Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-06-07
A LUCKY ASSIGNMENT.
BY A. (. BELL.


They were old friends and had acci-
dentally met at the Pioneer Press club
after separation Of more than dec
ade. After the experiences of each
had been recounted at some length one
of them related the following story to
coterie of newspaper men who were
present:
"It was back In the eighties that l
held desk as city editor on the staff
Of the Pottsville Pa.) Democrat. /
had been working pretty hard, and my
health was failing, SO one day the chief
advised me to take month or two off,
go into the country and recuperate. He
further advised me that If wished to
take the vacation l would be placed on
full pay on the condition that write
letter each week which might be of In
terest to patrons of The Democrat.
II had a friend located in a little
engaged In the publication of weekly
paper, and at once made up my mind
to go down and pay him visit.
II arrived at my destination in good
time and was effusively welcomed by
my friend and his estimable young
wife and made to feel at home imme-
diately.
81 lounged about the town, which
had a population of about 1900 souls,
and struck up quite large acquaint-
ance within a short time.
"One morning, after had been there
probably a week. sauntered into the
Office of my friend and found him in a
dreadful stew. His local man had TAX
en- suddenly III, and there was no one
else who could take an assignment that
had been mapped out for that days
work.
"It seems that man named Barron
had died at his home. about five miles
from town, and, as his father had been
man of wealth and he had gained
considerable notoriety as local char
acter, it was deemed a good idea to get
an extended obituary of the deceased
Barron The man owned property in
the mountains of township that had
been named after his father and was
somewhat difficult of access.
81 was feeling well that morning
and, thinking trip iE the country
would do me good, offered myself as
sub on the occasion.
"The offer was eagerly accepted, and
within a short time was en- route In a
buggy for the scene, which was des-
tined to prove lucky assignment. al
though was not aware of the fact.
by making numerous detours and
inquiries from each person met was
able to reach the Barron home. 1t was
located between mountains which form
ed bowl shaped depression about the
house, which could be reached only by
narrow pass.
"'What an excellent location for
robbers rendezvous thought as
passed along the narrow lane. Here
handful of men could withstand a regi-
ment of soldiers / drove up to the log
cabin, which was built against the side
of the mountain in the farthest corner
of the depression, and stopped. A half
dozen dirty looking children were play
ing about the doorway, and they all
dropped their play the instant they
caught sight of me and ran inside the
hut.
II walked leisurely to the door, which
stood wide open, and raped. A sharp
featured woman made her appearance
after had waited few moments, and
stated the purpose Of my visit.
II was invited In, and chair was
pushed forward for my use.
"The woman disappeared through
low door at the rear of the hut, and
took the opportunity of making a few
observations of my surroundings. The
hut was furnished with a couple of
beds, rusty cook stove and a rickety
old table, and everything denoted pow
erty.
1.-The woman returned by the time
had taken look around and was fol
lowed by middle aged man with as
villainous a countenance as you would
care to see. He was a younger brother
of the deceased, and he began TO give
me some facts regarding the life Of the
man whose obituary was to obtain.
man came in and when ! was through
with the task In hand took a. look
around the hut. AS quickly as my eyes
fell upon the third person it struck me
that / had seen him somewhere. He
was Of rather nice appearance, had
sandy mustache and was well dressed.
had surely seen him at some previous
time and, with an object In view, in
quired if that was a son of the deceas-
ed. was gratified to know that his
name was Barron also, for at that very
moment 1t flashed upon me that had
seen him in police court In Pottsville
only few weeks before under arrest
for passing bogus money.
'T began TO make some inquiries of
him, and he told me that he was en-
ployed In Pottsville and was at home
for the funeral of his father and In
tended going back to his work the next
day.
Having nothing else to detain me.
took leave Of the people and started
back to town drove slowly down the