The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-09


Ned's infatuation for the blonde beauty IL
considerably dampened by this, and when he
hears par tlculars from his mother concern
ing Mareery's arrest he 10 furious, and vows
that he Will never rest until Mnrgery - clear
from suspicion. He loses no time In getting
to the jail, but Magery positively refuses 20
see him. All night he lies awake trying TO
account for the loss OF his revolver. He
doubts not for a moment that IL was lost by
himself and found by the murderer, and he
readily snrmises that Margery assumed hav-
| ing IL TO save him.
Ned begins his detective work by going to
| poor Aunt Hepsy's house and questioning the
yossips he found there, hoping they may give
him cew TO follow up. But all their prying
has brought nothing TO light. The house con-
tanned only one room with two windows.
Evidently the assassin had entered by one OF
them. as the door was found locked and had
| to be forced open.
Ned's next step is to 20 outside and look
! under both the windows. Some bushes are
growing by one that was broken down and
| trampled, but the recent rain has etfaced all
tracks or feet He Is going away disappoint-
| ed when he happens TO spy a mans boot-heel
that appears TO be freshly torn from the
boot to which IL belongs, and afterward he
finds few scratches on the window-sll.
! This Is convincing proof In Ned's mind that
| u man committed the murder, but he fears
| jury may not agree with him. Putting the
| bit of leather and nails in his pocket, he de-
| s~iihA"oo w aNcR ohoA ~ VIZ @N~'o ~ WY
man he meets.
The worst thing against Margery, next to
| her own acknowledgment OF having lost the
| revolver, Is the fact OF Aunt Hepsy's tin box
| being in her possession. Nobody wants to
| believe her guilty, but before the day
OF the examination comes, so many
| little corroboratiye incidents are brought
| out that the tide OF public opinion is quite
| strong against her. Ned has done his best;
but the old boot-beel is all the evidence he
laR found I'm her favor har mr. vi0ns
good character.
Ned has haunted the jail like an unqulet
spirit, and can not understand why Margery
30 persistently refuses to see him.
While he Is distressed with grief and fear
for her, she thinks only of Aunt Hepsy's
cruel death.
Believing Ned guilty in deed though not
OF deliberate intention. she wishes to shield
him from punishment but can not bear the
thought OF seeing him.
The court house Is literally packed with
curious and anxious people on the morning
OF the examination number of the village
loafers have climbed upon the window lodges
outside, and cling there as best they can.
Margery Is brought I'm ty the Sheriff, and
seated In chair facing the crowd. She
has changed much in the short time
that she has been prisoner. The
roses are gone FROM her checks, and there
Is a scared, mournful look in the brown eyes
that were wont to shine with merrimeut.
Her little berry.stained hands hung at her
side limp and wasted. Even her saucy,
elnsh curls droop dejectedly about her wan
lace. The Judge has not yet come In. Every
one is whispering HIS opinions regarding
her guilty appearance, and gazing admir-
ingly upon Florence Atherton, who Is pres
ent in faultless attire, as the principal wit
ness for the people.
Ned approached the courtroom with a
heavy heart. Suddenly he stops and looks
tercely at the soles OF pair OF coarse boots
that face him, as the wearer, Barney Preen,
kncels on the window ledge. Tho o d boot
heel found under Aunt Hepsy's window Is
shod with q small circle OF iron. On one of
the bc'ts that Barney wears is a new heel
made entirely of leather; the other Is like
the heel in Ned's pocket.
He pulls the fellow down with no gentle
hand, and shouts that he has found the
wretch who killed Aunt Hepsy Lee.
Barney Preen is so frightened that he goes
down on his knees like the cringing coward
that he is and confesses everything. He
went TO Mrs. Barton's kitchen on the fatal
evening to beg plate of food. and found
the family at supper. Seeing Neds revolver
and handkerchief on the steps, he slyly stole
them and sneaked of without being seen by
any one. Then his vile, Unbalanced brain
conceived the idea of killing Aunt Hepsy
and getting the money he had heard she
had slowed away. For some time he had
longed for it. and had hung about the house
with the intention of breaking in, but had
scarcely dared to do so.
Favored by the storm and darkness, and
with a revolver in his hand, he summoned
courage to accomplish the murder, but was
disappointed i'm the plumber Fearing detec-
ton, he was cunning enough to throw away
the weapon and the handkerchief with which
he wiped his hands that were stained in
blood while searching Aunt Hepsy's pillow.
or course Margery - Mt once honorably
discharged and everybody says he knew
allthe time that she was innocent.
Miss Florence Anterior Is a little crest
fallen at the termination of the affair. She
always likes to be on the popular side, and
had expected pleasing opportunity of show
ing of her charms on the witness stand.
She shortly returned with her mother To
their city home and Ned soon receives q pa
per announcing her marriage to man to
who IN she has long been engaged.
Florence loved admiration, como from
whom II might, and il had pleased her fancy
to indulge in n little Irritation with the good.
looking young farmer when her mother was
not ny. The last afternoon that they were
togeth he had been so encouraged by her
condeSeension that he asked her to be his
wife st some future day when he coulS offer
her suitable home. She coolly replied that
she was surprised that he should so lar for
get himself as 10 suppose she would carc to
grow into withered old maid waiting for him
to win q fortune, when she might at any
time she chose become the wife Of q rich city
merchant. He was trife old, to be sDre,
but he would allow her TO do as she pleased,
and hava all the money she wished to spend.
Ned thought that his heart was broken. and
he resoly we'd to go TO Australia and drown his
misery digging gold. After n few years he
would come back rolling in wealth like mod
ern Monte Cristo, and cause his cruel love
to regret her mercenary decision
Some such thoughts as these filled his mind
as he rode TO Martinsburgh to make arrange
ments for his departure. Aunt Hepsy's muir
der dispelied the idea of emigration. He
next discovers that Margery is far more low
abl no fair md hpfnrnpa
quickly reconciled to the disappointment that
at first seemed so bitter. Margery has been
ais sister, for years. Ee is glad now that she
Is so only by adoption
Not Newspaper Man.