Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-12

now be in Europe or under ground took
the ladys address, allowed her to retain the
Arnolds, and again lost the case for several
months l wrote over fifty letters, travelled
three or four thousand miles on the lookout
for Dig man and nothing came OF II. a But one
N. Y, by stage, two suspicuous-lo looking chaps
got into the vehicle, and they were my only
company. 1 knew them to be Hash" as soon
prove It. pretended to be very deaf as soon
as they got In, not replying to any OF their
questions. / assumed the tone and voice gen.
my ear and moved over, and expressed my re-
grets II / had offended them, saying that /
could not even hear the rumble of the coach.
GOOD exclaimed one OF The men, as sat
down at the other end Of the vehicle. "Now
you can go on with your yarn"
Before proceeding the other one called me an
old fool. thief, a robber and various other
things. closely watching my countenance to
see II l could hear bis words.
1.-The old smooth bore Is as deaf as a stone y
he remarked, having satisfied himself as to my
deafness, and then he went on with a narrative
which had been interrupted
i soon ascertained that they were On their
way to Penf1eld to rob merchant. They had
aT nd 70 COMMIT the crime
plan gave all the details as to how the robbe y
was to be committed, where they would "run'
TO, and gave guess as to each ones shares.
What about Luke?r inquired the other after
the plot had been fully discussed.
"Oh, Luke will be there on tlme," replied the
man. He has kept devilish shady since that
haul and dig out for the Far west. You Needn't
fret-we can depend upon him."
Before we got into the village the men tried
me again, but l could not hear except when
they shouted in my ear, and they were sure that
the conversation had been strictly private.
While they put up at the hotel, went to the
house of deputy sheriff, intending to remain
concealed all the next day 1 had. OF course to
state my business to the officer, as must have
his aid, and he, the SimpletOn that he was re-
lated the whole story to his wife after they had
next day, while 1 was lying shady, but plan
ming how to capture the burglars, the
woman was retailing my plans to the neighbor-
hood When night came there were six of us
ready to Pounce upon the criminals, but there
were no criminals to be found The felov VS.
had got wind Of the affair and were out, and l
had lost the second only reliable clue to the
Arnold murder which l had been ever able to
lind. Some time after this, while In the city Of
Rochester, 1 caught sight OF a hand resting On
the window sill of a hOrse-car-a large red
hand. The hand was nothing strange. but the
thumb was missing.
did not wait an instant to think. leaped
from the car, entered the other, and there sat
my friends OF the stage coach on either side of
the owner OF the hand-"a big man with red
hair and whiSkers.- They all Jumped up as |
entered, but hung fast to Luke, and soon had
the bracelets on him, and allowing the others to
get away. He bad no idea who / was and |
=
until had him back at l..
My arrival created much excitement, as pur-
suit Of the murderer had from the first been
deemed hopeless. Many cOntended that had
not secured the right man, and Luke profeS 5ed
never to have been in that part OF the state be-
fore. The child was several miles away from
the village, but sent for him. 1t had been a
year since the murder Little Jack had almost
forgotten the circumstances, and, of course, the
murderer had changed some; but / had strong
hopes that the child would be able to identity
the man, and was not disappointed.
Waiting until evening, | conducted Jack into
a room where Luke and dozen citizens were
sitting. The little fellow had no knowledge Of
what we intended, and for some time did not
see the murderer. When he did he uttered
loud Shrek ran to me and exclaimed:
There's the big man who hit grandpa AMI
grandma
Luke braved it out to the last; even when the
purchaser OF the watch testified to his Identity
he kept bold face, and went to some pains to
attempt to prove an alibi, but when convicted
mainly On the testimony OF Little Jack, who
shivered and trembled at the sight of the man,
the prisoner knew that he was done for, and
cried out in anger
''Well, / am the man. / saw the boys eyes
looking at me after had finished the old uns
but had done enough, and could not kill him
curse the brat! l now regret nothing except
that did not split his head open!'
And standing on the gallOwS, about to b !
launched into eternity, the man used his last
moment to curse the Child witness who had
convicted him of the awful crime.