The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-09-09

finding the air was helping me, moved
from place to place along the coast,
keeping ever on or near the water until.
the 1st of June. | wrote to Elsie but
heard nothing from her, as / was snov-
ing about constantly. and we had ar
ranged that | was not to expect letters.
On the Sd of June l was again in Boil
ton and speeding homeward bound,
knowing Elsie was expecting me. had
avoided the main street, anxious to be
at home: but in a smaller street, not
far from the courthouse, | met an old
friend.
To my amazement he sprang to meet
me, crying:
Surely Providence has sent you here
to-day! Come, we have not moment
to lose."
Come where? What Is it? Elsie?'
cried.
NO, no! There is nothing wrong
with Elsie. but they are trying George
Hartley for murder, and he says you
can save him!"
For nurderi" | cried
The murder of his father on the
22d of April. The evidence is over
whelming. Mrs. Hartley swears that
her husband was robbed of 5000 on the
night when he was murdered, and she
has the numbers Of the notes. They
were found on George when he was ar
rested in New York"
We were hurrying toward the court
house, but my friend spoke rapidly:
Mrs. Hartley swears that there gas
some noise in the lower part of the
house that aroused her and she went
down. When she returned the window
had been forced open, the money stolen
and the husband lay on the floor dead,
with a horrible wound on tie back of
his head. George ran away that night
on the midnight train to New York"
We were at the courthouse by this
time and pressed our way through the
crowd. who were listening to the evil
dence that threatened to hang George
Hartley for murder. | made my way to
the seat where the lawyer who was de-
Tending him was gravely listening to
the witness on the stand. The prisoner
was looking down as | bent over and
whispered to his lawyer. but suddenly
looking up he saw me. One great shout
broke from his pale lips:
Heaven has sent you! l am saved"
and fell senseless on the floor. Had he
studied the effect for months he could
not have made it more convincing. Not
a man in that crowded room doubted his
innocence then.
My evidence was taken, and being
man we'll known in Bolton. it was sutfi-
cient to prove George Hartley guiltless.
As told the true story of the money,
| could see that the sympathy of all was
with the prisoner. All Bolton knew how
hard parent his father had been.
The jury were out but few moments
to return with the verdict: Not
guilty." and George and left the court
room arm in arm. followed by the cheer
ing of the crowd. We found Elsie white
and trembling in the parlor waiting
tcr us.
You are not angry because l came
back?' she pleaded, clinging to me. 81
heard the news in Boston and aunti5
N6iliC IlOlilS With llt. L hIlGN btOISC
was innocent, even before | saw him,
and it comforted him to sec me" she
said, turning to her lover.
l did not doubt that, as | saw them
clinging together, their faces still pale
with recent sorrow, but glad light
shining in their eyes.
The mystery of John Hartley's death
has never been solved. His son thinks
he was not murdered but fell and struck
his head. His stepmotEer's hatred of
him and the fact that his death would
make her the heiress of her husbands
wealth were sufficient motives for her
accusation.
BY his fathers will, George Hartley
inherited his entire estate, with a life
income to Mrs. John Hartley that is
punctually paid. He was a far weather
man than was supposed and George
Hartley is to-day one of the richest men
in Bolton and the happiest of husbands
and fathers. Eth, Elsie?
He is here TO answer for himself"
she answered, as we saw a tall figure
come up the garden path, the figure of
the man whose innocence | had proved
just in time, ten years before.-N. Y
Ledger.