Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-08-02

1--WE have,n replied the foreman, rising, and
handing bun envelope TO an officer. The OH.
Ger carried II to the clerk. The clerk offered
II 10 the Judge.
"Open it, said the Judge, sententiously.
Jacob saw the clerk tear open the envelope,
unfold the paper II contained, aud give II a
long, earnest look
"Gentlemcn OF the jury said the clerk
hath recorded H..
Jacob held his breath.
"You say you fndn continued the clerk,
In favor Of the plaintiff, In the sum OF cigh
teen hundred and fifty dollars; and so you all
say"
The jurymen nodded.
you win please vacate the box, gentle
men" said the Judge. "Mr. Clerk, yon may
now draw jury In ninety-seven."
Jacob stood, his eyes CLASSY for a moment,
as IL unconscious.
Well, you are all right said an officer,
who stood near him; and the officer offered 9
shake hands with him. Jacob put out his hand
mechanically, and got shake.
A hot Hush was seen starting up from ia.
cob's neck. His sensitive, noble face twisted
and worked; his chin quivered; he turned and
walked toward the door, He aggcred; hi.
step was almost that of an int xicated person
"What's the matter with that man that just
went out" said lawyer who came In mo
ment later, to an officer near the door.
Got verdict In that insurance casc-ful
amount. Didn't expect 1t, s'pose,n said the
officer, indifferently.
"Kind OF upset him, hcy" said the lawyer,
"Ratherly,n said the officer.
Jacob went down the sidewalk toward the
hotel. People did In reality look at him now,
as he passed, trying to hide his flushed face and
the tears He got to the room and told Mary
and they had what the landlord described a.
"a time.n The landlord said that he happened
up there and there was more praying and cry.
ing than was allowable in that hotel. As the
painful, nervous strain was taken or Jseot
became faint aud lay down, and Mary went
out and got him lemon.
Soon there came knock at Jacobs door II
was the large man. Jacob sat on the edge Of
the bed, eating the lemon.
Il really must beg, Mr.. Wilson, the priv
lege Of making an apology" said the large
man, advancing 10 the middle of the room
resting his hand upon table and speaking
with courtltness and respect that seemed to
lift Jacob up into position OF Importance.
He continued: IL must have been mlsn
formed by the officer about that verdict last
night or course we know there has been toe
much tampering with juries, and habit o
finding out verdicts before they are rendered
II is all wrong, certainly, though Il is Otter
done. We accept the deception which the jury
employed to mislead the officer as a very proper
rebuke. don't want you today up anything
against me about It,"
80, no. said Jacob.
" It's dreadful amt its-burning people s
buildings In this way" suggested the large
man, confidentially.
Eyes; seems TO be q sort OF crime" ven
| turcd Jacob, hesitatinglv.
Seems TO be q sort of crime ~ echoed TIT
latge man explosivey; why, man alive, i'll
arson, State-prison, long tcrml And acW fine
him out. lie may fool the people down you
way, with his blind Dutchman, who can sex
| the pegs in mans boots mile of In the dark
| but he can't fool me. There is villain behint
this, and we are after him. know him now
| ! am sure OF him. j am watching, and III jug
him within twenty-four hours; and In sayins
| this, by the way OF emphasis the large maj
brought his fist down upon the liable In a wa,
that made the whole room jar.
"And that was what you were watching m
| forln asked Jacob timidly, shuddcring as h
saw the gulf.
"Why, my dear good fellow" said the larg
man, softening, what else on earth did yot
Suppose was watching you for.'
Jacob pondered and was silent. The large
man turned and walked out OF the room.
Within halt anhour the President OF the In
] surance Company came in. He said he desire,
TO congratulate an honest man, and explained
mystcrionsly, that they were on the RICH
track at last. lie remarked, speaking in a con
| fdential manner, that he had always told tn
| folks that Jacob was mot that kind Of a man.
"Thank YOU" said jacob, huskily.
"You and your father before you have lived
| in our town too long to be treated In thi
way" said the President, wlping a tear from
his eye.
The President went away
| One by ono JAG IBIS old neighbors and vari
Gus members of the company dropped In ant
went through with about the same formul
| the President had INDUCED In. Each ex
! planned so fully and satisfactorily that he hat
all the while told the folks that it "cou'd no
be Mr.. Wilson" that did IL that Jacob real
| began to wonder how II had come about tina
there had ever been any difficulty. Jacob ais
| gathered from the remarks which were mad
| that some clcw had been gained in connection
wi h the trial, and that soon all would b
| made plain.
| After a good dinner Jacob began to be him
self again. With an old friend and neighbo
| ter OF curiosity. He saw another case on tia
that OF sutton who was struggling to ge
| his rights from railroad corporation. ii
| heard the lawyer for the railroad company al
lude to the sutton as the most bare-faced, un
scrupulous and designing villain who had eve
pcriurcd himself In that court room. Look
ing at the party thus described, Jacob saw
only a thin, pale face, on which anxiety wa
painfully written. jacob perceived that hi
own case was only one of many, and that IL
| the court room ii had already been forgotten
There was no reason why Jacob should re
main longer in town. AT four O'Clock In tn
| afternoon he and Mary were in the wagon, il
| Willie came running down the sidewalk il
| great excitement. He came to TIVE side of tn
wagon, his warm brown eyes dancing, ant
said, with what breath he had left, 80
father, father, they have found IL all out! II
| Andrew Venncr, and they have got him II
jail.n
"Andrew Vcnneri' said Jacob, surprised
and he added, turning inquiringly TO Mary
~ never had any trouble with Andrew"
| Just then the large man came down the side
walk, walking very rapidly. He said pleasant,
| to jacob Got him sure. | told you So b,
| the way,o he added, turning back after he ha6
passed. did you ever have any Difficult y will
| Andrew VennerW
"No," answered Jacob, "only he worked 70
me one time, and my woman here didn't seen
| To-"
"O-oM that unspealxablc wretch!' sale
Mary, coloring painfully. ~ never told any
body, and never will, only If jacob"
Every proper---very proper indeed, Mrs vii
son. said the large man politely. "If W.
should need you on the trial will" and b,
nodded to complete the sentence.
A boy stopped on the sidewalk, evidently
listening curiously.
"Drive on, jacob" urged his wife, in 6
furry.
William climbed in at the back end of the
wagon, and Jacob started. He had gone but
few steps when he pulled up his horses, ant
calling back, said
80, say"
"The large man heard It, end came down
the walk to where the wagon was.
"Would you mind telling me, now that 1t IL
all over" said Jacob pleasantly whether you
really heard anything about that verdict las
night, or whether you told me just to see how
] would
"My dear sir" said the large man deprecat-
ingly, 81 beg that you will not think that
would willingly distress you by. Hulio
there is man / must see before he goes" and
the large man dashed of across the street.
Jacob looked after him few moments
then gave his horses a cut with the whip, and
started for homc.--Ahantic