Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-07-28
KING SOLOMON'S TOMB.

MINI OOLOMOlN y lOMD.
The little fishing village of Rockport, on
the coast of the state Of M, was strange
ly silent and almost deserted 1t was not
that the men wer,, ~ sea engaged in their
usual av0cation, for their boats were drawn
up In a long line on the sands and their
nets were drying in the sun. All who
could be spared from their homes had that
morning Travelled over the rocky road that
led to Sedgwick. the county town, situated
some miles in the interior. They had gone
to attend trial which was to take place
in the court, then in session.
Part of those who made this unusual
Journey were subptnnaed to appear as wit
nesses, while the others were drawn by a
natural interest in the case. One Of their
townsmen, fellow fisherman, stood
charged with the highest crime known to
the law. that OF murder And the victim
while not resident of the village, had
lived near at hand and was we'll known to
every man woman and child in the neigh
.borhood
Yes, Jack Hastings, the bravest, biggest
hearted, handsomest of the young men of
the village. was accused of taking the life
of old Jasper karch Not one of the fisher
folk but would have staked life and honor
upon the innocence of Hastings, while
! aside f:om '!a' ,s;ural horror inspired by
his violent death. little sympathy was felt
for the murdered man.
Jasper karch, the mser, usurer and
grasping landlord. was the evil genius of
his simple hearted neighbors. Impelled
by his greed for gain, he schemed and
saved. stinting himself in the necessaries
OF life until at the age of fifty he was pre-
maturely aged and decrepit He had never
married and having no relatives in the re
glon lived IN a house fast falling into ruins
without even a dog to share his cherries
home On the morning of the day on
which the alleged murder was committed
the two men were seen upon the beach en-
gagged in an angry colloquy The roar of
the surf and stiff breeze that was blow
ing prevented the other fishermen who
were at work upon their nets and boats
from understanding the subject of their
conversation But Jack was seen to shake
his fist in the face of his companion, and
was heard to shout, II would drown you
in the seaP'
A few minutes later both men entered
their boats, sailing away as if bound upon
common errand.
That evening Jack Hastings returned as
usual. but the boat of Jasper Karch was
cast up empty upon the shore, a hole in it's
bottom seeming to indicate that an unsuc
cessful effort had been made to sink it,
The living Jasper Karch never came back;
his body it was supposed, lay buried in
the sea.
1t was well known that an i'll feeling ex-
listed between the men.
Jack had his little romance. Pretty
Polly Anderson was his betrothed wife,
and it was the intention for the young
10 80 Il l.4fZ
had come again.
Polly. with her yellow hair, blue eyes,
pink cheeks and 1.-THE figure, true child
OF the sea kings, was the acknowledged
belle of the village.
One day as she tripped along the road
past the house of Jasper Karch, that
worthy, leaning on his rickety gate. called
out to her in a tone of malicou BANTER
SO you are going to marry that beg
gar of Hastngsl You'd better take ME
and stand the chance of being left a rich
widow"
Polly, with crimson cheeks and flashing
eyes hurried on in silence, glad to escape
from one whom she both feared and de
tested so heartily
Jack was highly indignant over this in
suit, addressed rs it was to his betrothed
and himself, vowing that on the first OPP
lesson he would never forget
The young fisherman was far too chival
rous to lnflict bodily injury upon one so
greatly his senior. but instead spoke to
HIM IN words that stung old Jasper into a
fearful paroxysm of rage,
The vengeance of Jasper karch was pro
verbal No man crossed his path with i'm
punity He now began system of perse
cution which became the source of untold
trouble and sorrow to the young couple
and their friends
II was believed outside of the village
that, driven to extremity, Jack Hastings
had destroyed his tormenter
The accused young man was able to rem
der consistent and highly probable denial
OF the grave charge under which he rested
He declared that he had parted in anger
from Jasper karch that morning, but he
had left him alive and well when within a
short distance of the fishing grounds. His
unsupported testimony was, however, in
sufficient to secure his discharge He had
been remanded to Jail. and this particular
day he was to stand in peril of his life and
liberty before jury of his countrymen.
half mile to the south OF the village a
mass OF rocks rose In the form OF a cliff.
high above the sea At its foot i'll the deep
shadow the waves were churned into foam,
on Its summit the sunbeamS fell bright and
warm, and the light breeze gently swayed
the few hardy plants that sprang from the
thin soil
On the cliff. his head projecting over its
edge, lay boy His garments were neat
and clean. but of coarse material, and had
seen long service as their threadbare con
dition abuudantly testified
he was, perhaps, fifteen years of age, but
glance at his pale, thin face gave the i'm
preston that he was older in mind and ex
perieuce than in years
The whole appearance of the youth in
Dictated that he was not one of those who
dwell in the village aud drew their pre-
carious subsistence from the sea Poor ne
Certainly was, but II was the poverty OF ID
great city that was evidenced in his garh
aud manner
This was Frank Bryson, nephew of old
Jerry Anderson He was born in Rock
port, but on the death of his father, while
he was Jet babe, his mother had been
driven to seek livelihood in the city OF
Boston
The boy was not strong, and his mother
had sent him to the old home with the hope
that the change of scene and the bracing
sea air might bring the health which the
crowded city had denied him.