Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-26
CHAPTER XVIII.

THE GRAVE GIVES UP ITS DEAD.
Enoch Broadhurst, his wife, the Jep-
sons, Jerrold, James Rutledge, and sew
eral others were present when the remains
of Alexander Rutledge were exhumed.
They were remarkably we'll preserved.
James Rutledge with the first glance
exclaimed: This is not my brother!"
The others looked on while he pro-
ceeded to describe certain marks on his
brother that some there were able to re-
call, now that the brother spoke of them.
A scar on one leg was SO deep that every
body remembered it who knew him from
youth up. Another mark almost as
easily found was nick in the left ear.
Still another was a cloven thumb nail,
split when he was boy, and that never
was thoroughly joined afterward.
There was no scar on the right leg-no
scar on either leg. There was no sign of
nick in either ear; the nails we're per-
feet.
Then James Rutledge gave his brothers
height. Half dozen remembered it.
| The dead man was at least two inches
shorter. Then number of differences
all sufficient in themselves to change
peoples opinions--were pointed out.
Finally the group marveled how they
could have made the mistake so easily.
But if this was not Alexander Rutledge,
where was he?
MY brother may be dead, said James
Rutledge. 1T is wonder half of us are
here. But my brother did not shoot HIM
| self. Now, this man did, or else some
one shot him. propose going right to
the bottom of this business. have
taken some of you into my confidence
The last man who saw my brother alive,
| / have reason to believe, is herein
Johnstown. My authority is 81 Harkess
"a man known to many of you. pro-
pose now that we go direct to the man
who last visited Alexander Rutledge.
sent to him, asking him to meet me. He
did not see fit to come. Now we will &C
| to him."
Then the remains of the unidentified
| man with the bullet wound we're inferred
again, and the group moved away, bear.
ing with them the lights they required.
| The remains we're viewed late in thu
evening, rendering artificial light neces.
sary.
Mr.. James Rutledge led the way direct
| ly to the spot where Giles Brockle wal
urging his workmen to make greater
haste.
As the party neared the workmen Gilei
looked up, wondering who they were
surmising that it was Broadhurst and
Squire Jepson. The workmen had sue.
ceeded in removing several beams tha
had been in the way. Giles Brockle'l
impatience meantime got the better o.
him. He had procured keg Of powder
which he himself opened, and taking {
considerable quantity from it, he was de-
vising way to blow the metal obstacle
out of the way, so that he could enter tn,
door, to which all his energies had beer
directed
| He ordered the workmen to clear tn,
space in front of the object. When thii
was done, to everybody's astonishment i
proved to be small iron safe. It wal
less than a fourth of the dimensions o.
the safe Giles was resolved to open.
| Here" he said, in a masterful man
ner to the workmen; 4get out of this, al
OF you. want to do this my own way
I'll send it out of the road; I'll blow
out of this hole in tenth Of time yo'
fellows would be planning to lift it out.
4 He made fuse, placed lot of powde
in a tin cup, pushed the cup under tn,
safe, attached the fuse made OF rags ant
paper, lit it, and sprang nimbly out Of tn
opening the workmen had made.
| 1t was at this juncture the group from
the mountain side approached him. A
they neared the spot terrific explosion
occurred. Fragments Of wood few in al
directions. Several of the lights wey
extinguished. There was sufficient ligh
left, however, to reveal to everybody al
iron safe which was thrown completed
out of the large opening in the debri
made by the workmen.
The safe was turned completely over
and the door was lying wide open. Tw
or three packages of papers lay on top 0
the door.
Giles Brockle sprang forward to seiz
these packages, when vise-li gri
closed on his wrist, and James Rutledg
said, in a loud, commanding voice:
a Those papers are not yours. They ar
mine
How are they yourss' demanded Gile
Brockle, fercely. s
Because that is my brothers (Alexar
der Rutledge's) safe.
The light shone full upon the top Q
the safe and oN the inside of the ope
door On each aih plainly saw Alexar
der Rutledge's name.
Giles Brockle was dumb with amaze