Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-03-23
AN EMISSARY OF JUSTICE.
BY TERMINUS COBB.

cautious tones, and their faces, beneath
the Pickering light, were grave unto
sOlemnity.
In the tall, slim young man, who
leaned against the lamp post in such a
tragical attitude, and who seemed to be
doing all the talking, almost any one
might have recognized the cashier of the
First National Bank Mr.. Cleveland b.
Street. while the broad shouldered, pleas
ant faced gentleman, standing with
folded arms, and head bent forward to
listen, was equally we'll known as Mr..
George Lamoreaux, real estate agent, and
chosen friend of Mr.. Street.
"Six years ago." began Mr.. Street, 81
was teller in the Kerrin Savings Bank.
One night it was broken into and robbed
of fifteen thousand dollars. slept in
the bank at the time, and, of course,
tried to defend the property. had an
encounter with the burglar, but he was
stronger than |, and might have Jared
badly if the police hadn't come to my
rescue. The robber heard them, and
made his escape, and he has never been
helrd of since. But 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; | met
that man and talked with him. meet
him every day. And you know him,
too"
"IW
eyes, you; everybody knows him;
"Oh! Gomez" interrupted Mr.. Lamor-
eaux, impatiently; whats the mans
name ?"
He is known here as Walter Ham
mond."
"Not the new partner in the Spring
Works Z"
"The same"
MIR. Lamoreaux uttered q low whistle.
"Well, that beats mel" he ejauclated.
"The heightened Mr.. Hammond, that
everybody's running after Why,
Street, you must be mistaken"
"Mistaken! know that face as if
had seen it but yesterday. Why, man
alive, if you had lain on your back, and
looked up into that face bending over
you, knowing that it might be the last
face you would ever look upon in this
world-if you had seen it under the cir
cumstances did, think you would re-
member that facen
There was a painful silence, broken by
Mr.. Lamoreaux. "Well, he said, what
are you going to do about it?"
"Goodnens knows, l don't" returned
Mr.. Street, helplessly. "What would
you dot"
MIR. Lamoreaux gazed refectlvely out
into the darkness.
'I'll tell you, Street" he said, slowly,
~ wouldn't do anything. Id keep an
eye on the man, and say nothing. You
see, he's so prominent here, 'twoud make
terrible sensation. And if you have no
evidence but your memory, you couldn't
prove anything, anyhow"
eyes, and his accomplices might as
sassinate me, or something, too. ;"
"That's So" promptly assented his
friend. "lts clearly your duty to keep
still"
At that instant light flashed across
the street. A man emerged from door
way opposite, stopped moment to light
cigar, then walked rapidly down the
street He was little above medium
height, and slender. A heavy black
mustache and square cut chin were all
that was visible beneath the soft cap he
wore we'll down over his eyes. He car
ried his head slightly forward, and
walked rapidly, with light, noiseless
step.
The two men under the gas light e;ac-
ulated simultaneously:
"Hammondm
"There is something queer about him"
observed Mr.. Lamolea *.
otis the shadow OF crime" said Mr..
Street, soemnly.
The town clock struck eleven. And
the two friends, by common consent,
abandoned the lamp-post and turned
their faces homeward
Mr.. Cleveland b. Street was conceded
by every one to be most estimable
young man. The President of the bank
spoke highly of him on all occasions,
and oc a,iona'ly increased his salary
The old ladies approved of him, and the
young ladies said he was mice" lie
led the uneventful life of the average
business man, and was reasonably con
tented and happy.
There was another circumstance which
conspired to make Mr.. Street, in antic
patton, a most eIviable man. Miss Alic,
Wilson was handsome, vivacio
brunette, who, by her thousand winnn!
ways, had completely ensnared the hear
Of the young cashier. Of late, she hat
been perceptibly more encouraging. anC
he felt sereney confident that when h
urged his suit she would not say hin
nay.
Some such thoughts as these wer,
fitting through MIR. Streets mind, as h,
stood behind the bank counter, few
days after the disclosure beneath the gas
light. And now, as his thoughts revertet
to Mr.. Hammond, he could not suppress
feeling of pity for that nnhapp
man-for he must be unhappy carrying
about with h m SUI h memory of hidde
crime. His ll-gotten gains might brin
him influen c, but they could never pur
chase him happiness. Mr.. Streettlough
of Alice Wilson, and said to himself tina
he was sorry for the fellow.
One day dashing equipage drew u
In front of the bank. and lady leane
out to speak to another on the walk. MI
Streets quckened sight at once recoe
nized, in the occupant of the carriage
Miss Alice Wilson. But who was it sill
ting beside her and smiling down upo
her with such confident gallautryl Th
cashiers eyes followed them far up tn
street, but that first look had bee
cnough--it was Walter Hammond!
That was only the beginning. M
Hammond began TO attend Miss WHO
like shadow lie escorted her to pa
ties, the theatre, and church. BE |
ever so as9iduous, Mr.. Street nearly a
ways found his attentions to the your
lady anticip tied by Mr.. Hammond
There was no pleasure in calling The