Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-06-13
Handsome Jim; or, A Strange Elope-
ment.

Polly Bender was generally acknowl-
edged to be the pretC.est girl i'll the
town of Digby. Her life had been
saddened 10y painful incident, as her
favorite brother. Harry, had been muir
dered by his business partners some
years before and the latter then ran
away with all their savings.
Polly had many suitors and the one
she favored in particular was a well-to-
do young grocer, Harry Fenton by
name, but they often had little quaTr-Is
because she showed attention 10 a
stranger In the village who went by
the name of Handsome jim"
Il believe you want to throw me
over for Jim," said Harry to her one
night. "You know nothing about his
past. He may be a villain OF the worst
type"
"Hushl" she sail a little harshly.
You don't know what you are talking
about" trembling aud clutching his
arm.
II am going to sell out my business
and move away, "he said bitterly. 1T
is plain We can never be as We were
once TO each other"
do nothing hastily" she said, ''or
you might regret it. Good night"
Il will walk back with yOu.''
mo, please don't. L want to have
a few minutes to myself.'
''As you prefer" he retortel, leay-
ing her In tit of sullen rage.
The next night at 10 O'Clock a car
rage left Digby. IL WAS drawn by
two horses, and there was a driver out
side Within, a lamp swung from
the top, throwing pale light on two
Naa.T
and look OF exultation beamed from
his face. Opposite him sat Polly
Bender, whose eyes Were bright with
excitement The two were converS-
ing In animated style aad laughing
merrily.
Tomorrow we will be at the
parsons, and the knot VIII be tied"
said Handsome jim" 81 have got
the bishops license. Won't you give
me Que kiss, Pollyr"
Not until We are married." re
piled Polly, decidedly.
When within a mile of the end OF
their journey, Polly sald, The lamp
needs trimming, Jim. lake hold of the
bottom with one hand, and turn up
the light with the other" Jim obeyed,
and reached above his head, thus
bringing both hands near together.
He did not notice a certain eager look
in Polly's eyes, nor movement OF her
hands beneath her wraps.
But the next instant he experienced
a shock of surprise. He felt cold steel
on his wrists and heard two sharp
clicks. He had been handcuffed 50
quickly that he hardly realized what
had happened.
''Sit down, Jiml''
The words came from Folly, but her
voice was cold, hard and stern. He
obeyed mechanically.
"w hats all this? What do you
meanp" he exclaimed, aud perceived
Immediately afterward that Polly was
seated opposite him, with = revolver In
her hand.
Don't novel, said Polly, quietly.
but with a look of cool determination,
while her eyes were fixed steadily on
his. "You know very well l can
handle pistol, and you see that L have
you in my power. l sha'nt kill you,
but If you make the slightest disturb
ance l shall shatter both of your arms
aud put bullet holes in your legs.
mean exactly what l say, and want
you to listen to me-"
He stared at her in dull amaZement.
Her ewes did not for moment relax
their steadfast gaze
SIS this a joke. POllyp"
'.You shall soon Judge, for L viii
speak briefly. To begin with nv name
is not Polly Bender, but Polly Shat
tuck. Ahl that name seems TO touch
you. My mother married a second
time, you see, and people got to calling
me by her new name. l once had a
brother named Harry Shattuck, and
he had a partner named-well, never
mind his name now. That partner
murdered and robbed my brother one
night. Poor boyl he lived only few
hours, but that was long enough to tell
me all about 1t. What makes you
vince so, Handsome Jim?' You must
be frightened, for you have no con-
science. Take carel don't novel
The revolver still covered him. The
carriage rumbled steadily along toward
the Rectory.
"You are the man that killed my
brotherl I know it by the scar on
your neck and the tattooed anchor on
YOUR breast, which / saw one day when
the wind blew your hunting shirt open.
I watched you and laid my plans. Do
you think / would let you escape? Oh,
nol''
Handsome Jim still stared at her in
a daZed manner.
An hour later Handsome Jim" was
secure in prison. He turned out to be
a noted desperado.
Polly was driven home again, and
there she broke down. Her nervous
force had exhausted itself, and It was
week before she recovered.
Meantime, 1t became known through
out DIgby how she had captured her
brothers. murderer and taken him to
prison, and she was the heroine or that
day.
And Harry Fenton, when he next
met her, was satisfied with her greet
ing. But even after they were married
she would not speak of Handsome
JIm," and made no comment when 1t
was announced one day that he had
been shot dead while attempting to es-
cape from prison.