The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-04-19
door and the banker said come in,' il
an ordinary tone.


in the stranger, and Immediately with
drew. The latter was verging on six
ty, of rough appearance and coarse al
tire. He wore an old gray overcoa
buttoned to the throat, and pair o
green goggles, and his whole dres
was saturated with rain.
Take seat said the banker, point
ing 10 chair near the fire.
No, thank yos; I'll stand was tn
gruff reply. you got my letter, ant
Of course you know my business h
added.
you allude to this, 1 suppose sait
the banker, producing the letter tha
had caused him so much perturbation
'Yes.'
Il don't understand it. You mus
have made a mistake
NO; no mistake at all. l was pres
ent twenty years ago, como the 10th o
next October, and saw you, StepheI
Edwards, shoot tho man, and If yor
go to denying it III have you in pris
on before morning. I've laid my
plans, and got everything sure, and il
you go to playing innocent and refuse
my terms, I'll take care that you die
stretching hemp
The banker, in spite of himself
turned pale, shuddered, and staggered
to seat.
'What do you want ? he groaned.
"A hundred thousand dollars; not
one cent less
Il cannot give it; it would ruin me.
just as you say rejoined the other
moving toward the door. you kaow
what will follow if 20 this way
oh, stay; you must not go yet,
cried the man of crime, in terrible
alarm.
lie argued, urged, plead, iDplored
for mercy At 4 fearful cost. In vain
In vain. At last the banker, seeing
ruin, disgrace and death before him i
he refused, agreed to the terms. He
also agreed to meet the stranger, with
the required sum, on the following
night in front of St. Paui's Church
Both were punctual to the fixed time
and the bills and check to the amount
of one hundred thousand dollars
changed hands.
A month latter there was tremend-
Gus run upon the bank Of which Ste.
phcn Edwards was the principal own.
er. 1t was soon broken down and
closed. Then the sheriff was set to
work by eager creditors, and all the
real estate and personal property OF
the late millionaire was seized and
sold, leaving him beggar and the just
claims uusatisficd. Fashionable friends
deserted the family, and the proud
nobleman refused the hand Of = ruin
ed bankers dau. h er.
In the midst OF this disgrace aud
tribuls,ion Stephen Edwards encount.
cred the man who had turned SO pale
and become SO agitated in his presence,
short time before.
Il rather think you do not know me.
sir,' said the gentlemen with formal
bow.
sYeur face seems somewhat familiar,
but 1 cannot place you,' returned Ed
wards.
Permit me TO bring myselfto your
recollection, then, as wish you to
know me. A little more than six
weeks ago 1 was talking to you on
business, aud you observed that l
turned deadly pale. and became agi-
tated2'
'Ah, yes, remember you now.
'Let me tell you why was thus af-
fected. My eyes had just chanced up
on a curious watch seal which had be-
longed to a merchant named Sydney,
who was shot in the western part OF
the State some twenty years ago, aud,
looking at your features closely,
knew you to be the villain who perpe-
trated the foul deed
'Merciful God !! exclaimed the bank.
er, with blanched face and quakins
form.
'Yes, I knew you,' pursued the 9th.
er, and week later 1 disguised my
self and had interview with you ip
your mansion. You remember tina,
of course?'
. But gasped the trembling wretch,
did not pay you your own price ts
keep my fatal secret9'
sYes, and with that very money and
what other could command was en-.
abled to buy up enough of your own
bills to make the run upon your bank
which broke it and forced ruin upon
you.'
'And what would you do now that
am ruined = inquired the other, with
deadly calmness OF desperation.
Now that have had my revenge, l
want you to know that l myself am
the man you attempted to murder and
did rob. l am Philip sydney. Behold
the scar where the ball struck and
glanced and he lifted his hat and
showed it,
God be praised = CALCULATED the Otn'
er. God be praised that you are still
living aud unable to restrain his emo
ton lie burst into tears. 'Oh, sir, he
continued, you have taken a load of
soul. Though poverty, beggary, dis
grace and death are staring mo in the
facc,.I am happy in the knowledge
that l am not guilty OF murder-hap.
pier than have been for twenty years
with all the luxurious surroundings
of wealth. 1t was my first aud las
crime, aud have never been able to
tell how waa temntei IN that fear