The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-08-16
CHAPTER XVII.

many people In the streets of the
shire town. They moved with
slow foot, some giving their animation
to squints Of curiosity and shouts OF
recognition, some to profanity and plug
tobacco. Squire Day and Colonel Jud.
son were to argue the famous maple
sugar case, and many causes of local
celebrity were on the calendar.
The third day of that week-it was
about the middle of the afternoons
score Of men gossiping In the lower
hall of the court building were hushed
suddenly. A young man came hurry
of excitement.
whats upT said one.
"sidney Trove is indicted" was the
answer of the young man.
He ran out Of doors and down the
street People began crowding out of
the courtroom. Information. surprise
and conjecture-a kind of flood pour
Ing out of a broken dam-rushed up
and down the forty streets of the vii
lage. Soon, as of old, many were
ahoat and some few were drowning in
1t. For a little, busy hands fell limp
and feet grew slow and tongues halt
ed. a group of schoolgirls on their
way home were suddenly overtaken by
the onrushing tide. They came close
together and whispered. Then little
cry Of despair, and one Of them fell
and was borne into near house. A
young man ran up the stairway at the
Sign of the Dial and raped loudly at
Darrels door. Trove and the tinker
were inside.
"Old fellow" said the newcomer his
hand upon Trove's arm, they've voted
to indict you, and I've seen all the
witnesses"
Trove had book In his hand. He
rose calmly and flung 1t on the table.
ITS an outrage" said he, with a
sigh.
NAY, an honor" said Darrell quick
iy. Hold up thy head, boy. The lau-
rel shall take the place o. the frown."
He turned to the bearer of these evil
tidipgs.
"Have ye more knowledge O. the
matterT
"Yes, all day I have been getting
hold Of their evidence" said the new
conner, law student, who was now
facing his friend Trove. "In the first
place, 1t was man Of blue eyes and
about your build who broke into the
bank ut Milldam. II is the sworn state-
ment Of the clerk, who has now recov-
cred. He does not go so far as to say
you are the man, but does say 1t was q
man like you that assaulted him. II
appears the robber had his face COW
cred with q red bandanna handkerchief
In which square holes were cut SO he
could see through. The clerk remem'
bers II was covered with little white
figure, that of log cabin. Such a
handkerchief was sold years ago In the
campaign of Harrison, but has gone
out Of use. Not store In the county
has had them since 1S45. The clerk
fred upon him with pistol and thinks
he wounded him In the left forearm
In their fight the robber struck him
with q slung shot, and he fell and re-
members nothing more until he came
to In the dark alone. The skin was
cut In little squares where the shot
struck him. and that Is one of the
strong points against you"
Against me?" said Trove.
"Yes-that and another. II seems the
robber lect behind him one end Of q
bar of iron. The other end Of the same
bar and slung shot-the very one that
probably failed the clerk-have beei
found"
The speaker rose and walked halt
across the room and back, looking
down thouehtfully.
II tell ye what, old fellow" said he
sitting down again, at Is mighty
strange. II didn't know you well
I'd think you guilty. Here comes de
tective who says under oath that one
night he saw you come out Of your
lodgings about II o'clock and walk tc
the middle Of the bridge and throw
something into the water. Next morn
Ing bar and shot were found. AS near
ly as he could make out, they lay d.
rectly under the place where you had
halted"
Darrell sat looking thoughtfully al
the speaker.
"A detective?" said Trove. rising
erect, stern look upon him.
Eyes, Dick Roberts"
Roberts. detectivew said Trove In
q whisper. Then he turned to Darrell
adding, II shall have to find the
Frenchman."
Louis LeblancT the young man
asked.
Louis Leblanc" Trove answered
with surprise.
"He has been found" said the other
"Then shall be able to prove my
point. He came to his home drunk one
night and began to bully his family.
was boarding with the Misses Tower
and went over and took the shot aud
iron from his hands and got him tc
bed. The woman begged me to bring
them away"
HE declares that he never saw the
shot or the iron"
Darrell rose and drew his chair a bit
nearer.
Every well. but there's the wife,
said he quickly.
"she will swear, too that she never
saw them"
"And how about the daughter2'
Trove inquired.
run away and nowhere to be
found" was the answer Of the other
young man. 1--WE told you bad news
enough, but there's more and Won