The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-05-01


mand for hush-money, with the pros
pect of being forevermore in the power
of the man to whom he should have
once yielded. His visitor was fellow
named Tom Dunno, who had once been
policeman, and had apprehended John
Goldwell, alias Williams, when the lat
ter had been given into custody forl
fraud fve-and-thirty years previously.
Dunno had afterward become detec-
tive, but had been discharged the force
for drunken misconduct. lie was now,
bv his own account, living on his wife,
and made poor job of it. John Gold
well looked at the man, marked the leer
in his eyes, the bloated condition of his
face, the weak twitch of his lips, and
perceived him to be an irreclaimable
drunkard, with whom it would be folly
to compound. To give him money
would be like pouring water into sieve.
In moment Goldwelps mind was made
up. and he resolved to resist: but want
ing time to decide what steps he should
take to get rid of his prosecutor once
and for all, he dissembled for the pres
ent. "You must give me time to cor
slider your request" said he. "To be-
gin with, have not 81 900 here in my
private house."
"You can give me check on your
bank"
sNo; that is out of the Sguestion.
Leave me your address, and l will write
in two days to tell you what have de-
cided. Will you consent to go to Amer
lea if 1 give you the money! Yes,
that's what 1 want you to do," said
Dunno eagerly, for he thought he saw a
sign of yielding on Goldwell's face. he
remarked that he wanted few sover-
eigns to go ON with, as he was "cleaned
out" Goldwen gave him e5. "That
will do, sir, for the present." said he, as
he pocketed the money; I'll let you have
forty-eight hours to reflect if, you'll give
me the 81, 900. If you won't"
every well," said Goldwell, inter-
rupting him. al will write and give
you an appointment. Go out now. |
have nothing more to say to you to-day"
Tom Dunno went out When he was
gone Goldwell paced the room for a few
minutes, holding his head between his
hands, as if it would burst. A very
storm was raging in his skull. He
thought little Of himself; but the refee-
ton that his daughters marriage might
be broken off if his own antecedents
were made known, excited him to a
point verging on frenzy. At last he
could bear his anxieties no longer, and
hurried out of his house. A hanson
was passing he jumped into it, and told
the cabman to drive him to the address
of Fermeroy. He was determined to
make clean breast of it to the General.
General Fermeroy was an elderly Of
icer of about sixty, who had seen much
service, and whose hair was grizzled.
He was not particularly imaginative or
clever, but his impulses under all con-
ceivable circumstances ran straight as
lines. He had never done mean thing,
and could not hear that anybody mad
transgressed without twirling up his
mustaches in a significant manner, that
seemed to say: "That man and l have
seen the last of each other" He liked
John Goldwell because he regarded him
as paragon among men of business, a
man at once honorable and industrious !;
and he was glad that his eldest son was
going to marry Goldwell's daughter.
Consequently he gave a start, as if he
had been shot-at, when the banker burst
upon him and said: General l have
confession to make! Sit down and
hear me to the end. l need your advice.
/ am miserable man; but I give you
my word that was hardly responsible
for my acts when / did the thing that
brought me to my present position"
The two men remained closeted for an
hour, and John Goldwell unfolded his
wretched story. He had been clerk in
bank, when falling in love with some
actress, he had spent for her more
money than he could afford: and had
one day, to save her furniture from
seizure (as he thought), appropriated
some moneys intrusted to him, hoping to
make good the amount before its disap.
pearance was found out. Detected inn
mediately he was given into custody,
tried and sentenced to transportation
without any extenuating circumstance
being admitted in his favor. That was
all he had to say, except that he had re-
pented of his folly in the deepest misery
and sorrow, and had tried to make
atonement for it by leading the mos
honorable life ever since he had come
to NJ. He appealed to the Genera
as to whether the latter had ever heard
of his doing any dishonest thing.
Tbs Generel listened in silence. HI
was not an emotional man, but in hin
the spirit of justice predominated owe
every other sentiment. He glanced a
Goldwell, saw his intense wretchedness
his wistful, appealing glances, his evi
dent despair. He cleared his throa
and exclaimed, indiferently: "Well
I'll be hanged-this is a curious start
You say this scamp lives in B
streetw
eyes, in B street l have pre-
vailed upon him to wait forty-eigh
hours for my answer"
Well, leave me TO deal with him."
"You, General? And may I. hop
that you will not suffer my guilt to b
visited upon my poor child"
"Ahem-well, we'll see." The Gen
eral looked fierce at that moment
"Call upon me tomorrow at this hour
and Pll tell you what think of you
communication. You say its b
street. That's right; I've got it down
; Good night"
John Goldwell walked out sad an,
anxious, and the General RENAME,
: alone. He sat down at once and wrot
few unsigned words upon a piece O
paper, requesting Tom Dunno to NEE
ia person who would bring s1, 200,
next day at A Park, in the outskirt
J of M When he had dispatched thi
missive, the General stepped up to
panoply of arms which adorned hi
study and took down two foils. He ez
amined their points, their edges, thei
suppleness. He made lunge at tn
wall; he stood for moment, head erec
and weapon in hand, as if he bad an il
visible foe opposite him; but suddenl
he threw down his foil with shrug c
disgust az can't soil sword on sue
vermin as that. A pair of bludgeor
will do for this kind of game" and
! proceeded to look out two stout walkin,
: sticks from among several that stood
3 rack in his hall.
y