The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-12-07

ed 10 the hospital
Now, Mr.. Purvis," said Narnoe.
you please point out TO me which
are the clothes usually Worn by Mr..
Sharon while on duty az the store.
Certainly, sir" replied the gen
tleman; that is readily done" and
he went to a closet, where the clerks
kept their outer garments and open
ed it. He took piece after piece
from the hooks. an exclamation of
surprise escaped him as he did SO.
What is it ?" asked varnoe. when
Mr.. Purvis had laid the garments
on the bed.
why, as / live, Sharon has not
only left his coat and vest behind.
but also his pants said Mr..
Purvis, with a look OF bewilder-
ment.
THAT is singular" remarked the
detective, exchanging significant
glances with the doctor; '-the more
so when we bear in mind that Mr..
Yerkes, when found. had on his
coat and vest, pants and boots, while
the robber even left his boots be-
hind him" pointing TO a pair be-
meath the bed.
"You will now please see whether
Mr.. Sharon has left anything of val
ne in his pockets"
Every pocket was instantly di-
vested Of Its contents. There was
found a valuable gold watch and
chain, a wallet containing a trifle
over five dollars, penknife, pencil
and memorandum book, etc.
Retain the articles, Mr.. Purvis,
and restore the clothes to the clos
et," said Varnoe. II have another
Surprise in store for you. | think"
When this was done, Varnoe
took off all the bed-clothes and
threw them on the floor, leaving
the mattress bare. IAN exclama-
ton of surprise burst from Mr.. Pur-
Wis as he pointed to the mattress
where a number OF .oody finger
marks stained it along a seam about
ten inches in length.
Now see what you are driving
1t, cried Mr.. Purvis, scanning the
seam. "Gou mean to say that the
robber has hidden his booty in the
mattress ?n
Il think SO at all events" was
his reply, as he took out his knife
and opened the seam.
Then inserting his hand into the
opening, he presently drew forth
the package of greenbacks. They
were intact, so Mr.. Purvis announc-
ed, after examining the fastenings
and seals.
"What am | 10 think of this?p
asked the gentleman, in q helpless
tone. 81 declare that my head
aches trying to divine the motive of
this most extraordinary robbery"
Think as | do"
"What is that?n
"Why, that Pembroke Sharon, in
stead of being the robber, is the vic
tim of the robber, which accounts
for his leaving all his outer garments
behind. He evidently surprised
the robher at his work, and in the
encounter that took place he MUIR
dered poor Sharon, dragged him
across the street, as the trail showed
me, and tossed him into the river"
Then you really suspect August
Gerkes as the robber?" asked the
merchant, greatly agitated.
II am sure he is not only the rob-
Der, but possibly was murderer"
was the reply.
"Oh, the wretch p cried the mer-
chant passionately; "and in my
heart | admired lts bravery, while |
pitied him for what he had endured
for endeavoring to protect my prop
erty.
Il am convinced that you have
hit on the right man, said Mr..
Purvis. "If he knew Of this he
might give us the slip. The next
thing to be done is 10 use every
means in our power to recover the
body Of poor Sharon"
''Poor, indeed, since all the clothes
he has on his back are not his own"
spoke voice behind them.
All looked at the speaker, who
wore an old seaman's suit, and
looked as if he had just recovered
from severe attack OF sickness.
Something in the tone of the
voice struck chord in the breasr of
the merchant He approached the
man and asked, eagerly:
"Who are you ?'
"My name is Pembroke Sharon" "
In moment be was surrounded
by the trio, who congratulated him
on his escape from death. He re-
quested permission to resume his
proper dress after which he would
tell exactly what occurred during
the past night
His story was very similar to the
one told Yerkes. with this difference.
The positions were changed. 1t
was Sharon who surprised the other
before the opened safe, just in the
act Of slowing in his pocket the
package of greenbacks alluded to. 1t
was Sharon who denounced the act,
and Yerkes. both angry and fright
ened to be thus detected. picked up
2 paper-weight and hurled it at his
fellow-clerk, striking Sharon on the
head, inhicting a CHASTITY wound,
from which ne tainted, and knew
no more until nc awok on board a
vessel IN the Navy Yard. He was
told that they picked him up in the
river.
The captain and two of his men
had been TO the theatre, and were
returning in boat to the vessel,
when a white object. floating on the
water, attracted their attention, and
they made for it. AID drewsthe ap-
parently dead man into the bD /,
and took him on board the vess |,
where his wants were at once az
tended to.
When Yerkes version OF the aflaic
was related to him he laughed de-