Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-08
suspected Elonement.

Buffalo Evening Telegraph.
had loved Bella for more than a
year. When | say that / was over %
my readera OF the sterner sex will, |
am sure, be impressed by my constan.
cy. Bella had money. Not that this
had, OF course, anything to do with my
extraordinary devotion, but it served
for time 10 be the barrier TO our hap
piness. FIRST met and fell victim
to Bella's charms when her mother
was alive. Her father had been dead
several years. The old lady took to
me. | have knack of getting in with
old ladies. This is useful gift when
they are well off, and they are moth
ers Of lovely daughters. / advise all
young men to cultivate it. The main
point is always TO be more attentive
TO themOther than the daughter.
All was working smoothly for Bella
and me, when cruel fate, in the shape
of drunken car driver, crushed the
mother under its Juggernautian
wheels. We prosecuted the driver and
an intelligent jury, largely influenced
BY the wealth of the car company,
decided that pedestrians have no
rights that car drivers are bound to
respect.
1t turned out that, in her fathers
will, Bella,in the event Of her mothers
death, was, until her 2lst year, to be
placed under the guardianship Of an
uncle, who was a farmer in Vermont.
This same uncle was an admirable
specimen Of the typical Vermonter.
He could freeze to the chance OF max
ing dollar harder than Holsters
claw to a small boys investigating
fingers He had two great hulking
sons, and determined that Bella should
marry one or the other.
When old Green found out that |
had ceme into the neighborhood, and
was lounging about the premises, he
sternly warned me of, and even
limited at the ferceness and number
OF dogs that populated his yard at
night.
Bella was virtually a prisoner. The
old farm house was three stories high
"a very unusual thing 10 that part Of
the Country-and she was locked in at
night in her room 10 the top story.
With great difficulty | managed to get
one or two letters to her; but so close.
ly was she watched and guarded du.
ring the day that speech With her was
impossible. ives ia despair. There
was yet c ysar to run before she could
claim release from this guardianship
Was there no means Of escape DOS !.
sible?
Willis was bordering over this
question in the little hotel where |
had now been staying some weeks, |
heard q strange voice addressed to the
landlord in loud tones,and | distinctly
caught the words, portable FIRE es
cape. Instantly an inspiration flashed
through my mind. Joined the party
and in doing so heard these words:
Its just the simplest thing in tie
world. A tWo-years old baby couldn't
hurt itself. No sir; it nd like to have
one for a plaything, and nd amuse
itself all day hauling itself to the top
o the house and letting itself down
again. They're so light and easy that
when folks don't want escapes often
sell them as baby jumpers"
I'll tell you how you can sell one
Tor $40, and no trouble either" | said,
as | aocOstsd hin,
You Tills I'm your oyster"
! unIolded my plot aud found
sympathetic listener. He was to 20
ap to Belia's uucle's heuas aud try to
sell az escape. OF course we knew
that would be perfectly hopeless.
80, after being Tebuffed he was to
insist on leaving one ON trial for a
week or two, uutil he came round
again. He was also to try to smuggle
A letter to Bella, explaining that she
was at night to set possession Of the
escape, attach it to her beadstead aud
slide down into nay waiting arms,
which would be waiting as near as the
dogs would let them. On the night she
Wasready she was to signal in a Ger
tain way with the candle at the via.
dow,
The peddleF started of, and soon
returned, having been successful in
getting the letter to Bella, having
given an exhibition ofhow to use the
escape. For several nights | waited
a vain for the sigpal, but at last it was
'hown. | did not hear the dogs about,
md | gently crept under the window.
It was opened,
"Are yOu there, Bella2" | whis.
lered.
YES"
You're not afraid, DEAR"
Not veFy IRE iiad ,he end round
he bedstesd, and | don't tbipk / can
lip out Of the loops. Have you q
,ugPy waiting2"
Dad"
Very we'll. l am going to try now.
"Sho had launched herself of from
he side and was descending beauti.
ully.
"Don't come too fast, dear. Use the |
heck rope ifyou feel you are coming |
90 quickly"
She had got to the second floor, |
yhen there was an unaccouRtable
toppage.
"What's the matter2H cried.
1T won't move"
Shake the rope"
Il have"
Loosen the check"
Il is quite loose"
Try to pull up Bit"
II can't; | am stuck fast
Let me shake tue rope,
Try. OBJ Obi It's no use; it won
l0ve'
Cant you slip out OF the loop and
Tide down the rope? I'll catch you
II a