The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-03-22

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some time held his head with his hands.
" Are you sure you have not made n
mistaken" he asked at length, in hol.
low voice.
:" am certain OF what assert"
"You can prove 1t 7"
"I can"
"Then you shall prove I'll Ah, me !
poor, poor, dear Virginia. 1t will
break her heart. 1t will be the death of
her, fear. Willingly, would give
half my fortune TO have this otherwise"
at Is not too late, Mr.. Howell" said
/, sympatheticslly. "She need never
know"
He bounded from his seat, his eyes
blazed like a madman's and he turned
upon me with naughty rage that /
have never seen equaled mot even on the
stage.
" For what do you take me, slrY" he
cried bis now ashy lips fairly quivering.
I" IF this man Is guilty, so help me
God, were he even prince of the realm,
my own hand should blow his brains
out, sooner than he should make my
beloved sister the wife of dastardly
thief Step into my private room, Mr..
Carbon. will send for him. You
must face him before me, and make
good your accusation or take the con-
sequences !"
Hark you, Mr.. Howell" said, "I
see you are high-tempered determined
man and want you to understand
that am another. l will face your
honorable gentleman and make my
charge In my own way. He may deny
1t, and convince you that his word
is better than mine. But mark
this. If he does deny 1t, and you ac-
cept his denial, swear to have him ar
rested for felony, and all the facts
publicly exposed from first to last !"
~ accept the conditions" he said,
and he at once conducted me to his
private apartment, in which stood the
safe that his friend had opened to rob
him.
A servant was dispatched for the
Honorable Godfrey Percy, and in u few
minutes he made his appearance, look
ing quite unconcerned.
1 had arranged to have everything
my own way, and as now appeared
without my disguise, the honorable
gentleman did not know me.
He glanced at the two of us inquiring-
ly, but did not keep him in suspense.
Stepping up to him, placed my hand
rather roughly on his shoulder, and
said, with sharp severity:
Godfrey Percy, arrest you for steal-
ing your friends diamond ring and
pawning 1t at Isaac Jacobs. You will
at once accompany me to the office of a
magistrate and confront the witness
es."
He turned white as death, threw up
his hands, and then fell down on his
knees and begged for mercy.
:" For Gods sake, spare me-" he
prayed. Spare me, oh, for Gods sake
spare me 1t was the first and only
time ever did such wicked thing
1 was wanting certain sum of money
and too proud to ask you, my dear
friend, for it. Oh, George, George, my
dearest friend, for the love of holy
Heaven, intercede with this officer, and
save me from public disgrace and
utter ruin ~
"You did take my diamond ring
then ?" said George Howell, in a quiet,
even tone of voice that quite surprised
me by its natural calmness.
"Oh, yes, confess it,"
How did you open my safe 20
1 watched you one day when you
were working the combination, and was
able to make it out. That then became
my temptation
"But the ring was also locked in the
iron box"
"You had duplicate key to that,
which was in another drawer that was
not locked. Oh, my dear, dear friend
George"
"Call me Mr.. Howell, and leave off
the friend" calmly interrupted the
other" Godfrey Percy, you were to
have been married to my sister, to-mor-
row. Only think of the disgrace which
she, Howell, has escaped from you, a
Percy In only another twenty -four
hours she would have been the wife of
sneak-thief. l am really grateful to the
Providence that has saved her from that
abyss and myself from murder, for /
should have killed you. You must run
away now, without saying parting
word to any soul in this dwelling. /
give you twenty-four hours the start
If, after that time, any police officer,
sheriff or constable can find you on