The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-02-11

! rick miles away. Lam. crossed Long
Creek below the sage los, then rode slowly
up the hill beyond, when he gave his noble
steed tho rein and soon arrived at the city.
He hunted up Alexander Culinary, who
was constable at that time. He soon found
Alex, and told him the awful story. And
now, said he, Alex. yea can intercept him
on the draw, hut mind he is a dangerous
villain and he has double barrel shotgun
on his shoulder. They knew that cross
eyed Ben would soon be on the draw
bridge which spans the canal at the eastern
approach OF the town, and thither they
FASTENED. There he comes, Alex, said
Lam, lookout for yourself, for l tell you
he is dangerous.
They thought it best that Culinary meet
Crooked Eyes alone on the bridge, Tor,
said Lam, it would arouse his suspicious
if we all go, for several had caught the
whisperings of Ben having disemboweled
his stepfather, and Alex. proceeded alone
on his dangerous mission.
When Alex. stepped on the bridge on
the north side. Cross-eyed Ben was near
the middle of the structure and walking
hastily.
Hello, Ben, said Alex, are you going
cunning. Yes, said Ben.
Why that's nice looking gun; let me
see it, Ben.
Cross-eyes passed the fowling piece to
the officer, when that functionary grasped
the vicious wretch and said-I want you,
Benny, for the murder Of George, your
stepfather. and you must go to Elkton with
me. 1t is said that Ben became docile as
soon as Alex. got his vise-like grip on his
neck, and went off with him like lamb
to the slaughter. But the meek lamb with
the terrible optics did not go to the
slaughter at that time, but we will tell
what did become OF the frolicsome beast
with the crooked-eyes further on in our
narrative.
OF course, an inquest was held over the
body of poor old murdered George, and
the facts herein written were the outcome
of that inquiry, hut for reasons which will
appear later, nothing ever came OF the
inquiry, and tardy justice was allowed to
slumber in old Cecil.
They had asked the villainous knave
what lie had done with the knife, and be
simply said, give it to mother. But a
mothers love is always strongest toward
FL, ,,oyu,ard child and M 6iGarenoa bom
deeply they may have plunged into degra-
dation, and even though they thrust the
cruel blade into their own mothers loving
breast even then, while her spirit would
be fleeing hence, her very last gasp would
be forgive you, darling. and never lose
sight of the fact, young men, that the one
thing that rises above the clouds, the thing
constant that never dims, the star that
darkness never quenches, is mother s
love; it is perennial A mothers love is a
love that gives us music from the cradle
song to the requiem dirge that bears the
soul away to God who gave it. A love
that is greater than power, sweete. than
life and stronger than death. And Just so
long as the scent OF the lilies is yet fresh
in Gods holy temple, just so long will the
peerless angels continue to love.
And when the presiding official asked
her for the implement Of death she even
denied that she knew anything about the
homicide. But Rachel Ann had seen cross
eyed Ben give the reeking knife to his
mother, and she had also seen her wipe the
dripping blade, and then cross to the fence
and stick the knife down by the side Of a
post in the barrier. And she led them to
the place of concealment, where the knife
was found still stained by the life blood Of
poor old harmless George.
To be sure, cross-eyed Ben was tried at
the next Quarter Sessions Court, but two
reputable old gentlemen were summoned
by the defense who lived near the Frog
and knew Zen, and swore that he was If
responsible for his actions, and he was
acquitted and cast adrift and became a
terrible menace to the community in which
he lived. He made the Bull Frog his
headquarters after his release from custody
for several years and beat around Back
Creek Neck and the Tad Pole, and several
times, when the effects OF whiskey would
be on, and the hellish sensation of which
would be tinglng Throughout his hideous
body his murderous hand been stayed,
when uplipted with cleaning knife just
ready to shed human blood. Cross .eye ed
Ben picked up many dollar by the use Of
Old Rosin and the Bow, and when Ben
pulled that instrument across the lovely
breast OF his darling Becky Jane, and no
difference what tune, even though it was
the one that the old COW died by, yet all
within the hearing Of the thrilling strains
coming from the very soul of Ben's old
sweetheart would be charmed and chained
to the spot for the time being.
1t is said that Ben many times swore
vengeance against our old friend, Lam.
Boulder for betraying him to Alex. Col
mary, but Benny never got the drop on
the foxy old hunter, and we are all thank
full that crooked eyes tumbled into oblivion
| 1or, aUo am, that the dear old hunter is