Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-04-04
We must now suppose a lapse of

III Iut Spiluo VI 1901, Ihetc ANcu III
the city of New York a banker and
millionaire, whom we will call James
Edwards. He owned a palatial man.
sion, splendidly furnished, in the very
heart OF the town, and he and his
wife were among the leaders of the
fashionable world. They had beau
tiful daughter, just turned to sweet
sixteen, who was aboue to be mar
ried to foreign nobleman. and great I
preparations were being made for
the happy event.
One day about this period, as the
great banker was conversing with a
gentleman from another city, who
called to see him on business, he
observed the latter, turned suddenly
very pale and began to tremble.
"My dear, sir" he said, in his usual
tone OF off hand sympathy, what is
the matter? Are you ill?"
"A little faint, sir, but nothing to
cause alarm, replied the other, hur-
riedly." I am subject to similar
spells. If you would be kind enough
to excuse me for q few minutes,
will take walk and return in bet
ter condition"
In ten minutes he returned, repor-
ted himself quite well, and calmly
proceeded 10 finish his business with
the banker, and then respectfully
took his leave.
1t was perhaps week after this,
that one night the banker was sit
ting before the table in the library,
when servant came III and handed
a letter. He took it with a yawn,
and opened it In the most indolent
and Indifferent manner possible, but
had not read q dozen words before
he rose up with start, turned pale
and trembled so that the paper rat
tied. He finished the note-for it
worked one hand nervously at his
throat, and with the other clasped his
forehead and temples. For a min
ute or more he seemed to be choking
into n calmness, by an iron will,
some terrible emotions, and he so
far succeeded as to address the wait
ing servant in an ordinary tone.
Charles" he said, "who gave you
this letter."
"A man, sir, who said he would
wait for an answer"
"Then I suppose he is waiting?"
"Yes, sir"
Soon there was a light tap on tho
door, and the banker said "come In"
in an ordinary tone.
The servant opened the door,
ushered in the stranger and immedi-
ately Withdrew. The latter was ver-
ging on sixty, Of rough appearance
and coarse attire. He wore and old
gray overcoat, buttoned to the throat,
pair OF green goggles, and his
whole dress was saturated with rain.
"Take a seat,' said the banker,
pointing to a chair near the fire.
"No, / thank you, I'll stand," was
the gruff reply. "You got my letter,
NJ
ness" he added.
"You allude to this, suppose" re-
piled the banker, producing the let
ter that caused him so much pertur-
baton.
"Yes"
Il do not understand it; you must
have made some mistake"
"No; no mistake at all. 1 was
present, twenty years ago come the
10th Of October, and saw you, James
Edwards, shoot the man, and IL you
go to deny it, I'll have you in prison
before morning. have laid my
plans, got everything sure, and il
you go to play innocent and refuse
my terms, I'll take care to see you
die stretching hemp"
The banker, in spite OF himself,
turned pale, shuddered and staggered
to a seat.
"What do you want?" he groaned.
"A hundred thousand dollars-not
a cent less"
IL cannot give tit would ruin
me-"
"Just as you say" rejoined the
other, moving toward the door. you
know what will follow it. I go this
way"
"Oh, stay you must not go yet"
cried the man OF crime, in terrible
alarm.
He argued. urged, pleaded and i'm
plored for mercy at a less fearful
cost. In vain. At last the banker
seeing ruin, disgrace and death be-
fore him III 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.
PauPs church.
Both were punctual to the fixed
time, and bills and checks to the
amount OF one hundred thousand
dollars changed hands.
A month later there was a tremen-
dous run upon the bank of which
James Edwards was principal owner.
1t was soon broken and closed. Then
the sheriff was set to work by eager
creditors, and all the real estate and
property OF the late millionaire was
seized and sold, leaving him q beg