The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-08-25

to look at the watch, and she handed it out
with the remark:
els isn't much good; but don't know as
it ought to be: My husband only paid ten
dollars for it,"
found that her name was Allen; that
she lived within dozen miles of where the
Arnolds had been murdered, that on the
morning Of the murder, rs near rs she
could remember, her husband had pur-
chased the watch of traveller on the high
way, who was looking for work and out Of
money. She remembered that the man
WAS large man. had red hair, and full
heard Of the same color, but could not say
that she had noticed anything suspicious in
his actions.
found by questioning that the stranger
had continued on the road to the west, and
that if he kept on he must have struck the
railroad after an hours travelling. was
convinced that this was the murderer. and
that he made long journey on the high
way in order to battle pursuit and hide his
trail
But It was but little comfort to know it,
as so many months had passed that the nan
might now be in Europe or underground.
took the lady's address, allowed her to
retain the watch, which l knew had be-
lenged to the Arnolds; and again lost the
case for several months, wrote over fifty
letters, travelled three or four thousand
miles on the lookout for big man and
nothing came Of it. But one day when ap-
preaching the village of Newtield, New
York, by stage. two suspicious looking fell
lows got into the vehicle, and they were my
only company. + knew them to be flash"
as soon as I saw their faces, and their talk
went to prove it. pretended to be very
.Sa ,Nfr ,1x-i,, IN
any Of their questions. I assumed the
tone and voice generally used by the deaf,
and held my hand to my ear and moved
over and expressed by regrets if had Of
Tended them, saying could not even hear
the rumble Of the coach.
Good" exclaimed one one of the men,
as sat down at tho other end of the
vehicle. ''Now you can 90 on with your
yarn"
Before proceeding the other one called
me an old fool, a thief, robber ana var
ious other things, closely watching my
countenance to see if I could hear his
words.
"Thc old smooth bore is as deaf as
stone," he remarked, having satisfied him.
self as to my deafness, and then Re went
on with a narrative which had been inter-
rupted.
I soon ascertained that they were on
their way to Pentiela to rob a merchant.
they had everything arranged to commit
the crime the very next night, and the one
who had put up the plan gave all the de-
tails as to how the robbery was to be COM
mitted, where they would "run" to, and
gave guess as to each ones shares.
what about Luke?" inquired the other
after the plot had been discussed.
oh, Luke will be there on time," replied
the man. "IIe has kept devilish shady
since that business at L-,but now wants
to make a haul and dig out for the far west.
You needn't fret-we can depend Oh him. :"
Before we got into the village the men
tried me again, but could not hear except
when they shouted in my ear, and they
were sure that the conversation had been
strictly private.
When they put up at the hotel, I " ent to
the house of a deputy sheriff, intending to
remain concealed all the next day. I had,
of course, to state my business to the Off
Ger as I must have his aid, and he, the SIM
pleton that he was, related the whole story
to his wife after they had retired. Thus it
naturally came about that next day, while I
was lying shady, but planning how to cap
tuce the burglars, the woman was retailing
my plans to the reighbors. When night
came there were six of us ready to pounce
upon the criminals, but there were no Grim
inals to be found. The fellows had got
wind of the affair and were out, and I had
lost the second only reliable clue to the Ar
mold murder which 1 had been ever able to
find. Some time after this, while in the city
of Rochester, I caught sight Of q hand rest
ing Oh the window sill Of horse cara
large, red hand. The hand was nothing
strange, but the thumb Was missing.
= i
ed from the car, entered the other, and there
sat my friends of tie 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 h ing fast to
Luke, and soon had the bracelets on him,
allowing the others to get away. He had
no idea who was, and took care not to
hint at the charge against him until ! had
him back to L.
Ny arrival created much excitement as
the pursuit Of the murderer had from the
first been deemed hopeless. Many con-
tended that had not secured the right man,
and Luke professed never to have been in
THAT part of the slate before. The child
was several miles away from the village.
but I sent for him. It had been year
since the murder. Little Jack had almost
forgotten the circumstances, and, of course.
IAC LII ttClcl Adu CuluS5cu SOulc: DuG ulu
strong hopes that the child would be able
to identify the man. ana was not disap-
pointed.
Waiting until evening conducted Jack
into a room where Luke and dozen citi-
zens were sitting. The little fellow had
no KNOWLEDGE Of what we intended, and for
some time did rot see the murderer. When
he did he uttered q shrek, ran to me and
exclaimed;
There's the big man who hit grandpa
and grandma"
Luke braved it out to the last; even
when the purchaser of the watch testifie..
to his identity he kept bold face, and
went to some pains to attempt t, prove an
alibi, but when convicted, mainly on the
testimony of little Jack, who shivered at
the sight Of the man, the prisoner knew he
was done for, and cried out in anger:
swell, AMI the man. 1 saw the boys
eyes looking at me after I had finished the
old 'uns, but had done enough, and
could not kill him, curse the brat! I now
regret nothing except thatI did not split
his head open!"
And standing On the gallows, about to
be launched into eternity, the man used
his last moment to curse the child witness
who had convicted him of the awful crima