Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-08-31

rest in the public house, and Will ten
you how it came to be built In such
very strange position"
l smiled, and followed him into the
saloon bar. We sat at one of the tables
and were silent for time, he thinking
and l watching him.
"The story begins" he said present
ly, with a burglary committed by
certain Bill Jones one night long ago.
"Bill was a young member of his pro-
fession. Hitherto he had not attempted
anything very big, but continued sue
cess in small things had made him bold
On this night he broke into the country
house of a well-known actress, in the
hope Of carrying of her jewels.
He succeeded in getting the Jewels
and was leaving with them when he
found that the slight noise he had
made had attracted attention. A ser
want girl met him At turn of the stir
way and began to shrek. He rushed
by her and to the window through
which he had entered. As he passed
through it again he heard doors being
opened. and knew that the house was
fully aroused"
Il understand" said. bill escaped.
The actress employed a detective. The
detective built this public house in an
Out-of-the-way place, hoping that Bill,
as an out-of-th the-way young man. would
call in one day for a drink. Curiously
enough, Bill did"
Blanco Watson frowned.
This IS an intellectual story" he
said; 1t does not depend on coinci-
dences.
Il win continue. Bill avoided the
first pursuit by a long run across coun-
try, and then walked toward his home,
not daring to use the railway. he kept
to the by-roads as much as possible,
and at the close of the next day had
reached the neighborhood of London.
"a spade lying inside a field gate
suggested to him the advisability of
hiding the Jewels until he had arranged
for their sale. After making sure that
ne was not observed, he entered the
field and picked up the spade. A tree
of peculiar growth stood just beyond
him. In the manner of fiction, he count
ed twenty steps due north from the
tree, and then dug deep hole, placed
He arrived home safely that night,
but was arrested in the morning. The
servant girl had given an accurate de-
scription of him to the police, and they
had recognized It.
I'm due course he was tried. The
evidence against him was very strong
The servant girl swore that he was the
man she met on the stairs; some of the
villagers swore that they had seen him
near the house previously to the burg
Larry. He was found guilty and SEN
fenced to seven years penal servltude
Bill behaved very well in prison
and at the end of FIVE years was re-
leased on a ttcket-ofleave. He decided
to wait until the ticket had expired,
and then to get the jewels and leave
the country. But day or two after
his release he walked out to look at
the field.
There was no field During the
five years he had been in prison the
estate of which the field was part had
been built upon. He wandered about
the houses in despair. But as he turned
a corner, he saw something which sug-
tree of curious growth.
ut was the tree twenty steps due
north of which he had buried the jew
els. He recognized It Immediately. aud
ran toward 1t. Again he was in despair.
A yard or two north Of the tree was a
chapel. He leaned against the railings
covering his face with his hands.
1T happened presently that the head
deacon of the chapel, a kindly old man
came down the road. He saw Bill
standing like one in trouble, and
stopped and asked what was the mat
ter and whether he could help.
For q few moments Bill did not
knew what to reply, but then he spoke
we'll He said that once he had beer
n burglar, but that he had learned IL
prison that burglary is wrong; that
now he was trying to live an honest
life, but that, as he had no friends, II
was not easy.
The old man was touched. He haG
found B,u leaning against the chape
rallings. and Bill had said that he hat
no friends. Was it not his duty a.
head deacon of the chapel to be fr!enC
10 Bill: Clearly 1t was.
He took Bill home with himJ he wa!
a bachelor, and there was no one t,
restrain his benevolence. They hat
supper and talked together. The dea
con found Bill Intelligent and fairl.
well educated, and offered him employ
nent. He was a builder in the neigh
borhood, he explained, and had a va
fancy in the works. Bill gratefully &C
repted the offer, and began his new
career on the following Monday.
Months passed. Bill had changed
wonderfully. He had forgotten his ole
habits and learned new ones. The dea
con was delighted. Not only was Bill
the best of his workmen, but he wa:
the most regular attendant at tn,
chapel
Bill longed for the Jewels, and b,
worked hard because he knew tha
money would help him to get them
he attended the chapel because while
there he was near the jewels, the sea
Ae had taken being JUST twenty steps
tUe north from the tree. At first h,
lad meditated digging down through
he floor one night. but the chances o.
detection were great and he had giveI
up the idea.
Years passed. The deacon had be
come an invalid, and Bill practically
managed his business. He was an i'm
portant man at the chapel, too, an(
was often intrusted with a collection
box One day the deacon died. SooI
afterward it was known that havin:
no near relatives, he had left his prop
crty to his friend William Jones"
Il seer' / exclaimed; Bill"
Blanco Watson shook his head.
"B!u was BIZ no longer" he said