The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-05-16
A GRATED
TREE
3, ELIZABETH WEED

was q very thrifty and very shrewd
girl. The old man was q widower.
with no, other children except Abel. and
when the father died the son would
inherit all his property. But Perks
wouldn't either die or give Abel enough
on which to be married
One day the farmer brought home a
bough Of an apple tree and grated II
on to limb Of his favorite apple tree
that pointed directly toward his house.
Not long after this q man named
Schmitt came to settle an account with
the farmer that had been Of long
standing. The man had put In q cul.
vert for Perks which had been washed
away. and Perks, who had been obliged
to have the work done over BY another
mason. refused to pay the bill present.
cd BY the nrst The creditor came aft.
or supper In the evening and remain.
cd arguing with and threatening Perks
with a lawsuit dill 10 O'Clock. Perks
was not well, and the controversy &C.
CURED In bis bedroom on the second
story. Abel was In tho house. but at
10 o'clock be went to bed In another
part Of the house and was soon sound
asleep.
When In the morning he went into
bis fathers room the old man was
dead There was evidence that he had
been struck on the head with some
hard instrument like poker. Abel
called In the neighbors and told them
the facts. Schmitt was arrested. But
he had evidently prepared himself for
the ordeal awaiting him, for he denied
having been at Perks house at all
Indeed. he said he had spent the even
ing with a man ten miles from Perks
talking about some work both were to
do together. The man corroborated
schmitt's statement Why he did so
was never known. But It was sup
posed that Schmitt made a conHdant
Of him and either worked on bis feel.
ings or paid him to save him.
Suspicion then fell on Abel. who In.
herited bis fathers estate. He was
arrested. but since there was not q
scrap Of evidence against him. except
that he and bis father were the only
two persons known to b in the house
on the night Of the murder, the Jury
hung for Q long while. then finally
brought In q verdict Of acquittaL But
hia neighborS believed him guilty and
refused thereafter to have anything 70
do With him.
Amanda Squeers alone believed In
her lovers innocence and that Schmitt
had committed the murder. She had
only Abel's word for Schmitt's having
been at the house to collect his bill
and that Abel had left him with bis IA
ther when he went to bed. But she
knew, apart from her lovers state
ment, by woman's intuition. that
schmitt had done the murder. She
married Abel and accepted the stigma
that rested upon him.
Three years passed. One summer
Amanda noticed that the bough Perks
had grated to his apple tree would
grow II the sash were left up into q
window Of the old mans former bed
room. The weather being warm. she
propped up the sash, and the bough
covered with blossoms. extended .
yard or more into the room. One day
In midsummer she passed Schmitt's
house and said to him:
"Mr. Schmitt. 1t has been revealed
to me who killed my husbands father
That has always been q mystery. and
confess I have always believed yov
did the deed. Now know who did Il
Come to the house tomorrow afternoor
and win convince you"
Schmitt kept steady face. but with
In he trembled. He did not wish to &
to her house. and he dare not sta!
away. Above all. he felt that he mus
know II Mrs. Perks had any clcw, III
did not say to her whether or no hi
would accept her invitation. but tn
next aftsrnoon. bracing himself witt
strong potation. be started for tn
house.
Amanda welcomed him at the door
and 20 cordially that he was persuad
ed to believe that she had got ON to
wrong track and had become CON
vinced Of bis Innocence. He saw n
one In the house. and that gave hin
courage At any rate, there were n
: witnesses to what would occur. Amau
da chatted with him for Q time Of
ordinary matters. then said;
"Now. II you will follow me VII
enable you to prove your innocence o
the murder"
; She led the way up the staircas
and into the room In which the mul
der had been committed. The windo'
. sash was up. and the end Of branc
! OF the apple tree extended into th
room. On Il were several ripe apples
'sThe other night" said Amandl
"Mr. Perks appeared to me IN dreau
saw him 40 vivid and distinct ~
: geo you now. And hs said: ! hav
caused 4 bough Of my grooming app
tree TO grow into my bedroom vii
dow. II the man who murdered u
eats Of one OF the apples Il Will sho'
within stains Of my blood Pluck
! apple. Mr. schnitt ana prove your 4
necence."
echmitt turned pale. but plucked Z
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