Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-02-08


1t appears oats had gone up again
and what James was to do he really
did not know. He was owing a sover
eign here and sovereign there; and i
Josiah was going away, who was t.
make up for his best customer, anC
where was he to find tine bloomin' tel
bob week."
Josiah felt that there was deal O
Justice in this. What business had III
while this honest man with an infnity
of children stayed at home? He easeC
his conscience by Immediately advanc
irg James two sovereigns, and under
taking to forego weekly payment!
while he was away. Also he visited
the Barmer household, stufing the
children with buns for at least fort
night to come, and left al order with
the butcher for four noble joints to be-
delivered bi-monthly.
"That will see them into the eighth
week" Josiah said, land l will be back
by then"
Josiah was at San Francisco, gazing
through the Golden Gate, when q tele
gram reached him. 1t Vas from hi,
| London solicitor, and ran thus: "Bar.
mer bolted, sold horses and cab, beaten
wife, gone to New York. Have com
municated with agents there; send
them authority TO act"
This was terrible news, and was soon
followed by another telegram from Mr.
Spottiswoode's agents in New York,
| oppo17roi,,r +bot RI ax, bod rro+ p,rn, ~
and cast him into the tombs.
Josiah wished Spottiswoode had no
been so prompt, and he had left Bar
mer go off with the ill-gotten gains,
which after eli were not 50 much, see
ing that he had already been proprie-
tor three months, and that 10 shillings
had been paid with moderate irregu-
larity. However, the thing was done.
What remained was to undo as quick.
ly as possible. He accordingly tele-
graphed to MIR. Aminadab J. P. Dove
ton, Spittiswoode's agent in New York,
to let Banner go. To this he promptly
received the following reply:
"Barmer won'tgo." Demands com
pensation unlawful imprisonment.
Come to town.
This was 9 cheerful incident, but
there was no help for it, and Josiah
YEARLY wendell his way to New York.
Upon his arrival he learned that James
capture bad been affected under Cir
cumstances rejecting the highest credit
on Mr.. Aminadab J. P. Doveton's
young man. He had boarded the YES
sci on which James was reported to be
q passenger. and had inquired for him
by name. But there was no James
Barmer on the passenger list.
You can take a look round for'ard, "
the purser said. All the steerage
passengers are there except one chap
that we've got locked up in his berth.
He's had the blues"
The young man inspected the steer
age passengers, but failed to find any
one answering to the description OF
James Barmer.
Lets have a look at the man with
the blues" he said.
The patient was now convalescent,
and sat up IN his berth, staring with
| lack-luster eyes st the new corners.
"Well, James Barmcr; how are you
to-day ?" said the cute young man.
"Who told you my name!" the in
teresting convalescent growled in a
voice that would have been familiar
enough to Josiah had he been privIl-
edged to hear it. Honest James had
shipped as William Wilson; but taken
aback in this way, he was not ready
enough to deny his identity. The cute
! young man had him forthwith handled
to the Tombs, where he was searched.
and 940 were found sewed in the lin
ing of his waistcoat.
! AT first James gave himself up for
| lost, and IN the dead, unhappy night
was filled with rem OrSe that he had not
drunk more Of the proceeds ofthe sale.
! He had done pretty well, he owned, out
had he known of his impending fate he
would have done better. With the
day came hope. James found in fell
lOw-denizen in the tombs q gentleman
who had at one time been a respectable
citizen, and al attorney in good prac
| tice. He bad committed some little
error mixed up his clients account
with his own-and his case was now
awaiting investigations by one of the
judges. Questioning James on the cir
cumstances that brought him thither,
Mr.. CneWtOn discovered q serious flaw
in the procedure. James had unques-
| tionably been illegally arrested. Apart
from the non observance of certain
forms, if there was any charge against
him at all, it was a matter for civil
action.
you've got q good case, young
man." Mr.. Chewton senteniously OBJ
served. sit ought to be worth $500 to
you, at least"
James small gray eyes deeply sunk
en- under a bullet forehead, lit up with
q cheerful reflection. Mr.. Chewton
bargained for fee of $50 to be paid
out EFF Josiah's pocket, to which James
readily assented rejecting that, as he
would be out before Mr.. Chewton, pay
ment would be optional. Fully in
sructed, he treated the emissaries of
Josiah's lawyer with airy disdain.
Chem as put me here 'ull ave to
git me out, but they'll ave to pay for
it fust" he said only that and nothing
more. 1t was q good formula and
James stuck to it.
Games Barmer," said Josiah when
he came down and was taken to visit
his old servitor, 'it's very bad to see
you here, / never would have thought
it of you"
"Nor I'd never ave thought it of you
yer old spectacled baby" said James
cycling his benefactor with q look of
contempt. "Why, you amt fit to be
trusted without d nuss. Instead of
'avin cab yer ought to ave a peram-
bulator. [ never seed a man Of your
age more ike baby, and a nice mess