The Press., 1892-08-11
Number 19.

| had been an interested observer of these roceedings-"why, Lor'! I remember MT. Allan Drewry. was a gal at that time, and he sort O made up to me, though he knew John Bowan-that's Jes- sie's father-was keepin' my company" | What" exclaimed Solomon excited ly. "you don't mean to say Rowan was jealous? l "There was some folks said so, if I didn't," said Mrs. Grasty, modestly. Solomon looked slowly around the cir cle, and solemnly shook his head. l "Look here, Slocum," said Captain Grasty, still running his eye down the page, "what's this ,? Paid John Rowan five dollars, first quarters rent of his eel larn Why, what had Chris Slocum to do with that cellar?
 T-I don't believe twas that cellar" he gasped.
 "Couldn't have been any other. Just across the back yard here, with door in the wall between. Convenient to the house, you see. Never thought of it be- fore"
 Do you mean to insineate," said Solo, mon, turning upon him with white face, "that-that my father had anything to do with that-that affair?' -ra
 "I don't insinuate anything" answered the captain, with shrug; "though I don't see how Chris Slocum was any bet ter than old Womble or John Bowan."
 MT. Michael Lafferty, sort of loafing character of Middleton, here turned around from the bar, where he was in- dulging in a "dhrap," and placing his finger on the side of his fiorid nose, de- liberately said:
 "See here cap'n, yez best not mix up the ould mans name with them dhry bones beyant. He was my friend, he was, an Tll stan by him an his to the ind. An if it comes to suspicionin' him of mur- ther, see here, it's better to let out the truth. The ould man wanted that cellar for storage, ye see."
 "What kind of storage?"
 "Whist, thin! don't ye moind when the ACfOAuO OlllCOIS Wbo uOWH HtIc, couldn't find dhrap of the stuff that wasn't 'straight?' p But, bedad. they niver looked in the cellar beyant."
 ."I don't believe it! :" cried Slocum, sav- agely.
 ! But he saw that every one around him did credit the mans statement, and grad ually the conviction forced itself upon his unwilling mind
 It was great shock to Solomon, who had always made Q boast of the honor and honesty of himself and family.
 His respected father dealing in illicit wtiIoN.J ~i.o..ti,,s, ,----- ,-a-- mon, with his neighbors' eyes bent upon him, seemed to be shrinking to half his natural size.
 ''I remember when the revenue officers used to hang round here in disguise" /" said one man, in a low tone.
 "An idear strikes me-" said another, excitedly. "What if that young fellow Drewry, you call him-was one of lem and'-keeping one eye half fearfully fixed upon Slocum -"ferreted out that cellar, and never come out alive?"
 For week after this an awful calm of suppressed horror brooded over Twiddle- ton. People were appalled, at the hein- ous crime which the investigations of Solomon Slocum had brought to light and moreover, by wonderful dispensa- tion of fate, had brought home to him. self
 There could be no doubt upon the sub- ject; for, on close investigation, a ham, mer had been found under the bones in the bag, plainly branded with Christopher Slocum's initials.
 With this murderous weapon he had doubtless slaughtered his innocent vic tim: and whether it had been for the , sake of money, or to prevent the betrayal of the secret of the cellar, remained the only point open to doubt. Poor Solomon Slocum! How had his glory departed! Would that he had never interfered with what had not concerned him !! He the son of murderer, and his . own son to bear forever the dark blot oi l UIuC OoHu DOWdu Ildu his daughter to receive the young mans , attentions, though Jessie cried, and de clared that she did not see why Joe should [ suffer for sin not his own, and that she was willing to marry him, and help hin <, bear the disgrace, if need be. One day, about six months after these events, a well-dressed, jolly y-looking, elder ly gentleman, stopped at the Eagle hote in Middleton. As the servant took his horse, he looked around curiously ant , with sort of smile, at the transformed house and it's new sign. A group O v idlers were collected, as usual, on the long, low piazza, and there listened witt | interest to what was said.
 "Place improved since was here, som, five-and-twenty years ago. Who is th' r landlord now?
 Myself, sir-Thomas Grasty," re sponded the host, with dignity.
 "Ah! what has become of old Chri n Slocum ?'
 Dead, sir, years ago! That's his son, f pointing to a seedy and dejected-lookinl individual passing slowly along the street "Sol? Not like the strapping younl chap remember. Times seem to hav gone hard with him." Q And, in accordance with his now estab :, lished habit, Captain Grasty rcgaled hi g guest with the whole story of the discov 2 cry of the ghastly remains in the cellar and the subsequent awful revelation con V corning them.
 | To his utter astonishment the gentle e man, after listening attentively, brok e into uncontr ollable laughter.
 'sSo they accuse poor old Chris of rot bery and murder do they 2n