The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-03-27
The next day he felt strong enough

The next day he felt strong enough
to receive few visitors. Among them
was the chief Of police, who came to
inquire concerning the identity of the
man who had done the shooting. Phil
ip showed some reluctance to witness
against his enemy. 1t was only when
he remembered that he owed a duty
to society as well as to himself that be
described the man and related minute
ly the entire affair exactly as it oc-
cured. ..
SIS the man in town. asked Philip.
"Has he not f1ed?''
81 think l know where is," re-
piled the officer. "He's in hiding, but
1 can find him. In fact, we have been
hunting for him since the shooting.
He is wanted On several other
charges" f -r.it
Philip was pondering something in
silence. At last he said:
''When you have arrested him, l
wish you would bring him here if it
can be done without violating any or
dinance or statute"
The officer stared at the request, and
the minister's wife exclaimed: philip,
you will not have that man come into
the house! Besides, you are not well
enough to endure a meeting with the
wretchv
Sarah, have good reason for it.
Really, l am well enough. You will
bring him, won't you? 1 do not wish
to make any mistake in the matter.
Before the man is really confined un-
der a criminal charge of attempt to
murder 1 would like to confront him
here. There can be no objection to
that, can there?'
The officer finally promised that, if
he could do SO without attracting too
much attention, he would comply with
the request. 1t was a thing he had
never done before. He was not quite
easy in his mind about it. Neverthe-
less Philip exercised a winning infiu-
ence over all sorts and conditions of
men, and he felt quite sure that if the
officer could arrest his man quietly he
would bring him to the parsonage.
This was Thursday night. The next
evening, just after dark, the bell rang,
and one Of the church members who
had been staying with Mr.. Strong dur
ing the day went to the door. There
stood two men. One of them was the
chief of police. He inquired how the
minister was and said that he had a
man with him whom the minister was
anxious to see.
Philip heard them talking and guess
ed who they were. He sent his wife
out to have the men come in. The Of
ficer with his man came into the bed
room where Philip lay, still weak and
suffering, but at his request propped
up little with pillows.
"Well, Mr.. Strong, 1 have got the
man, and here he is," said the officer
wondering what Philip could want OF
him. 81 ran him down in the crows
nest below the mills, and we popped
him into a hack and drove right uI
here with him. And pretty sweet
specimen he is, 1 can tell you! Take
off your hat and let the gentleman
have another look at the brave chaI
who fired at him in ambush"
The officer spoke almost brutally
forgetting for a moment that the pris
0ner's hands were manacled. Remem
bering it the next instant, he pulled of
the mans hat, while Philip looked
calmly at the features. Yes, it was the
same hideous, brutal face, with the
harelip, which had shone up in the
rays of the street lamp that night
There was no mistaking it for any
other.
"Why did you want to kill mel" ask
ed Philip alter significant pause. 81
never did you any HARM"
81 would like to kill all the cursed
preachers" replied the man hoarsely.
you confess, then, that you are the
man who fired at me. do you"
81 don't confess anything. What are
you talking to me for? Take me tt
the lookup if you're going tor the maj
exclaimed fiercely, turning to the Off
Ger. r f..F
"Philip," cried his wife, turning tt
him with gesture of appeal, 'sen(
them away! 1t will do no good to tall
to this manv
Philip raised his hand in a gesture
| toward the man that made every ont
in the room feel little awed. Th'
officer, in speaking of it afterward
said: Il tell you, boys, l never fel
quite the same except once, when th'
old Catholic priest stepped up on th'
| platform with old man Cover time h
was hanged at Millville. Somehow
| then 1 felt as if, when the priest rails
ed his hand and began to pray, mayb
we might all be glad to have some on
pray for us if we get into a tigh
| place"
Philip spoke directly to the man
whose look fell beneath that of tn
| minister.
"You know well enough that you ar
the man who shot me Tuesday night
1 know you are the man, for l say
your face very plainly by the light o
the street lamp. Now, all that l want
| ed to see you here for before you wer
taken to Jail was to let you know tha
do not bear any hatred toward you
The thing you have done is against tn
law of God and man. The injury yo
have inflicted upon me Is very Sigh
compared with that against your owl
soul. Oh, my brother man, why shoul
you try tn harm me because l denount
ed your business? Do you not knoy