Middletown transcript., 1897-02-27

The deputy flushed with shame, and
then, eager to shift the blame. he said,
"Keys don't go back and forth across
the room of themselves, Mr.. Lewis,
neither do they turn themselves. The
only person in this building who had
an opportunity to let tie man loose il
| your own daughter Clara"
| "We'll see about that,n cried the
now furious sheriff, 6 and in the mean
time I arrest you for conniving at a
prisoners escape.n And with that, he
pushed the deputy into the empty cell
and slammed the door.
The noise of this dispute had by this
time awakened the remaining inmates,
who. suspecting what had happened,
gave vent to many jest and taunt.
Lewis, after examining every lock to
see that none of them were tampered
with, returned to the sitting room.
Clara, with pale face, wide eyes and
trembling hands, was standing by the
table, the perfect image of despair.
Daughter, daughler,n said the
sheriff, his mood melting at the sight
of his child's misery, "what have you
done?y
Clara threw herself into her father IS
arms.
she will come back" she sobbed,
The viii come backP,
"You bet be will" her father ex-
claimed, and then added more gently,
"Sit down and stop crying and tell me
about it, Clara.''
When the sheriff had heard his child's
story, he was somewhat relieved, for
he had feared she had been more deeply
involved, He did not in the least be-
lieve the condemned man would keep
his word, in fact, he doubted whether
he himself would under such circum-
stances, for Wentworth would know
that nothing serious would be done to
the girl who freed him. But as it was
now half-past ten, he decided to wait
until eleven before doing anything, for
he could not help considering that if
Wentworth did come back, it would |
save him deal of shame.
They did not have to wait as long as
they expected, for just as the town
clock struck the third quarter, a heavy
football was heard on the front walk.
"There he is, 1 knew he would
come," cried Clara, her face suddenly
radiant.
81 don't believe it is him." replied
her father, but he went into the front |
hall and threw the door open wide.
Then a strange sight met their eyes,
for sure enough in came Wentworth, |
his face dripping with perspiration,
and bearing in bis arms man, whose
hands and feet were tied with straps |
taken for valise. Wentworth threw
him to the floor and put his feet on |
him as If he had been dog. The feI-
low had evidently been drinking, his |
clothes were in disorder, his red and |
yellow tie was the worse for being sat- |
urated with beer, and his low forehead, |
prominent jaw and uncertain eyes |
stamped him indelibly as criminal.
81 caught him on his way to the de-
pot to catch the Ills train,n gasped
Wentworth, out of breath, "I had to
hide his valise beside the road, you had
better send for it because there may be
evidence in it.n
Wentworth, believe you," said
the sheriff, offering him his hand;
''this man has been here before, and
was just the reckless sort of fellow to
do such a thing"
The new prisoner was put in a cell,
and the deputy liberated and sent to
look for the yalise. He soon returned
with it. and in it they found a roll of
small bills amounting to about two
hundred dollars, and, what was better
yet, the paper band with the banks
stamp on it. with which the original
package had been sealed.
The next day thorough investiga.
tion was made, and many evidences
were found against the man. the revolt
yer itself being finally identified as hav-
ing belonged to him. Wentworth was
of course pardoned, and it is he who is
now Clara's husband-American Agri.
cuItursst. I.