Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-02-22
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IT, nQ tEen ftsptctluiIy lO1k Ia
leave.
II wss perhaps week after this,
that one night the banker Was sitting
oefore the fire in his library, when Il
servant came in and presented him
with letter. He took it with yawn,
and opened il in the most indolent and
Indifferent manner possible; but he did
not read dozen words before he rose
ap with start, turned pale, and trem-
oled so that the paper ratified. lie I'm
shed the uote-for il was rather note
han letter-worked one hand Der-
vously at his throat, and with the 9TH
ar clasped his forehead end temples.
For minute or two he seemed to be
hoked into calmness, by an iron will,
8 Ifne terrible emotions, and he so lar
succeeded as to address the waiting
servant in an ordinary tone.
James, be said, who gave you this
letter.
"A mao, who said he would wait for
an answer
Then ! SUPPOSE he is waiting?'
Yes, SIR
Soon there was a light tap on the
door, and the banker said come in
in an ordinary tone.
The servant opened the door, usher
I'd in the stranger, and immediately
withdrew. The latter was verging on
sixty, of rough appearance and coarse
attire He wore an old gray overeoat,
butotned to the throat, "a pair of green
goggles, and his whole dress was satu
rated with rain.
Take seet,' said the banker, point
ing to a. chair near the fire.
No, thank you, Ill stand was the
gruff reply. You got my letter, and
ef course yeu know my business he
added.
You allnde to this, l suppose re-
turned The banker, PRODUCING the let
ter that caused him Sd much pertur'
batien.
Yes.
Il do not understand it; you must
have madea mistake
No mistake at sll. i was present
twenty years ago, come the 10th OF De-
t,,ber, and saw you, Stephen Edwards,
saoot the man. and if you go to deny il
I'll have you in prison before MORN
ing. havo laid my plans, and got
Everything sure, and if you 60 to play
innocent aud refusing my terms, III
take care to see that you die stretching
hemp
The bankerin spite of himself, turned
pale. shuddered and siagger d to seal.
What do yon wauf" lie gr,aned.
"a hundred thousand dUllarS-nO,
ona cent kss.'
Il cannot give tit would ruin me.
Just as you say, rejoined the other,
moving toward the door. YOU, know
what VIII follow If 20 this way
oh, stay; ycu must not 90 yet,
cried the man of crime, in terrible
alsrm.
He argued, urged, pleaded, implored
for mercy At less fearful cost. In
vain.
AT last the banker-seeing ruin, dis
grace and death before ili,n If he refu-
sed-agreed to the terms. He also
agreed to meet tie stronger, with the
required sum, on the following night
in front of ST. Paul's Church. Both
were punctual to the time, and bills
and checks TO the amount of one hun
dred thousand dollars changed hands.
! A month later there was tremen-
dous run upon the bank of which Sic
ven Edwards was principal owner. 1t
was soon broken and closed. Then the
sheriff was set TO work by eager credi-
Etois, and all the real estate and proper
ty of the late millionaire was seized
and sold, leaving him beggar and the
just claimed unsatisfied. Fashionable
friends deserted. the family, and the
proud nobleman refused the hand of a
ruined bankers daughter.
In the midst of the disgrace and trib-
ulation Steven Edwards encountered
the man who turned so pale and agita.
ted in his presence short time before.
i rather think you do not know me,
sir said the gentleman, with formal
bow
Your face seems somewhat familiar
but yet cannot place you,' returned
| Edwards.
Permit me to, bring myself to your
lrecellection, then, as wish you TO
know me. a little more than six
weeks ago was talking TO you en- bu-
siness, and you observed that / turned
deadly pale, and became agitated?'
'Ah, yes, remember you now
'Lei me tell you why was affected.
My eyes had just chanced upon a curl.
Gus watch seal which had belonged to
a merchant named Philip Sydney, who
was shot in the western part of the
State some twenty years ago, and,
looking at your features closely, /
KNEW you to be the villain who perpe-
trated the foul deed
'Merciful GoGp exclaimed the bank
er, with a blanched face and quaking
furm.
Yes, knew yOu,' pursued the 9TH
er, and week later disguised myself
and had an interview with you i'm yonr
mansion. You remember that, of
courSe?'
But gasped the trembling wretch,
did not l pay you your own price to
keep my fatal secret?'
Yes, and with that very money and
with what else could command l WAS
en- allied to buy up enou h of your own
bills TO make that run upon you bank
which broke it aud forced ruin upon
you.'
And what would you, now that
am rained? inquired tie other, with
the deadly calmness Of desperation.
Now that rave my revenge, want
you to know that | am the man YOU
attempted to murder and did rob.
ain Philip Sydney. Behold the scar
where the bali struck and glaEc-d and
he lifted his hat AID showed ii.
'God be praiset! CALCULATED the 9TH
er. God be praised that you are still
livingi' and unable 10 restain lis emo
tion he burst into tears. Oh, SIR he
continued, you have taken load of
my conscience-a weight ON nv
soul. Though poverty, dis race and
death are staring me in the face, am
happy ia the knowledge that am uot
guilty of fmurder-happie than l ha, o
been for twenty years with all 1.-The lux
urious surrouudings of wealth. 1t was
my first and last crime. And | have
never been able to tell how / Was
tempted on that fearful occasion. Now,
sir, do With me as. you will-Only, i
pray you, be merciful with my inno-
cent familY.'