Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-09
what friend?" he exclaimed, in

Godfrey Percy"
| He fairly staggered. as If he had
received a blow.
"lmpOssiblc" he gasrcd.
ut is true"
He sank down upon seat. and for
some time held his head in his hands
''Arc you sure you have not made Il
mistaken" he asked at length, in
hollow voice.
II am certain OF what l assert"
''You can prove it?"
IL can"
"Then you shall prove It. All.
me, poor. poor dear Virginia! 1t will.
break her heart. 1t will be the death
OF her, l fear. Willingly would
give half my fortune to lave these
miserable circumstances otherwise"
1T L. not too late, Mr. Howell"
said l, sympathetically. ''She need
never know"
He bounded from his seat. his eyes
blazed like madman's, and he turned
upon me with naughty rage that l
had never seen cQualed. not even on
the stage.
'For what do you take me, sir?"
he cried, his ashy lips now fairly quiv.
ering. "If this man is guilty, so
help me God, were he even Il prince
OF the realm, my own hand should
blow his brains out sooner than make
my beloved sister the wife of a das-
tardly thief Step into my private
room, Mr.. Carbon. l will send for
him. You must face him before rue,
and make your accusation good, or
take the consequences.
"Hark you, Mr.. Howell" / said:
II see you are q high.tempered, de-
termined man, and want you to un.
dcrstand that am another l will
face your honorable gentleman, and
make my charge in my own way.
He may deny it. and convince you
that his word is better than mine;
but mark this: If he does deny it,
and yon accept his denial. 1 swear to
have him arrested tor felony, and all
the facts publicly exposed from first
to last"
81 accept the conditions" he said;
and he at once conducted NE to his
private apartment in which stood the
safe that his friend had opened to rob
him.
A servant was dispatched for God
frey Percy, and in a few moments he
/ made his appearance looking quite
uncOncerned. had arranged to have
everything my own way, and as l now
appeared without my disguise, the
young gentleman did not know me.
lie glanced at the two of us inquir.
ingly. but did not keep him in sus.
pense. Stepping up to him l placed
INV hand rather roughly upon his
shoulder and said, with a sharp Sc
| verify
''Godfrey Percy, l arrest you for
! stealing your friends diamond ring,
and pawning it at Isaac Jacobs
You will at once accompany me to
the office OF a magistrate, and con.
front the witnesses"
He turned as white IS death, threw
up his hands, and then fell down on
his knees and begged for mercy.
"For Gods sake, spare me" he
prayed. Spare me; oh, for Gods
sake, spare me! 1t was the first and
only time l had ever done such
wicked thing. l wanted a certain
sum OF money, and was too proud to
ask you, my dear. friend, for 1T. Oh,
George. George, my dearest friend,
for the love Of holy Heaven, inter.
cedc with this officer, and save me
from public disgrace and utter RUM"
you did take my diamond ring,
them" said George Howell, in quiet,
even tone of voice. that quite sur
! prised me by its natural calmness
"Oh, yes, confess 1t"
''HOw did you open my safe9"
| Il watched you one Gay when you
were working The combination, and
was able to make it out. That then
became my temptation"
But the ring was also locked in
the iron box"
''You had a duplicate key to that
which was in another drawer that
was not locked Oh, my dear, dear
friend George"
Call me Mr. Howell, and leave off
the friend" calmly interrupted the
other Godfrey Percy, you were to
have been married to my sister to-
morrow. Only think of the disgrace
which she, Howell, has escaped
from you, Percy. In only another
twenty-four hours she would have
been the wife Of sneak thief lam
really grateful to the Providence that
has saved her from that abyss and
myself from murder, for l should
have killed you. You must go away
now, without saying parting word
to any soul in this dwelling give
you twenty-four hours the Start. II
after that time any police officer,
sheriff, or constable can find you on
American soil, swear. before high
Heaven. l will never rest till the
iron gate Of our State prison has
bolted you in, a lOaths0me felon.
One word more from you, and I will
do it now. The is all. CO."
He pointed his finger imperiouslv
toward the door, and the condemned
culprlt in silence arose from his knees
and SUNK out Of sight. That was
the last ever saw or heard of him.