Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-03-31

she showed us the package and
opened 1T before us all. 1t contained
$3.50 pounds in England notes"
''Great Lordw exclaimed Mr.. Tarbot,
clapping his hand to his breast. ''Can
it be possible--No. l feel it. The
package is all safe.''
He opened his coat and drew forth
brown paper package from the inside
pocket.
II tell you what, SQUIRE" he said.
II burst out into cold sweat all over
when you told me what the drover's
package contained, for I have pack
age of money for client amounting
precisely to the sum yor- (Imed."
"Why. the drover's package is the
very picture of yours, ''said the squire.
"Outside perhaps; outside" said
the lawyer Us he opened the package.
Inside there was nothing but lot
of sheets of worthless paper cut into
the size of Bank of England notes.
Tarbot was for time struck dumb.
'I've been robbed" he said
savagely, but restraining his voice.
''The package containing my clients
money has been stolen and this worth
less package put in its place. Your
drover, squire, is the thief"
"Well, it looks like it certainly"
said the squire. ''But what would
induce the man if he were thief to
come here and show me the money,
and desire to stay here all night?
Wouldn't he have got so far away with
it as possible and just as quickly as
he could?"
'It seems SO certainly" Tarbot
answered. Nevertheless the circm-
stances are so remarkable that think
steps ought to be taken at once by
you as magistrate to secure the
drover if he hasn't shown pair of
clean heels Already
81 agree with you, "said the squire,
"and will send for the constable at
once and arrest him.
While servant was quickly dis
patched for the officer of the law, the
squire and Tarbot, each armed with
pistol, quilted the house 10y the rear,
and, being provided with lantern,
hayloft where the drover was supposed
to be. Ascending the ladder without
noise, the lawyer threw the light of
the lantern across the floor. There,
sure enough, lay the gaunt form of the
drover, with every sign upon it of a
deep sleep. Nevertheless when the con-
stable arrived the drover was aroused
and, much to his surprise was informed
that he was prisoner. After he heard
the explanation of the fact he laughed
heartily and said:
''Well, now, isn't this some trick
that you are trying to practice upon
me? l vow, it's clever, but it isn't
fair to wake tired man out of his
first sleep for the sake of joke"
He was assured that it was no joke,
and, being kindly advised by the squire
to go quietly with the constable, he
did so.
Next morning the body of
murdered man was discovered on the
other side of the stream, abouta quar-
ter of mile below the bridge. 1t
was removed to the village lookup.
aud there Mr.. Tarbot identified it as
Wray's. The skull was fractured and
the right arm broken. 1t was sup
posed that the arm was broken when
raised to protect the head from blud-
geon, which was found near the body.
But this was not all. The overseer
of the poor had in his charge in an
outhouse of the village inn man who
had been found early that morning on
the bank of the stream with dis
located arm and some broken ribs.
Here was nice complication of
things, such, in fact, as had never be-
fore come under the notice of Squire
Norman or his son-inlaw, Tarbot. The
man with the dislocated arm was
soaked and mud stained and had evil
dently been carried away by the over
flowing stream.
Talbot naturally associated him W ith
the person who had given the package
to the drover for safe keeping. This
turned out to be all right, for the
drover, being quietly introduced to
the place where the man was, said:
"We!l, neighbor, do you want your
package?"
some time apparently unconscious,
now bestirred himself and, looking
around and seeing that only the drover
was there, exclaimed:
"What! Are you the man I threw
it to?"
"Aye. it is safe," was the reply.
"When will you be ready to divide?"
Don't say word" said the man
in low tone. "5tay around until /
am able to get away yand then I'llmake
it all right with you.
After this all suspicion was removed
from the drover, and he was taken into
the counsels of the squire and Tarbot.
In few days the man was well