The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-10-17
FANNY'S FILTRATION.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

tlCe In the city.
But rumors at length reached me that
Fanny WAS receiving attentions, not quite
consistent with our relations, from dash
| ing young stranger-one Mortimer Fltz
Flare, y social star Of the first magnitude,
whose sudden appearance had great
dImmed, by comparison, the lesser lights
of the village armament.
| wrote TO Fanny expostulating with
some warmth. She replied with spirit.
| reioined with temper. She retorted
with moro, adding an offer to cancel our
engagement, which, in some angry
lines, | accepted And so matters stood
at the time at which l begin my story.
l was sitting In my office one morning,
reading u letter from home filled with
village gossip, and recounting, with need
| lees particularly, l thought, the details
of a report that Fanny Blake's becoming
Mrs. Mortimer Fitz Flare, WAS only q
question OF time.
The cbsgrin felt was quite dispro-
portioned to any right had to take AL
interest in the subject. But | did take
MI interest IN it none the less.
"Come to me at once" it read; 81
am In trouble, and need your assistance"
twas signed Thomas Blake" and
came from one OF the station houses.
Tom. Blake Fanny's brother, and l
had been schoolmates aud fast friends.
Though not overnight in his books, none
excellei Tom in Boyish proves More
than once he had stood my champion,
and l had loved him like brother, as
well for his own, rs Fanny's sake; for
there was no better or more whole
souled fellow that Tom Blake.
He bad gone early to seek his fortune
in the West, and | had never seen him
since Could it be my old friend,
IN distress, vine now nailed me for
Ass .s.ance? The best way WAS to go and
see
l: was Tom, sure enough. | found
him seated on the prisoners bench, amid
n squad OF sorry-looklRg companions, al
awaiting their turn for morning dose
OF justice.
You see" said Tom, our greeting
over, Il knew you were in the city, and
looket YOU up In the directory, and
sent tor you, not knowing what else to
do
al am glad you did so" l answered;
but first of all, tell me how you got
! nere?"
Hang me il l know whether it's
more serious or funny" said Tom.
"However, I'll tell you the whole
thing, and then you can judge for your
| SELF
The officers suffered US to 90 aside
together, and Tom thus recounted his
story:
"a man who has lived five years in the
silver-diggins Is apt to get little rusty
m city ways, | suppose, especially II he
WAS neVe very well up in 'em. AT any
rate. when | landed here yesterday from
Nevada | have reason to believe there
,re several points on which | might have
been better posted.
"As | trudged up Broadway look
/ ing right and left at the sights, | WAS
nccosted bv genteel looking person,
whose countenance betOkened great dis
tress
81 am u stranger here he said. "A
telegram summoned me from Boston to
the bedside oil n dying mother. reach
/ 81 this place by the last train, but my
p.ckc, was picked ut the depot, and ]
am without the means of proceeding
further.
al have valuable gold watch, how
ever. y gift from my deceased father. 1t
grieves me deeply to part with 1t, but
have no other resource. l Will sclllt Tor
seventv-Hve dollars. If you will step
! - a
can easi ascertain that the sum asked Il
not half the real value.
Il pItied the strangers condition.
and taking his, wstch, entered the
place pointed out, and learned that
The representation OF value WAS strictly
rue.
al am willing to aid YOU l said, re.
turning to the spot 1T which mao
left the stranger, but wish to take no nd
VANTAGE of your need. III give you the
required sum, with my address, and you
can have the watch ut any time by re-
turning the money.
, "His eyes filled with tears as he press
cd NY hand silently. Gratitude choEed
his utterance.
IL had nothing less than y hundred
dollar bill about me.
perhaps this gentleman can change
it suggested the stranger, mastering nj
, emotion sufficiently 10 speak, and touch
ing the arm OF another genteel-Iooklng
person who CHANGED To be passing.
"The gentleman kindly Obliged us
and the affair beng thus SATISFACTORY!
concluded we exchanged bows all roun'
and separated.
s. a. may have been little ostentatlou
of nv handsome watch during the eve
! ming. ANYHOW, | consulted 1t prett.
. frequently, till. at last taking 1t out as
WAS leaving the thester, | felt tap oil
the shoulder.
".:Allow me to look at that wstch
said tall man who had been looking
!, over my shoulder.
g ".None OF your tricks on travellers,
answered, slipping it back into m
pocket.
1.-The greenhorn dodge won't do here
E he replied; you must go along with me
At the same time turning up his lspe
ne displa yed an officers badge.
"Seeing | was in the clutches OF tn
: law, | made no resistance, but wslke
quietly along.
"At the police station the watch foun
y on me was identified as stolen property
/. and the twer ty-fve dollars change l ha
/; received was pronounced spurious. An
ID so l am detained, it seems, on the doubl
" charge of being thief and counter
L feiter.'
ID 1 knew the Judge personally, and hac
,e little difficulty in convincing him ths
: Tom had been made the victim of lmpos
= ture by thief and his sccompiice.