, 1876-02-27

n1zed them; but his bow was distant and his
look uncomfortable. He made the slightest depre-
catory movement toward his wife and daughter; rs
il asking consideration. Tho Young lady was
Miss Vincent. She seemed much distressed for
the moment; but, with sudden resolution. and
an unexplainable look Of defiance, she said .. Mr..
Brown, my father aud mother" Then, after q
word Of explanation. she introduced Mr.. Bell.
Mr. Brown was entirely lfpossesAcd; but the
Ssuhblc6elds wero all much agitated, and Mr..
Bell was again in daZc.
Hero was another change Of name. For one
day after the discovery, Brown was the ally OF
Bell and the police officer in schemes to invest1-
gate. He thought possibly Miss Vincent Was an
either one Of tho old people. bir. Bell, OIL the
contrary, now that he had seen them together,
sav strong resemblance between bliss Vim
cent and Mr. Stubbleheld. The interchangeable
po]ice-ofIicer discovered next day that tho nano
Vincent had never been heard III tue honse OF
AIr. StubbleGell. aud that tho young lady WAS
known among her friends IS Miss stubblete!d.
He piaiu1y intimated that Mr. brown was being
rictlmZed.
This conference resulted in tho retiring OF
Brown from the Committee He was gloomy
aud rctice,: for two or three DAYS, during which
time the police-ofticeE was under cloud. Tho
CITY Bank had been entered during the night.
the Cashier carried from his bed and compelled
to give tho safe~cpmbiuat!ous, and the thieves
had carried off considerable booty. That such
tNlDE 6uQulu u3t VA tAC UoAAC4o ~ AAS
district was tho more exaspeEating to our police
officer because, on that night, ho had beon un-
usually occupied with the Stubbletield mystery.
There WAS something going on in that house
tlat he could not account for or explain. But
the burglary and robbery now demanded all his
attention aud he vas gloomy aud reticelt.
1lr. Bell was thus left to himself. Walking
one evening, lie came suddenly upon young
lady talking earnestly TO gentleman The
Young lady was Miss Vincent, and the young
s.>1S
Gated there had been uncomfortable exp!ana-
tons, and possibly . loyers' quarrel. Miss Vim
cent was saving earnestly, II do not caro- how
soon exposure comes / am tired to dea Ill Of
this conceasment aad all these subterfnges. and
hope something will happen to bring it all
OUT
To all this Mr. Brown replied, II am very
sorry. am confused, aud capnot advise /
never heard OF s4eh a case. 1t is certainly
very unfortunate. You have my sympathy. but
do not see how can help you."
As this conversation was reported to tho po-
ico-of6eoF: there came wicked CLEAN 1nto hs
eye. He drew note from. his pocket which
read: "You arc on the wrong truck. Iou, and
Bell, and Brown ought to know who planned the
bank robbery, aud who was the leader In carry
ing it out"
There was no signature. 3Ir. Bell understood
once that such conclusion was ridiculous.
But as the police-ofice1 reviewed tie
case. he had some misglyings. Tue po-
lice. under tie irritation of public censu-e,
were disposed to exaggerate every rrIalng cir
cumstance, aud, like drowning men, to clutch at
stravs. An arrest Of MIR. Stubbloisd had been
determined upon, and. indignant but curions.
Mr.. Bell managed to be in the vicinity Of 314
Blank street at the appointed time.
Tho bird had flown. The S;ubblehclds had
left the house early that morning., and their tur-
niture MAS all packed for removal stubborn,
taciturn man was in charge, Who declined to
answer any questions.
Mr.. Bell admitted that the circumstances were
against Mr. Stubbleield; that they were susni-
cious, If not convincing and he WAS uncomfort-
sbte. Mr. Brown. after thoushtfuiiy consider
ing the noto received by the policeman. had gone
over to the enemy, and kept his own counsel.
The main facts in the Stubbie1eld case, rs
above narrated, were given in tue daily papers
of"she next morning, with much Skill as to head
lines, much amplitude Us to supposltitious do
ta,Ia, and much certainty as to conclusions
concerning the guilt OF the accused 1.-THE
Very Latest" contained the importsnt Informs
tim that the so-cailed Stubbleield, the gray
haired bank-robbe7, had been arrested on QUE
OF tho outgoing trains, and that he would be
brought to the city.
There was great excitement in the city. The
name Timothy Ssubbleheld was on everybodv's
lips, and the conceit OF choosing such name
was laughed at. puzzled over En- end discussed
from every possible standpoint: Those who did
not entertain the notion Of guilt were still con-
fused aud curious. Tho crowd that welcomed
Timothy Stubbleneld on bis return WAS al
most mob iu its spirit Mr. Bell
watched for the appearance Of the man q
marked humility and OF nnwonted moaesty and
t1nliditr, with sensation akin TO pain. How
could such man meet such mobs Never
was he moso surprised than when Timothy
Stubbleield appeared. oignided, defiant. his ego
aAame With contempt and scorn, his WHOLE mau-
uer that Of self-possessed and Tell-balanced
man Was it possible that the man had been
p;ayluc part before. aud that now, driven into
. corner, he turned to meet the issue With his |
natural boidness aud bravado? AiS. Bell found |
himself in deep water, and avai.ed develop !
meDts With disposition to hold himself strictly
Deutral in tho coming conflict
The attitude of Timothy Stubblefe1d surprised |
him no more than did the attitude OF jolly aud |
boyish Tom Brown lie had known Brown for 4 |
good many years. He was his friend. and good
fellow; but--wc1i, he never thought there WAS |
much depth to the fellow; a sore disappoint- !
nent he was to his father, old Judge Browu, |
certainly one OF the best lawyers in towu- But |
Brown looked, on this day, ns though ho Vaa |
nan Of ideaa who had himself we'll in hau1; |
sho had determined on q course Of action, aud |
5as determined to carry it out. |
Timothy Stubbleield had not been many hours |
u confinement when he was taken before Judge I
Brown on a writ Of habeas corpus, and released !
from custody. |
There we're several startling rumors a9oat !
whole transaction, as seen by the people at large,
,ad BAD look. They were confused, however,
" story TINT gradually assumed prominence
md definite shape, to the effect that the |
.eal bank-robbers lad been arrested aud that |
Tom Brown had been among tho first to suspect I
he true state of affairs, and that he had with |
he help of experienced detectives. arranged q !
,oup defdt that had been eminantly successful |
Aud yet reports we're contradictory, and police
otficcrs iusinuated that the end was not yet, and
hat parties very otticious in securing the release
Of Mr. Stuhbletield might bo implicated
3lr. Bell would have given worlds for an old |
ime chat with Brown. but be only caught |
;limpees OF him as Le pusbed his way through
he crowd with Dir. Stubblcfeld, and drove off |
.lth him in carriage: ngain as he emerged |
rom the hotel with Miss Vincent; aud again MS
,e returned with bis father and two other wcll- |
snown lawyers Of the city.
There was secret conference about what |
he people did not know resulting in what COZ
,suslon, they could not imsgine. But the law
.ers came from the conference in happy frame |
IT mind with disposition to rejoice over persons
not III the secret.
1t eoou BECAME known that the banli-robbers
lad been arrested, but the people persletently
aced the Stubbledold mysscry.-for there tcGs
! mystery now without doubt. 1t was announced !
hat Mr. Stubbletield he'd made explanations
satisfactory to the parties called to confer With
al t,,f nm onpGiInro- |