St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-12
MR.. STREETS SECRET.
A Case of Mistaken Identity
Which Came Near Running an
Innocent Man,

Which Came Near Running an
Innocent Man.
Chicago News.
''Six years ago." began Mr.. Street,
speaking to his friend, Mr.. LamoreauX.
II was teller in the Kerrin Savings
bank. One night it was broken into and
robbed of $4,000. / slept in the bank
at the time, and of course / tried to de
fend the property. | Qad an encounter
with the burglar, but he was stronger
than l. and | might have Jared badly if
the police hadn't come to my rescue.
In the struggle | got good sight of the
mans face, and I've always declared
l should know that face if | ever saw it
again. Two months ago saw that face;
l met that man and talked with him. l
meet him every day."
land you know him, too?"
''He is known as Walter Hammond"
Mr.. LamoreauX uttered low whistle.
swell, that beats mel" he calculated.
everybOdy'S running after! Why,
Street, you must be mistaken" 'I'll
tell you, Street." he added. II wouldn't
do anything. I'd keep an eye on the
man and say nothing. You see, he's so
prominent here it would make terri
bic sensation. And if you have no evil
denee but your memory, you couldn't
prove anything, anyhow"
Mr.. Street was conceded to be most
estimable young man. The president
of the bank spoke highly of him on all
occasions, and occasionally increased
his salary. The old ladies approved os
him, and the young ladies said he Waf
''nice.o
There was. besides all this, another
circumstance which conSpired to make
Mr.. Street, in anticipation. a most en-
vious man. Miss Alice Wilson was a
handsome, vivaeiOus brunette, who, by
her thousand winning ways, had com
pletely ensnared the heart of the young
cashier. OF late she had been percept-
IDLY more encouraging, and he felt SER
enely confident that when he urged his
suit she would not say him nay.
One day dashing equipage drew up
in front of the bank, and lady leaned
out to speak to another on the walk. Mr..
Streets quickened sight at once recog-
niZed in the occupant of the carriage,
Miss Alice Wilson. But who was it sit
ting beside her and smiling down upon
her with such confident gallantry? The
cashiers eyes followed them far up the
street, but that first look had been
enough-it was Walter Hammond.
That was only the beginning. Mr..
Hammond began to attend Miss Wilson
like a shadow. He escorted her to par
ties, the theater and church. Be he
never so asSiduouS, Mr.. Street nearly al
ways found his attentions to the young
lady anticipated by Mr.. Hammond.
He felt that he must warn her of her
peril.
But events were fastening to close,
independent of Mr.. Streets interyen-
ton. One morning, when he had fully
decided to expose Mr.. Hammond to
Miss Wilson, there came the following
dispatch:
"There is here on trial man who is
suspected of being the r0bber of the
Kerrin savings bank in '76. Could you
identify the man? If so, come at once.
"Sheriff of BarrviIIe County,"
Mr.. Street reached for time table.
His hand shook so that he could scarcely
see the figures. The first train for Barr
vile left at II o'clock. 1t was now
1890.
He applied to the president of the
bank for leave of absence and half an
hour later was on the train, speeding
toward Barrville.
In that six hours ride Mr.. Street lived
month of suspense. At every station
he went out and stood OH the platform
with wild desire to get off and go
anywhere! away from Barryille. The
people III the car began to look at him
strangely and suspiciously: and, in the
midst of his agonizing reflections, the
brakeman dashed open the door and
sang out "Barryille.'
How he got off from the train and
4bo fro l,n Il To tho
court house Mr.. Street never knew. He
but he couldn't have told, for his life,
what he said to them. The first realiza-
ton of his surroundings was when he
found himself ascending the broad steps
Of the court house, with a green baiZe
door in front of him-and all hope be-
hind him. He entered and sat down.
''There ne isn' exclaimed a stranger
near him; ''that's him on the witness
stand. He's a-holding up his hand to
be sworn. guess you'll have to stand
up to see him."
The cashier staggered to his feet. He
looked at the people, the ceiling, the
clock-it was just 5:15-the jury, the
lawyers, the judge. Then, with an eff
fort, he raised his eyes to the prisoner
and saw
MOI MI. HammOnQ-DuJ man as ike
him as his reflection in glass. Like
him, but not he. There was the same
piercing eyes, the same strongly marked
features; but this mans face bore the
impress of hard and reckless life. 1t
needed not his confession OF the crime;
for Mr.. Street knew now, beyond per-
adventure, that this was the man with
whom he grappled on that eyentful
night six years ago, and that Mr.. Ham
mond was as innocent of the crime as
the cashier himself.
The night train bore away from Barr
vile man who sat bolt upright in the
corner of the seat, with his hat crushed
down over his eyes. He neither spoke
nor stirred. The romance of his life had
departed
Mr.. Hammond married Miss Wilson.
How to Learn War History.
Omaha World.
First Father-I tell you it's a shame.
My boy goes to school and knows all
about the Revolutionary war and the
campaigns against the Indians, the
EraDob and what mot tn GOV nOthiDor