Year: 1877

STRANGER THAN FICTION.


In the autumn of 1877, while the
woods were bright with the variega.
ted hues which follow the light
touches of early frost, mounted
traveller was pursuing his way
through a dark, broad, lonely forest,
in the western part of New York.
He lad ridden lnree miles since see-
ing a human habitation, aud he.bad
get two to 60 before be could get
sight of another. lie was descend
ing hill into a gloomy looking valley,
through which flowed a shallow but
swift-running stream and on reach
ing the water be permitted his thirsty
beast to stop and drink.


At that moment q man came out
from a cluster of bushes into the road,
or horse path, on the other side of the
stream. This man was dressed like
o hunter, and carried rifle On bis
shoulder. In his appearance there
was nothing that indicated hostility
or a wicked design. He was of intel
lectual features and q certain air of
gentility-seeming rather as one
abroad from some settlement for o
days sport than a professional bunter.
Ali this the mounted traveller careful
ly noted as be crossed the stream to
continue his journey, and when they
came together o pleasant salutation
was exchanged.


Fine weather for travelling, sir !"
replied the man with the gun.


"And for hunting. also, / should
suppose" smiled the other on the
horse.


Yes, there is game enough" re-
turned the ether, "but l am not a
good hunter, and can only show one
bear, for my days work thus far, and
that is almost useless TO me, because
l have no means to take it away. l
would willingly give a dollar for the
use of q horse like yours for Q couple
of hours. If you could spare five
mir utes or so / would like you to see
the bear, it is only back behind the
bushes, some two hundred yards
from here"


II will not only look at it," replied
the traveller, dismOunting and fasten-
ing bis horse, "but if not too heavy |
will take it along for you. seeing l am
going your way"


The hunter thanked him 10 Q most
cordial manner, and then, as if to
make himself agreeable and keeping
up the conversation, inquired where
the other was from, whitber journey
ing, and so forth and learned in
reply that the latter resided in Al
bany; was q merchant in good busi-
ness and was travelling partly for his
health and partly with view Of
making an extensive land purchase
for future speculation.


"Well, here We are," exclaimed the
hunter. as the two emerged from the
dense tbicket, through which they
had slowly forced their way into the
open wood "aud now l will show
you as fine and fat o beast as you
ever saw. Observe where i point my
rife"


He stepped back some eight or ten
feet, deliberately raised the piece to
his eye and pointed the 'muzzle direct
ly at the head of the traveller. There
was flash, loud report, and the
victim fell like log. his face covered
with blood.


This might or might not have been
the first crime committed by the man
with the rife. But as the traveller
fell the rife slipped from bis hand,
and be shook violently from head to
foot yet be ran to his victim and
hurriedly robbed him Of bis purse,
pocket-book. sgold watch and chain,
some curious seals, DIAMOND breast
pin and . diamond ring. which be
fairly tore from his 6nger. Then be
dragged bis body into the thicket,
picked up his rifle, plunged Wadly
through the bushes to the road, nouat.
ed the travellers horse. and dashed
away from the awful scene.


We must now suppose lapse Of
twenty years


In the spring Of 1887 there lived
in the city Of New York . banker and
millionaire whom we shall call
Stephen Edwards. He owned paia-
,ial mansion. splendidIy furnished. in
the very heart Of the town. and he