Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-10-11
New Series-Vol %. No. Al

"Pll carry it," said Matte, with avidi-
Gus eagerness, feeling confident that if
she once got possession of the stolen mon
ey, all would be Well with her.
| VERY WELL" said the somnambulist.
and consigned the casket to her keep
ing Now let us go to the boat again, and
we will finish the arrangement of our
plans as We crUSs over for Orrville."
Matte considered it a matter of pru-
dence to agree, and followed her Sleep
Ing companion TO the lake. He took
his seat in the boat and loOsing the
chain from the sapling, enjOining his
associate to maintain perfect silence un-
| Til they should be out on the lake. He
seemed to think that all was well, and
showed out from the shore.
| Matte stood in the moonlight and
watched the boat and the solitary oars
man until beth were concealed within
the dark shadow of the mountain. be-
hind which the moon was fast hiding
| herself.
I'm safe now," she said, ith a ioyful
bound; "but what am to do? I'm half
mile from any Eouse,and have no means
for crossing the lake. There is road
here somewhere, though, which leads
around to the town. I'll walk to the
hotel, if it takes till morningl There is
no time to be lost"
So saying she began her search for
| the road, which was soon found. and
after four hours of rapid walking, for
for which the excitement of the occa-
fion lent the requisite amount of
strength, she reached Orrville.
She lost no time in informing the ALL
thorlties of the town of her singular ad
venture, producing the casket for their
examination in proof of her statement.
Early in the morning, before most Of
the guests had arisen, the Orryille House
was surrounded by half dozen men.
evidently intent upon. the capture of
some one within. Presently Van Ha-
ven made his appearance on ths ground
1Oor yeranda, apparently unconscious
that anything was wrong. The sight of
| the police quickly Undeceived him. He
WAS handcutfed at once, without auy
ceremonlOuS notification of the reason
why he was thus rudely dealt with.
Matte came down just then, after
short sleep, and was requested to follow.
when the officers stal ted down the street
with their prisoner in custody, attended
by large crowd of spectators, which
had soon coDgregated.
a preliminary examination convinced
all parties of the guilt of Van Haven,
but -'d not exonerase Lacy from com
Plici', ia the affair. The subsequent
Inres'ix~tion. however, fastened the
guilt upon two parties-Van Haven and
james Thompson, an Orrville man. with
whom the former had been on terms of
suspicious Intimacy.
or course all redress was made to Mr..
Lacy for the hasty opinions Of the peo-
pie concerning him, aud was accepted
hy him as satisfactory. But more ma
terial expression of the thanks of the
bankers WAS made when Mr.. johnson
himself, the seuiOr partner of the firm.
rose In the Police Court and said, That
In consideration of the great injustice
done Mr. Lacy IN so hastily arresting
him, and in consideration of the surpri-
sing good sense and bravery of Miss
Harris IN secsrirg the guilty parties in
this robbery. it became his pleasant duty
to present, in the name of the irm. To
ths former the sum of $4,000, and to
the latter the sum of $4,000, and that
he could accept no refusal"
We need not attempt to describe the
applause and good feeling elected by
these remarks-that is left Ito the i'm
nginatien of the reader.
No clamorous demonstrations Of graf
itude were made by either of the recipi-
ents of these princely gifts, but both
expressed their thanks in sidgle sem
tence, and retired from the court to-
gethsr, amid the uproarious acclama-
tions of the crowd.
THEE weeks afterward Orrville was
going wild over gay wedding, and had
actually awakened out of its long Rip
Van Wrinkle sleep; and the happiest
couple in that town were-Charles La
cy and Matte Harris.