Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-31

throat, and with the other clasped his
forehead and temples. For minute
or two ne seemed to be choking into
calmness, by an iron will, some terrible
emotions, and he so far succeeded as to
address the waiting servant in an ordi-
nary tone.
Games he said, "who gave you
his letter? ?"
GA man, sir, he said he would wait
for an answer.
"Then | suppose he is waiting?"
Yes, sir"
Soon there was q light tap at the
door, and the banker said "come in"
in an ordinary tone.
The servant opened the door, usher
ed In the stranger and immediately
withdrew. The latter was verging on
sixty, of rough appearance and coarse
attire. He woreaan old gray overcoat,
buttoned to the throat, and pair of
green goggles, and his whole dress was
saturated with rain.
"Take seat" said the banker, point
ing to chair near the fire.
"No, thank you; I'll stand" was the
gruf reply. "You got my letter, and
of course you know my business" he
added.
"You allude to this, suppose" said
the banker, producing the letter that
had caused him so much perturbation.
Yes"
"I don't understand it; you must
have made a mistake"
"No. no mistake at all. was pres
ent twenty years ago, come the 10th
of October, and saw you, Stephen Ed
wards, shoot the man, and if you 60 to
deny it, I'll have you in prison before
morning. I've laid my plans, and got
everything sure, and if you go to play
ing innocent and refusing my terms I'll
take care to see that you die stretching
hemp"
The banker, in spite of himself,
turned pale, shuddered, and staggered
to q seat.
"What do you want he groaned.
GA hundred thousand dollars, not
one cent less"
81 cannot give tit would ruin
me-"
"Just as you say" rejoined the 9TH
er, moving toward the door. You
| know what will follow if l go this way"
ooh, stay; you must not go yet"
cried the man of crime, in terrible
alarm.
He argued, urged, pleaded, implored
for mercy at fearful cost. In vain.
At last the banker-seeing ruin, dis
grace and death before him if he re-
fused-agreed to the terms. He also
agreed to meet the stranger, with the
required sum, on the following night
in front of ST. Paul'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 later there was q tremen-
dous run upon the bank of which Ste
phen Edwards was principal owner. It
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 mil
lionaire was sliced and sold, leaving
him beggar and the just claims un-
satisfied. fashionable friends deserted
the family, and the proud nObleman
daughter.
In the midst of this disgrace and
tribulation Stephen Edwards encoun-
tered the man who had turned so pale
and become so agitated 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 famil-
lar, but yet I cannot place you," re.
turned Edwards.
Permit me to bring myself to your
recollection, then, as l wish you to know
me. A little more than six weeks ago
was talking to you on business, and
you observed that I turned deadly pale,
and became agitated ?"
"Ah, yes, [ remember you know"
Let nae tell you why / was thus
affected. My eyes had just changed
upon a curious watch seal which had
belonged to a merchant named Sydney,
who was shot in the western part of the
state some twenty years ago, and, look
ing at your features closely, knew you
to be the villain who perpetrated the
foul deed.'
"Merciful God!" exclaimed the
banker, with balanced face and quak-
ing form.
"Yes, I knew you," pursued the
other, "and week later I disguised
myself and had an interview with you
in your mansion. You remember that,
of course?'
"But," gasped the trembling wretch,
"did not pay you your own price to
keep my fatal secret?"
Yes, and with that very money and
what other [ could command I was en-
| abled to buy up enough of your own
bills to make that run upon your bank
which broke it and forced ruin upon
YOU"
"And what would you do, now that I
am ruined?" inquired the other, with
the deadly calmness of desperation.
Now that | have had my revenge,
| want you to know that l myself am
the man you attempted to murder and
did rob. | am Philip Sydney. Behold,
the scar where the ball struck and
glanced. and he lifted his hat and
showed it.