The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-06-12
A LUCKY ASSIGNMENT.
BY A. E. BELL.

dentally met at the Pioneer Press cluD
after a 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
a coterie of newspaper men who were
present:
ut was back In the eighties that
held desk as city editor on the staff
of the Pottsville Pa.) Democrat l
had been working pretty hard, and my
health was failing, so one day the chief
advised me to take a month or two of,
go into the country and recuperate. He
further advised me that if l wished to
take the vacation 1 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.
IT had a friend located in little
town in Washington county who was
engaged in the publication Of weekly
paper, and / at once made up my mind
to go down and pay him visit.
81 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.
zone morning, after had been there
probably week. sauntered into the
Office of my friend and found him in
dreadful stew. His local man had TAX
en- suddenly i'll, and there was no one
else who coulG take an assignment that
had been mapped out for that days
work.
"It seems that a man named Barron
had died at his home, about five miles
from town, and, as his father had been
a man Of wealth and he had gained
considerable notoriety as a local char
acter, it was deemed 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 a trip in 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
buggy for the scene, which was des-
tined to prove lucky assignment, al
though l was not aware of the fact.
"By making numerous detours and
inquiries from each person l 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
a narrow pass.
"'What an excellent location for a
robbers rendezvous l thought as l
passed along the narrow lane. Here
handful of men could Withstand 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
81 walked leisurely to the door, which
stood wide open, and raped. A sharp
featured woman made her appearance
after had waited a few moments, and
| stated the purpose Of my visit.
81 was invited in, and a chair was
pushed forward for my use.
"The woman disappeared through a
low door at the rear of the hut, and
took the opportunity of making few
observations of my surroundings. The
hut was furnished with couple of
beds, rusty cook stove and rickety
old table, and everything denoted pow
erty.
1.-THE woman returned by the time
had taken a 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.
while | was taking notes another
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 son of the deceas-
ed. | was gratified to know that his
name was Barron also, for at that very
moment it flashed upon me that had
seen him in police court in Pottsville
only few weeks before under arrest
for passing bogus money.
81 began to make some inquiries or
him, and he told me that he was en-
ployed in P0ttsville 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
road, and once l had an occasion to
turn and look back at the cabin. AS
did so saw the form of a man dodg-
ing along between the. trees that skirt
ed the hillside along the road. My sus-
picions were aroused at his strange &C
lions, and l kept my weather eye in his
direction until l got safely out upon the
highway, where l lost sight of him. A
brisk drive soon landed me back at the
Office of my friend, who greatly praised
my obituary.
81 did his local work several days
longer, and when his assistant had
| fully recovered from his Illness l re-
signed and returned to Pottsville In
much better spirits than when / had
left it month before.
''The next day l took up my routine
assignment, and at the morning session
of the police court what was my aston
ishment to see in the prisoners dock
4 the very same young man whom l had
met among the mountains.
81 at once became deeply interested
in his case. He was charged with pass
ing counterfeit coin. the same charge on
which he was arrested several months
before. His honor concluded, in view
of the serious charge and the fact that
, it was for the second offense, to hold
him for further investigation.
During the previous six months
Pottsville had been flooded with bogus
money. and the authorities had offered
reward for the makers and showers
Of the queer. Young Barron had been
twice accused of passing the money,
but each time he told such plausible
story that the officials were loath to be-
lieve him responsible for the whole
matter The situation was becoming