The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-18

The suspense was terrible. / sat and
watched the minute hand of the clock;
five minutes seemed like many months.
My companion seemed nervous, too. He
moved uneasily in his chair.
CANT it about time ye heard from
JIM" he asked at length.
"We shall get word from him in few
moments, now," l answered, and fell to
watching the clock again. Five minutes
more passed. Lynch got up and began
pacing to and fro across the room.
81 don't believe I'll wait any more.
I've got to see a man down at the Penn
sylvania House, and he'll be abed if L
don't get there pretty soon."
"Hold on for q moment and I'll see
what they're up to, l cried hastily, and
| touched the key again. "Make haste, "
was my message, 81 shall lose him if you
do not. Not a moment to spare. Straight
way came the reply, short but encourag-
ing: ga squad of police started for the
depot five minutes ago." Thank Heaven
They ought to be here now. l looked at
Lynch and thought of the $500.
oval what's the wordl" he growled,
impatiently.
"Your friend is coming" 1 answered,
for want of better reply.
"Comin' Comm Wharf"
Coming to the office of Cohoe. He
probably has an answer for YOU.
An answer for mel Jim Fellers
What should he answer for Z" Lynch
stood in stupid thought for moment,
and then he looked at me with danger
GUS light in his eye.
Look a-here, young feller, he cried,
cts my private opinion that you're
lyin' to me. And ef We are" here he
muttered horrible oath-"I'n cut yer
skulkiD' heart ont. 1 don't know any
thing bout thet thar masheen, but L
swar Jim Fellers haint got nothin' to
answer. More like he'd git up and scat
ter when he heerd thet message"
He stood glaring at me as he uttered
these words his hand on his revolver.
cannot account for it. As / before re-
marked, / am timid man by nature.
But this action only made me bolder.
Everything depended on keeping him a
few moments longer. It must be done
at any cost. tried a new plan.
What do you mean, sir ?" l shouted,
rising, "by coming into this Office and
talking in that style2 Do you think I'll
endure it Leave this room at once, sir,
or I'll" and 1 advanced threateningly
toward him.
Ny unexpected attitude seemed TO
amuse him more than anything else, but
it silenced his suspicious. He put his
hands in his pockets and delivered loud
laugh in my face.
90 VOL xro1 my hon 1+-1,,o Va yaaf1,,'t Oa4
so cantankerous. Who'd thought such
little breeches as you had such spunk
Haw haw haw Why, could chaw
you up 'thout maxim two bites of ye."
Well sir, said, still apparently un-
Modified, " either sit down and hold
your tongue, or else leave the office.
And he good-natrredly complied.
Once more we were sitting and listen
ing TO the ticking OF the clock as the min
utes dragged their slow length along.
Would hel p never come Great Heaven
The suspense was becoming intolerable.
/ must go TO the stair and listen, if die
for it. l arose and made q step toward
the door, but voice stopped me.
Hold ~ shouted Lynch, standing up
right, all his suspicious aroused once
more eyer CANT go out of thet door
afore me. Come back here 7"
"Come back here, or by the Eternal
-" and the pistol muzzle looked ne in
the face. He stood now half turnel from
the door and | was facing it. Slowly,
without particle OF noise, 1 saw the knob
turn and face under blue cap peep in.
Thank God help had come felt a
Joy uncomfortable come over me. / must
keep the murderer's attention an instant
longer, till some one could spring upon
him from behind.
l walked straight up to him, but his
quick ear had caught a movement be-
hind. As he turned with an oath 1
sprang upon him, and bore down his
arm Just as the revolver went OF, the
ball burying itself harmlessly in the
floor. Before he could free himself
from my grasp, half dozen officers
were upon him and he was quickly Sc
cured.
The next morning the papers were
filed with glowing accounts of the cap
ture of the murderer and praises Of my
conduct. The principal business men of
the town made up fund of $500 and
presented it to me and this, with the
reward that was paid me the following
week, enabled me to get married at
Christmas. But l shudder at the re-
membrance of that half hour spent alone
with Tim Lynch and 1 don't think
81 900 would tempt me to go through it
again.
II.