The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-12-15

for my credit as faithful officer. Now,
what are you going to do?"
"Turn over new leaf" said the con-
vict, bursting into tears.
"Then, get out whispered the officer,
"and be lively, too-itS almost daybreak."
"Ill tell you what to do" said little
Guzzy, when the constable whispered:
"Wait until get out of hearing"
The excitement which possessed Bower
ton the next morning, when the events Of
the previous night were made public, was
beyond the descriptive powers of the best
linguists in the village. Helen Wyett a
burglars wife At first the Bowertonians
scarcely knew whether to recognize her at
all, and before they were able to arrive at
aconclusion the intelligence of the convict's
escape, the breaking open of the gun
smiths shop, the finding of the front door
of Cashing's store ajar, and the discovery
by Cashing that at least one suit of valua-
BILE clothing had been taken, came upon
the astonished villagers and rendered them
incapable of reason, and of every other
mental attribute except wonder.
That the prisoner had an accomplice
seemed certain, and some suspicious souls
suggested that the prisoners wife might
have been the person; but as one of the
officers declared he had watched her house
all night for fear of some such an attempt.
that theory was abandoned.
For some days Helen Wyett gave tho
Bowertonians no occasion to modify their
conduct toward her, for she kept herself
constantly out of sight.
When, however, she did appear in the
street again, she met only the kindest looks
and salutations, for the venerable Squire
Jones had talked necessarily in praise of
her courage and affection, and the squire's
fellow-townsmen knew that when their
principal magistrate was affected to tender
ness and mercy, it was from causes which
would have simply overwhelmed any ordi-
nary mortal.
1t was months before Bowerton gossip
descended again to it's normal level for
few weeks after the escape Of Beigh, little
Guzzy, who had never been supposed to
have unusual credit, and whose family GER
tainly hadn't any money, left his employer
and started an opposition store.
Next to small scandal, finance was the
favorite burden Of conversation at Bower
ton, so the source of Guzzy's sudden pros
perity was SO industriously sought and
surmised that the gossips were soon at
needles points about it.
Then it was suddenly noised abroad that
Mrs. Baggs, ST., who knew everybody, had
given Guzzy letter of introduction to the
Governor Of the State.
Bowerton was simply confounded. What
could he want? The Governor had very
few appointments at his disposal and none
of them were fit for Guzzy, except those
for which Guzzy was not fit. Even the
local politicians became excited, and both
sides consulted Guzzy
Finally, when Guzzy started for the
State capitol, and Helen Wyett as people
still called her, accompanied him, the people
of Bowerton put on countenances of hope
less resignation, and of a mute expectation
which nothing could astonish.
1t might be an elopement-it might be
that they were going as missionaries but
no one expressed a positive opinion, and
every one expressed perfect willingness to
believe anything that was supported by
even shadow of proof
Their mute agony was suddenly ended,
for within forty-eight hours Guzzy and his
travelling companion returned.
The latter seemed unusually happy for
the wife of convict while the former
went straight to Squire Jones and the con-
stables. Half an hour later all Bowerton
knew that William Beigh, alias Bay Billy,
alias Handsome, had received full and
free pardon from the Governor
The next day Bowerton saw a tall, hand
some stranger, with downcast eyes, walk
rapidly through the principal street and
disappear behind Mrs. Wyetts gate. A
day later, and BoweIton was electrified by
the intelligence that the ex-burglar had
been installed as clerk in Guzzy's store.
People said it was shame-that nobody
knew how soon Beigh might take to his old
tricks again. Nevertheless, they crowded
to Guzzy's store to look at him, until
shrewd people began TO wonder whether
Guzzy hadn't really taken Beigh as a sort
Of advertisement to draw trade.
few months later, however, they
changed their opinion, for the constable,
after the expiration of his term Of office,
and while under the influence of glass
too much, related the whole history of the
night of Beigh's first arrival at Bowerton.
The Bowertonians were law-abiding peo-
pie; but, somehow, Guzzy's customers in