Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-12-13

she remained seated until he took hi
place by her side.
Lets row out upon the lake." sale
Van Haven, without any unnecessary
"good evening"" as he raised the oars
and pulled gently from the shore. at
is very quiet night and we shall moi
retired. We must move cautiously
"Whyp questioned Matte, rather
surprised at this remark.
"WhyP do you want to betray your
selfp'
"Betray myself why what are you
thinking about, Mr.. Van HavenP
just then the moon, which had been
shining on her back, fell full upon his
face, and revealed countenance with
an unusually strange expression, and
to the great astonishment of Matte,
the fact her companion was asleep
| Van Haven had been known to walk
in his sleep, and perform great many
marvellous feats while in that condition;
and Matte Harris herself had hap
pened to meet him once while enjoying
somuambulisticr ramble. So she was not
at all frightened by the circumstances
under which she suddenly found her
self placed, but somewhat astonished;
and, beng lady of a good deal of
mischief, and possessed of the usual
amount of curiosity, of course she
determined to let her companion con-
tinue on his nocturnal excursion.
"What are you thinking aboutP" re-
peated Matte, her saddened features
giving place to an amused smile.
You know well enough what am
thinking about Jim. We must secure
it tonight. 1t may be found where we
have hidden it, and that would be the
last of us. That letter was a sharp
thing of ours, wasn't itP | tremble lest
Lacy may be cleared--though, then
suspicion would seek some other party.
So we'd better find other quarters as
soon as we can possibly do so without
causing any comment upon it; and, of
course, we will not let the money re-
main where it is now." AT the men,
ton of Lacy's name and money"
Mattie's mind, which for the past week
had been invariably coupling those
words together, caught eagerly at the
suspicion thus aroused; and her very
frame shook as the light of a great dis
closure suddenly flashed upon her. She
had found one of the guilty parties, con-
cerned in the bank robbery, and could
liberate her lover.
The discovery was almost too much
for her. A dim mist diffused her eyes.
She clutched eagerly the side of the
boat. But she soon recovered from the
first shock, yet did not permit herself
to speak, she trembled so violently.
Van Haven continued
ave must leave tomorrow; don't
you think so?'
Yes" ventured Matte. "Now let
us be quiet, for fear we should be over
heard"
"All right"
They moved slowly and noiselessly
across the ripping waters of the lake,
until they reached the opposite shore.
The woods hung darkly over the tran
quill depths, and all was quiet. Van
Haven tied the boat to a sapling, and
stepped ashore; followed silently by
Matte. He led the way to dense
thicket of underbrush, pausing a mo-
ment to assure himself of this point, he
took few steps forward and cautiously
raised large stone. Under it lay a
casket. He picked it up and replaced
the stone.
"I'll carry it," said Matte, with
avidious eagerness, feeling confident
that if she once got possession of the
stolen money all would be well with
her.
Every WE'LL" said the somnambulist,
and consigned the casket to her keep
"a Lot, 20 ha hno
and we will finish the arrangement of
our plans as we cross over for Orville." :"
Matte considered it matter of pru-
dence to agree and followed her sleep
ing companion to the lake. He took
his seat in the boat and loosened the
chain from the sapling, enjoining his
associate to maintain perfect silence
until they should be out of the lake.
He seemed to think all was well and
showed off from the shore.
Matte stood in the moonlight and
watched the boat and its solitary oars
man until both were concealed within
the dark shadows of the mountain, be-
hind which the moon was fast hiding
herself.
"Pm safe nowr' she said, with a
joyful bound, "But what shall 1 do?
I'm half mile from any house, and
have no means of crossing the lake.
There is road here somewhere, though.
I'll walk to the hotel, if it takes till
morning! There is no time to be lost. :"
So saying, she began her search for
the road, which was soon found, and
while the excitement of the occasion
lent the requisite amount of strength,
she reached Orville.
She lost no time in informing the au-
thorities of the town of her singular ad-
venture, producing the casket for their
examination in proof of her statement.
Early in the morning before most of
the guests had arisen, the Orville House
was surrounded by half dozen men,
evidently intent upon the capture of
some one within. Presently Van Haven
made his appearance on the ground
floor verandah, apparently unconscious
that any thing was wrong. The sight
of the police quickly undeceiyed him;
it was up with him. He was hand
cuffed at once without any ceremonious
notification of the reason why he was
thus rudely dealt with. Matte came
down just then, after a short sleep, and
was requested to follow, when the ofii-
GERS started down the street with their
prisoner in custody, attended by large
crowd of excited spectators, which had
soon congregated.
A preliminary examination convinced
all parties of the guilt of Van Haven,
bat did not eXonerate Lacy from COM
plicity in the affair. The subsequent
investigation, however, fastened the
guilt upon two parties-Van Haven and
JAS. Thompson, an Orville man, with
whom the former had been on terms of
suspicious intimacy.
OF course, all redress was made to
Mr., Lacy for the hasty opinions of the
people concerning him, and was ac-
cepted by him as satisfactory. But a
more material expression of the thanks
of the bankers was made, when MIR.
johnson, himself, the senior partner of
the firm, said in the police court, THAT
in consideration of the great Injustice