The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1900-01-13


his finger and rested upon the stran-
ger, who started, looked confused,
then irrftated, and finally bewiidered,
as if he faneied the prisoner mus. 10
mad.
IF that gentleman will answer my
question:" resumed the prisoner, 81
think shall be able to prove to every
one that l was in Brisbane at the
time l said.
The stranger shifted in his seat
nervously, and at last said, in tones
of annoyance and expostulation:
Your hone, I've never to my
knowledge set eyes ON the prisoner
before, and / don't see how can
fix up his innocence.. Besides, guess
| didn't come here to be questioned
by every son of a gun that holds up
a mail COACH beg your pardon, your
honor. but you'll allow the annoyance
is considerable. anyhow" -
His honor admitted il was, but
straightway appealed to the stran-
gers better feelings on behalf of the
prisoner until he was somewhat mol
lifted, and remarked WA, il he
thinks it's straight wire, he can start
in, and I'll answer his questions.
don't mind taking him up on that.
The stranger was then sworn, and
as he stood in the witness box the
prisoner addressed him.
Sir" he said, do you remember
on the Sd of July man running after
your hat in the street in Brisbane and
bringing 1t back to you on the pave
ment?"
81 can't say that I do" replied the
stranger after little thought; mo, 1
can't fetch it,
'Do you not remember his saying
that he was out of work and his three
children were starving? And then can
you recall giving him a sovereign and
saying; Here's shilling for your"
The stranger was silent, as IL he
wished to remember the occurrence.
but presently he shook his head and
said: mo; it's no use-you must be
mistaking me for some one else"
''Stay!" cried the prisoner again. in
a voice of terrible tension. for it was his
last chance. "Do you remember, be-
fore giving the sovereign, that the man
told you he had fought in the Crimean
war and could show wounds-that he
had helped his country, but his country
would not help him? Yes, you must re-
member his showing you the scars-one
at the back of the head, another on his
right breast"
The stranger interrupted him with
a sudden exclamation: II do, | do!
The scar on your breast is long one
"a saber cut. Your honor, remem-
Der meeting this man! / must apollo
gize; his life was in my hands. and
nearly let him fall through He is the
man | saw in Brisbane"
There was a profound sensation in
court as the prisoner steadied himself
and wiped the cold moisture from his
brow.
Can you remember the date on which
this happened ?" asked the prosecuting
counsel.
"Ah, I'm afraid I can't" the stranger
returned; "but | know this-it was
three days after the Carlisle Castle ar
rived at Sydney, il it's possible to find
out what date that was
The newspapers of the first week in
July were then consulted, and II was
found that the Carlisle Castle arrived
at Sydney on June 30, so that three
days afterward brought it TO the exact
date required.
Again there was applause in court as
the prisoner was formally acquitted.
Finally, turning toward the stranger.
the judge remarked: "In the interest
of justice, / thank you, sir; your pres
ence here to-day is one of those re-
markable dispensations Of providence
which are seldom met with"
That night the acquitted prisoner,
the American gentleman. and his serv-
ant rode through the bush in a ioviaI
frame of mind. For reasons best known
to themselves they wished to put as
great a distance as possible between
the township and themselves before
morning; and as they went they
planned how they should hold up the
mail second time at no very distant
date. But IT was the last time the trick
was played successfully in that neigh
borhood, for the distinguished Ameri-
can decamped without paying his hotel
bill; moreover, Viscount Thurlton
never arrived, and a rat was subse-
quently smelt and seen floating in the
air of the neighborhood OF the court
house--a rat which had grown consid-
erably beyond the "bud" stag Chi.
4