The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-23
eco right away to the policen she


witness? That's the way they serv'
YOU in New York. I'll wait first an(
see if the papers have anything to sa.
about it.
"Strange, Mr.. P don't come fo
his boots said my wife. L wonder i
you could be mistaken about his calling
for them?'
"'Perhaps he has forgotten it himself
and is waiting at home for them; ant
here it is three O'clock
$50 saying, l took the boots an(
started for my customers house. hat
a good way to 90, but hurried as fast a:
I could, thinking all the time of tht
spot on the greenback and the spot or
my finger, for I never thought to wash il
off.
Il mounted The steps and rang the
bell.
1.-The door was opened so quick that
it startled me, and there stood sweet
pretty girl, fourteen or fifteen years old
| dressed for traveling-hat and all on.
"'Mr. P.'s boots, / said, putting them
down.
Papa is not home yet, and it is SC
strangen she cried. 1 was watching
for him. We were to leave for Boston
by the quarter-past three express train,
and it is that now. Papa is always SC
punctual, I can't think what to make OF
it,
"She appeared to be more thinking
aloud than talking to me.
Probably business detains him, miss
something unexpected, no doubt
Il could not help casting q glance at
my finger as I spoke-1 mean the finger
that had the spot on it. looked from
the finger to the young girl. - :
"Do you think anything has happen
ed to him?' she demanded, earnestly.
"Happened to him? No, indeed.
Sure to be home in few minutes
1.-The words nearly choked me. How
I got them out l don't know. left the
house as quick us possible, holding the
finger separate from the other fingers
till l reached my shop.
Something awful has been going
on, wife. We will see it for certain in
the papers, :,
"Peter,' said she, be sure you don't
wash that finger
"Why not? said I, my teeth chatter
ing.
"1 tell you you must not do it until
"Good gracious, Wife says I, 'have
I got to be all night with my finger so?
1 shall not sleep u wink
"Yes, you have says she; and /
will do it up with a rag, so nothing can
rub the stain out
"Please don't do that, wife. Itmakes
me feel strange
"But before 1 was done speaking,
she had the rag on. Then she got sup
per, but not mouthful could l eat.
"'It's of no use, can't work; may
as well 90 to bed,' 1 said.
Il did not light up the shop, but went
into the other room and got in bed. l
laid awake nearly all night, in terrible
state with my finger. At last l fell
asleep, and dreamed it began to swell,
and kept growing larger and larger, till
it was bigger than my head. was in
great trouble. A doctor came to cut it
off, and, Just as he was commencing, /
heard scream which woke me. There
was my wife standing over me, with q
newspaper in her hand.
"'The awfulest thing that ever hap
penedr she cried. Mr.. P was MUIR
dered yesterday afternoon. and it was
his murderer you did thatjob for: Read!
1.-The account was short. Mr.. P
had been discovered in the basement of
his warehouse, near his vault, quite dead,
stabbed ever so many times. The vault
it was where he kept his valuables-
was open. Everything disposable was
taken, of which was large sum in bank
bills-a tremendous robbery. From the
basement into the vault, you crossed an
area, covered with an iron grating, which
let light into cellar below. The muir
derer's heel must have caught between
the bars during the scutfle. 1t was
wrenched off, and was found stuck there,
There was no clew whatever to the mur:
derer except the heel. This was the
whole story.
Il jumped out of bed.
"Now, Peter, what are you going to
do?' asked my wife.
"'I am going to see Lawyer F.
Che was one of my customers), and tell
him all I know
"'That's right said she.
Il hurried off as soon rs Twas dressed.
Lawyer E. was not up. waited for
him. AS soon as he came into the room,
l told him my story. He took it coolly
enough; but that was because he was Il
lawyer, / reckon.
"'Wait till have my breakfast he
said, and l will 60 with you to police
headquarters
"'To be locked up?' says 1. Won't
that be the way of it9'
"He laughed.
al will take care of you, Peter says
he; will go bail for your appearance, if
necessary
After he had his breakfast, we start
ed off together. Lawyer F. took me
to the chief man; l forget what they cali
him. I told my story over again. Then
| answered so many questions that be-
ran to feel as if l had killed Mr.. p
myself.
Before they got through, they show
ed me the heel of the boot. / could have
sworn to it on stack of Bibles. Then
pulled off the rag and showed him my
finger.
What's that for?' said the police
officer.
Il told him.
Never mind that. Let's see the bank
billr he exclaimed.
II took it from my pocket, and gaveit
to him.
"He marked it carefully, and then
made me mark it, so / should know
it again." he said. "Then lie put the
bill in an envelope, and wrote on it, and
put it in his safe.
"They handed me paper to 60 before
the coroner's jury that afternoon, and
lawyer E. gave his word that |
should be there. Then went home.
Il told the story for the third time
before the coroncr's jury, and that was
all the good it did.
"It was a nine-days' wonder-the
papers full oft. Folks came crowding
to my shop to stare and ask questions.
They only hindered my work; it didn't
do me any good. The police kept arrest
ing people, and would fetch me to look at
them, but they never got the right man. y
Here the cobbler paused. He remain
ed so long silent that began to think
his story was concluded.
"Is that alp at length asked.
"All!' exclaimed the cobbler, with a
start. L wish it was all! have but
just begun"
So saying he took from his pocket a
large colored handkerchief, wiped his
face, and proceeded:
"Nothing more came to light for five
years-five years. The whole affair
went to p-forgotten--as things are
in New York. Often, though, used tc
think of that sweet, pretty girl, who
opened the door for nae the day took