The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-28

condition" thought he. 81 must get
something to quiet inc down"
Although he had to walk several
squares beyond where he should have
turned into his own unprctcntious
street to do SO. nc made his way TO
where he knew there was an ;lll-night
saloon. The whisky correspondent with
the locality and tho locality was bad
Entcring the saloon he called for his
drink and was in the act of tossing i.
down when his attention was suddenly
arrested. For 1T the other end OF the
bar were two dark figures. cugugcd in
subducd and earnest conversation, who
shot suspicious Chances at the young
man.
Slowly he drank his liquor, while
over the rim of his glass he cast IL
steady, sidclong glance down the bar
lie was satisfied they were the two
men who had brushed past him so
shortly before.
"ilavc you any rapcr?' asked Bow
crs of the man behind the bar. IL
would like to write Il note"
The barlsccpcr fumblcd around. NUT
tcring that this''wcrcn't no stationery
store" and finally produced Il soilcd
S.'SCt tiiti illtlticti IL over Inc bar.
Pulling ont his pencil Bowers DELHI
cratcly wrote his note. He then
bought another whisky and entered
into Il conversation with the bar
keeper, all the time striving to evolve
some feasible plan To effect tho capture
OF the muvCic"crs. as he believed tlic,-:
to lie.
Whatever his scheme might haze
been IL was ctfcctually stopped 10y tic
parties taking their dcpart,;.c.
1t will not do to lose SIGHT OF thc,, "
thought lowers. "I'll follow th.n
until run il: with an officer and IN.
him on their trail"
Rapidly, and, rs he fancicd, unob-
served, he glidcd in their footsteps,
through dimly-liShtcd streets ana dark
alleys, never once losing sight of them.
Suddenly they turned Il corner, and
Lowers quicI'encd his gait
Alas! for poor lowers! As he Turned
that corner, hot in pursuit, II heavy
blow fron the Eutt end of Il revolver
land him low. Several more followed.
but he did not feel them.
Unconscious and bleeding they left
him, where lie was found at carly dawn
by'a policeman, who rang for an ambu.
lance and sent poor bowers to The dis
pcnsary.
There his wounds were dressed. and
rs he was unable to give any intcili-
giblc reply to questions concerning his
identity. he was loaded into the ambu-
lance again and sent to The city hosDi-
tal
Next day the newsboys were shout
.,lan l..
The papers were full Of it, a banl,
president Living in tic West End had
been murdered i'll his own home bv
burglars. a brave policeman, who had
caught them in the act, also had fallen
a victim to the villains The only eve
witness to the deed was missing. The
whole affair was shroudcd in mystery.
a half dozen suspects were landed
behind the prison bars Bowers could
not lie foand 1T his address He had
not shown up nj the Office. We were
scared. Rewards TO the extent Of ten
thousand dollars were offered for the
detection OF the guilty parties.
Late in the afternoon of the third
day Il messenger came to inc saying l
was wanted at the City hospital.
llurrying TO that point l was shown
into the surgical ward, where over in
enc corner on an iron cot lay poor
Bowers. fastening to his bedside
grasped his hand.
The sight of Il familiar face worried
revolution. His ,nind cleared instant
ly. The nurses said he had been de-
lirious most of the time.
Come" said he; get me ont of this,
purity quick"
expostulatcd But Bowers was
firm in his determination. | knew the
superintendent and got him TO sign his
release.
lies all right now. so long as he
has his wits" said the supcrintcnd-
ent. "ilc was more shocked than
hurt"
Buadlins him into the carriage l
drove, at his request, directly TO the
Office of the chief OF police
Come on said Bowers. lie was
cool and steady now.
Gaining our adinittancc, Bowcrs pro-
cecdcd 10 make known Iii, GRAND.
From beginning to end, he told all lie
knew concerning the murdcr-how lee
had recognized the two men in the
saloon; how he had asked for paper 10
write Il note; how he had followed
them III the hopes of finding an officer;
how he had turned the corner hot in
pursuit; and there his narrative ended.
because that was rs far as he went.
But what was your idea of writing
no:c?' asked the chief.
"Ilerc's the note said Bowers.
handing it to him. you can read it
yourself"
One glance at that soiled piece of
paper and the chief of police rose and
striding over to where Bowers sat,
La. c