Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-17

young mans xeepsng room pAfay opeu -
dad OF being skut md locked. and tAag
were disposal 70 taks alarm 1t II I'LL ny
beard his steady. heavy brea1hing
Then both, after another sharp sweep q
tho hight ill around them, noi>sisAiy 81
vancei To tie bed Of the dsepsr-cos pe-
pared with the chiorpform to sesl up hb
sersse-, but both ready % murder him ssSn~
than fail in their parpone
Just at that critical point Of time anoshsr
human figure, unseen By them. came silently
gliding throagb the darknss and sssaiing ~
behind them
Il wa the tramp
In his hand he he4d . rope with noons -
one end not unlike a Lasno-
He stopped 50 nsar the two midnighs
prow!sr that be could have touched them.
and pois-l the hand that held the rope, Wills
every nsrvs secretly quiv~sd with insso0
excif4rnent
IL was q moment big with fate for all con-
cerped
A single mistake, ths slightest error. mighs
cost his own and other human hveA
The robbers, both intent upon thrtr evil
design, did not look behind them.
They stopped close 70 the bed Of the xisep
ing man, one looking over the shoulder OF
the other.
The forward one bald handkerchief In
one hand saturated With chborofdrtn- and In
the other hand the lantern. whose light -
sfreaInsi full upon the facs Of the sleeper
Just - tbs reached forward 70 pr8 tn
handkerchief 10 the nostrils Of thair tutended
victim the second robber, armed with knife
and revolver, prepared for deadly a'~1alt.
brought bis bead close up To hh cotnpanionhs
the better TO note the slightest movement
at that Enomert the tramp skillfully threw
his MOOSE over the hesads Of both
Then, with vigorous Backward spring, b
frightened the nooss around the necks OF both
and lerkesi them down stumbling, nounder-
ing, crashing-surprised, terrified and almnst
strangied
'.Surrender and throw down your weapons
or I'll beat out your brains" cried the tramp.
AZ he jsrked and pulled upon the rope, In q
der To strange the scoundres into submis
sion
The answer was three pistol shots from tbs
man vino held the revolver, neither Of which
hit the tramp, but one Of which entered the
brain Of bis companion and ended his wicked
work for this world
Tho noise reused the sleeper, who started
up In alarm, with loud cries Of murder and
for help
This in turn set the women to shrieking,
and The late silent and peaceful dwelling b.
came for the time bedlam of horrors
Keep quiet, Mr. Chalmers, you shall not
be harmed" said the tramp, as, still pulling
at the rope he pounded the head OF the living
robher with the butt Of his revolver, till be
sank under the blows "Now get a Light, hs
continued. 'or turn the light Of the villains
lantern upon their faces, and see what your
tramp has done for you"
IL took some minutes more TO make George
Chalmers, his mother and sister understand
the true state Of the case-that the man to
whom they had given shelter had saved them
from being robbed, il not murdered
But what was their further amazement
and horror 10 discover that the dead burglar
and the living burglar were two Of their
neighbors. with whom they had long been
intimate and whose regulations stood high
as well-to-do, upright, honorable men
When they came to pour out their profuss
thanks to the tramp for his courageous and
timely interference In their behalf, he quietly
responded
'You have much to thank me for, It v
true because you would certainly have been
robbed, if not murdered. il had not been
under your roof, but you have to thank ms
lpi u III IL way thoh yoo SuPP~~
I'm not here by accident, but design I'm no
tramp, but u detective. I've had my eye on
these villains for some time. but needed
proof before arresting them By chance
overheard plot to rob George Chalmers on
the night he should get paid for his cattle,
and worked out the rest, us you see This
villain, Samuel Jennings" nodding to the
now tightly bound living robber, ''muse
either go 10 the state prison or the gallowA"
Neither, you miserable scamp" cried the
man, with long string Of blasphemOus
oAths.
He never did-for on the day Of the coro-
ner's inquest on his companion. he was found
hanged and dead.
The whole affair made great sensation in
its locality
On removing his false hair and beard, the
tramp detective was found to be q young
and handsome fellow
A warm friendship sprang up between him
and George Chalmers, and shortly after, =
still warmer one between him and Mary
Chalmers
1t seems enough to merely add that she y
now his happy, grateful and loving wifa
Emerson Bennett in Saturday Night