The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-10-02

Just come up.
II think you were inquiring for
Mr.. Ferguson. If L mistake not y
he said,
"Yes, do you know him p
81 am the man you are looking
for, il you are from Philadelphia
III am
Come with me- said the stran.
ger.
Our hero followed his guide, and
after walking short distance they
entered neat, pleasant looking cot
tage.
Together they entered the library.
aud Mr.. Ferguson at once proceeded
with the business he had in hand,
"You arc q detective are you
not 7" he asked.
IL am,' replied Bill, as ho handed
q card bearing his name to his COM
pauion.
"Ah, you are Mr.. Davis. I have
heard Of you before, aud believe you
are capable OF working up this case.
II any man can.
Thank you." returned the detec.
tive. "Now please begin at the be-
ginning and tell me tho whole story.
You said, [ believe, .hat tue life OF
al innocent man might be saved
II dill aud | firmly be.iev1 that
Ned Harrington is innocent Of the
crime Of murder"
Ned Harrington Great heav-
ems - gasped the detective.
The detective was usod TO great
surprises AMI startling develop
ments, .but all his self-c Jntrol left
him, aud he sank back in his chair
pale us sheet, at the mention OF his
friends name.
"You know him ?" said Mr.. Fur
guson, in some surprise.
"ile is ms friend. We graduated
from the same school, aud |, too,
know that he is Innocent. Such q
man as Ned could not take the life
of fellow man.
, 81 am glad that your his friend,
and We eau work together. sail
Mir. Ferguson, extending his han !,
which tue detective grasped aud
shook warmly.
"Now for the details, resumed
the merchant. 1.-The story is short
and the facts seem to be very con.
elusive. OIJ evening MI was com
ing across pasture lot rpon tL'
othor side of the village and fouu,I
the body Of u murdered nan. Til.
corpse lay directly across the foot
path which was used by those liYin
on the other sid as short cut ncro-.
the lOta. lie stopped over the body
aud drew from it "A long ciasp-kn!ie.
fhe deed had not been cJmmitto,
long, for the body Was hardly cold
aud ms no drew forth the knife ;
stream OF blood followed it. Al
this moment several men, with Law
yer Grey at tho head, came upol
him. They had been travelling ii
that direction and had suddenly
come upon the terrible scene. Th,
freshness OF the blood, which wa
hardly cold, the finding of Ne,
standilg over tho body, knife i,
hand, the confused maunes in whic.
he answered their questions, all
seemed 10 point to him as the guilty
one. And when it was discoverel
that the kuife which hal doue the
deed was Ned 8 own, with his name
upou tue haulle, nothing seemed
clearer than that he was the murder
or. Since his Imprisonment he ha
protested his innocence, but Of wha
avail : When his trial comes of h,
viii he condemned Just rs sure n.
the sun shines =
His declaration is sufficient.
would believe Ned against til,
world.
The detective remained q whilt
longer, and was introduced to th'
wife and two daughters of his friend
He could not help admiring Ned,
tate as he gazed upon the fair face o
AIable Ferguson. He smiled rs ht
stood face TO face with the gentl
Rose. This was the maiden with
whom Ned had predicted that HI
would fall in love.
lie did not think, 80, however. n
he gazed upon her thoughtful fac'
aud looked into the clear depths o
her blue eyes.
Mr.. Furguson had informed hin
that Ned was engaged to his daugh
ter Mabel for Mad had not men
toned the name of his betrothet
bride in his letter, and but for tha
he would nsver have suspected tia
it was to tue daughter OF the nter
chant that no was engaged.
Il must see Ned, said Bill, afte
he had spent some time in the CON
pauy Of the merchant aud his flm
lily.
lie had no difficulty in gaining
access to his friend,
"liill J! gasped Ned.
"Oh, Ned, is it thus l find you |?
As he spoke Bill graspsd Ned b.
the hand aud pressed it warmly.
sob, Bill. you don't believe m
guilty Of this great crime, do you 2
mo. my boy. Sooner wonll
believe that the sun ceased to rise
, | believe you to be innocent"
Thank you, Bill. But how di
YOU get here 7 | mean how is