Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-04-05
Stranger than Fiction.

gal1Q nu6o WHICH ROlAVW tAo liSuO
touches of early frost, mounted
traveler was pursuing his way
through q dalK, broad, lonely forest,
In the western part of New York.
lie had ridden three miles since see
ing human habitatioa, and he hal
two to go before he could get sight
of another. He was descending a
hill into glonmy looking valley,
through which llawad II shallow, but
swift running stream and on reach
ing the water he permitted his thirs-
tv beast To stop and drink.
At that moment u man came out
from cluster of bushes into the
road, or horsepath, on the other side
OF the stream. This man was dress
cd like hunter, and carried life
on his shoulder. Nothing about
him indicated hostility or wicked
design. He was of medium height,
-eam2actly built, with Intellectual
features, and "a certain air of gentili-
ty-Seemlng rather as one abroad
from some settlement for days
sport thin professional hunter.
All this the mounted man noted as
he crossed the stream to continue
his Journey. and when they came
together pleasant salutation was
exchanged.
~Fine weather for travelling, SIR"
remarked the man with the gun.
"And for hnnting, also, | should
suppose" smiled the other on the
ho-se.
"Yes, there ia game enough" re-
turned the other, shut am not
good hunter. and can only show one
bear for my days work so far. and
that is almost useless to me, because
have no means to take it away.
would willingly pay dollar for the
use of horse like yours for couple
of hours III you cnuld spare mo-
ment or so I would like you to set'
the bear it is only back behind the
bushes, some two hundred yards
from here"
''I will not only look at it," re-
piled the traveller, dismounting and
fastening his horse, ''but if not ton
heavy, l will take it along for you,
seeing am going your way
The huLter thanked him in most
cordial manner, and then, as if tn
make himself agreeable, and keeping
mp the conversation, inquired where
the other was from, whittier jour
neying. etc all learned in reply
that the latter resided in Albany,
was merchant. in good business,
aud was travelling partly for his |
health and partly with a view of |
making an extensive land purchase
for future speculation.
swell, here we are" exclaimed
the hunter, as two emerged from
the dense thicket, through which
they had slowly forced their way
into the open wood land now
Will show you as fne and fat least
as you ever saw. Observe where
pint with my rifie.''
He stepped back some eight or
ten feet, deliberately raised the
niece to his eye, and pointed the
nnzzle directly at the head Of the
traveller. There was a fash and a
load report, and the victim fell like
N log. his face covered with blood.
This might or might not have
been the first crime committed by
the man with the rife. But as the
traveller fell the rife slipped through
his hands. and he shook violently |
from head to foot yet he ran to
his victim and hnrriedly robbed him
of his pocket book, gold watch and
c'min. one curious seal. and dia-
rnond breast pin and ring, which he
fairly tore from his finger. Then he
dragged his body into a thicket. |
picked up his rife, plunged madly !
through the bushes IT, the road
mounted the travellers horse, and |
dashed away from the awful scene
We must now suppose lapse of
tEenty years.
In the spring of 1887 there. lived
in the city of New York a banker
and millionaire whom we shall call |
Stephen Edwards. lie owned a
palatial mansion. splendidly furnish
ed. i'm the very heart of the town.
aad ne and his wife were among the
leaders of the fashionable world
They had a beautiful daughter, just
turned to sweet sixteen, who was
about to be married to a foreign
nobleman, and great preparations
were making for the happy event.
One day about this period. rs the
great banker was conversing with
gentleman from another city, who
called to see him on business, he
observed that the latter suddenly