted his large sill
yer watch, which, for antiquity and size,
might have been the patriarch of the entire
race of watches.
81 shall oe back before nine, Polly and
perhaps Tom Bartlett may drop in and
spend an hour with YOU"
81 hope not, for don't want to see
him.
"Ah that's the perverse way of girls
but never mind, 1 dare say thou wilt look
much higher than Tommy now )" and he
chuckled as he kissed her round, dimpled
check, leaving her to take care of The feath-
cred songsters and herself, the brightest
things that the place could show.
missing, since the 23d inst, an old man
named David Birch, dressed in black
height, about five feet three inches gray
hair thin. He left home with the inten-
ton of visiting q friend at Fulham, and
has not since been heard of. A reward OF
twenty pounds will be paid to any one CIV
ing information that may lead TO his dis
covery."
So ran the advertisement which was
going the rounds of the leading papers, and
being repeated in large printed placards On
the walls Of police stations. In the imme-
diate neighborhood Of the bird shop there
was much excitement and CONSERVATION at
the old mans mysterious disappearance,
mingled with lively sympathy for the dis
tress of his granddaughter, whose pale face
and swollen eyelids told how she had
watched and wept. None were more
demonstrative than Tom Bartlett, who kept
lowering about ia spite of her visible
shrinking from him, persistently pressing
his services as though he alone had the
right to act for her. Meantime, the day
appointed by the lawyers for entering into
arrangements with their client respecting
the fortune of which he had Unexpectedly
come into possession by the death of a
brother abroad, had come and gone. The
perplexed legal firm, acting in the interest
of their client, instituted rigorous search,
but without success. The friend, Jacob
Moss, feeble old man, had been duly
communicated with and keenly cross-ex-
amined. David Birch had paid his visit
on the day named, arriving, as far as the
old man could recollect, about half-past
two, and starting on his return journey
about dusk. Here the clue was lost. Thus
the day went by without throwing any
light on the old mans fate, and poor Polly,
worn out with great anxiety, often cried
herself to sleep.
"Oh Nellie-Nellia you don't know
what has happened ~
1t was with these words that John Birch
had suddenly presented himself to his sis
ter, tall, dark-eyed girl, who might have
been taken as a softened likeness of him
self. She was busily at work when he
came in, but on the first glance at his
agitated face she dropped her needle and
rose hurriedly.
ooh, John what is the matter ?'
''Uucle David has been missing from
home since the Odd of last month and no
one can tell what has become Of him."
Missing from home, John! Why, it
was only last week that we heard he had a
fortune left him by his brother"
"Yes, that's true enough, Nellie ; and
l hear that it comes to me after his
death. The lawyers are seeking him
everywhere. But think of poor Polly be-
ing in all this trouble, and us never to
know it. 1t just seems as if that odd job
of work in the country came on purpose
to take me out Of her way /; and you're SO
moped up here that you never hear any
thing" he added fretfulIy.
John, I'll put on my things and go to
her at once you think can do any good"
"Yes, Nell, think you may. l know l
always like to have you by me when Pm
in trouble. 1 would go myself, but I'm
forbidden the house. You remember what
l told you of my quarrel with the old man.
wish to heaven those i'll words had not
passed between us.''
At that moment there was sound OF
heavy footsteps on the stairs, followed by a
smart rap at the door. Nellie went to
open it, but starte'; back at the sight OF
two policemen on the threshold.
"DOes John Birch live here ?''
Eyes, l am John Birch" the young
man called out ''what do you want with
me ?''
Come this way and I'll tell you"
mo, tell me here"
The officer glanced compassiOnately at
Nellie's white face as he answered. swell,
if you don't mind the young woman hear
ing, you're our prisoner"
"Your prisoner! Impossible On what
charge 2''
II dare say you know well enough.
There's been body found in the river,
and it's thought there's been some foul
play"
"Whose body ?''
"David Birch's, the bird fancier, that's
been missing lately"
"My uncle !" gasped John.
Exactly. You're our man. You've
had quarrel with him, ,and you're arrested
on suspicion. We got the clue from
| Thomas Bartlett"
Bartlett - The young carpenter re
peated the name with a groan, and stag
sered against the wall, adding, May Goo
forgive him this wickcdness y,
And at the same moment his sister threH
herself on his neck with cry tina
| thrilled those who heard it.
Yes, it was true body had been found
and there was evidence that identified /
as that of the old man who was missing
| The story went that it had first been seeI