The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-02-17
The Man Who Was
Bribed
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

90 1t. Abe said nothing, but Abe's
clothing was found by the mill pond.
Mrs. Singer took on awful, and soft
hearted citizen started n purse for her
and SEQ were raised, and there were
others who contributed food and cloth
ing. The widow moved from the sta
ble into shanty.
Ten days after the powwow Abe
Singer appeared. He had been car
ried downstream by the current and
thrown on an island, where he had re-
NAMED unconscious for days and with
out food for othar days. 1t was pret-
ty shy story, but the people had to
believe 1t and congratulate the teller
on his wonderful escape.
It was about sixty days later when
the next event came off. A citizen
who owned farm outside the village
hired Abe to dig a well. He had re-
fused jobs not so hard or dangerous,
but he took this one right away. He
preferred well digging to even the
postoffice steps. When he had been
digging for two days and after he had
cave-ins the alarm was given that the
curbing Of the well had caved in and
that Abe was probably IA dead man
eighteen feet down.
There is only one thing to do in such
case--dig the poor fellow out. If liv-
ing, succor him; If dead, contribute n
fund to bury him and carry the widow
along. There were some who wouldn't
have come down but for the fact that
Abe had gone to work and made no
kick.
His desire to help himself opened
all hearts. If that hadn't then there
were the widows tears and lamenta-
lions to fall back on. The sum of 500
was raised for her. and 1t was more
clothes and more provisions
The bottom of the well was struck
at last, but there was no Abe. There
sure had been Il cavern, but 1t hadn't
caught him. There was Il mystery on
hand to be solved. If not at the bot
tom of the well, then where was he2
The question was on every lip for four
days, and then Abe came back to an.
Bwer 1t himself 1t was easily ex-
plalned.
He had had warning of the com
ing cavern and had scrambled out.
Such was his terror that he had been
temporarily out of his head, He re-
membcred running away as fast as
ne could, but when his senses came
back to him he was thirty miles away
and hiding In farmers barn. AS
soon as he had recovered his nerve he
came jogging along home and was
ready to tackle the job again.
Hopewel shook its head in doubt.
ing way, but did not talk much. Abe
Sllnger was coming TO the front and
becoming a hero. He had also moved
from shnnty into II cottage and was
living on the top shelf. AS matter of
fact, he did finish the well and thereby
made himself solid with all who might
have otherwise criticised. Neverthe-
less the town constable felt that he had
n duty to perform, He went to Abe
and said
You went TO your death in the river
and returned You went TO your death
an the well and returned, Don't try
the little game again. II you do |
don't believe the town will raise an
other dollar for your widow"
The summer had departed and late
autumn had come. Abe hadn't tired
himself out looking for any more Jobs,
but was now offered the position OF
night watchmnn of the village. II was
a cold job and poor pay, and no one
wanted 1t until he stepped forward.
Not robbery had ever been commit
ted In the village, but there were tax
payers who thought 1t best TO guard
against such things happening. When
the constable heard Of the appoint
ment he met Abe to say:
mo foalishness, now"
"If robbers come | shall kill some OF
them" was the reply.
But II you have them kin you don't
make II mess OF It,"
II shall do my best to die, and when
you see me lying dead you will be sor-
ry for what you have said"
Two weeks passed. and then one
night at midnight there were yells
and shots and the noise of running,
and the people turned out to find Abe
Singer missing. He was searched for,
but not found Next day there was a
grand hunt. but no clew. Robbers had
killed him and borne his body away
another public subscription for the
widow-more provisions fuel and
clothing. She actually opened an ac-
count at the village bank and put on
mourning. Another two weeks and
the cat came back, Abe walked In to
cay that he had discovered three yegg-
men about to break Into the postofiice
and when he had fred on them they
and seized and chloroformed him and
borne him away In buggy. For
twelve days he had known nothing,
but now he had come back to take
his job again.
Hopewell didn't say much. 1t didn't
threaten. 1t didn't bring out tar and
feathers. 1t simply asked the ques-
tion OF Abe Singer: