Year: 1877




suing his way through a dark, broad,
lonely forrest, in the western part of New
York. He had ridden three miles since
seeing human habitation, and he had
two to go before he could get sight of an
other. He was descending a hill into a
gloomy locking valley, through which
flowed a shallow but swift running
stream ; and on reaching the water he
permitted his thirsty beast to stop and
drink.


AT that moment man came out from
q cluster of bushes into the road, or horse
path, on the other side of the stream
This man was dressed like hunter, and
carried rifle on his shoulder In his
appearance there was nothing to indicate
hostility or a wicked design. He was of
medium size, compactly built, with in
tellectual features and certain air of
gentility-seemlng rather as one abroad
from some settlement for days sport
than professional hunter All this the
mounted traveller carefully noted as he
crossed the stream to continue his jour
ney, and when they came together a
pleasant salutation was exchanged.


"Fine weather for travelling, sir" re-
piled the man with the gun.


"And for hunting also, I should sup
pose," smiled the other on the horse.


''Yes, there is game enough" return
ed the other, 'sbut [ am not good
hunter and can show only one bear for
my days work, thus far, and that is al
most useless to me, because / have no
means to take it away. Iwould willing
ly give dollar for the use of n horse
like yours for couple of hours. If you
could spare five minutes or so I would
like you to see the bear it is only back
behind the bushes, some two hundred
yards from here.


t'I will not only look at it," replied
the traveller, dismounting and fastening
his horse, ''but if not too heavy I will
take it along for you, seeing I am going
your way"


The hunter thanked him in most
cordial manner, and then, as if to make
himself agreeable and keep up the con-
versation, inquired where the other was
from, whittier journeying, etc. and
learned in reply that the latter resided
in Albany, was merchant in good bus
mess, and was travelling partly for his
health and partly with view for MAX
ing an extensive land purchase for future
speculation,


"Well, here we are," exclaimed the
hunter, as the two emerged from the
dense thicket through which they had
forced their way into the wood, ''and
now I will show you as fine and fat a
beast as you ever saw. Observe where
point with my rifle"


He stepped back some eight or ten
feet, deliberately raised the piece to his
eye, and pointed the muzzIe directly at
the head of the traveller. There was a
flash and 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 rifle. But as the traveller fell the
rife slipped through his hands, and he
shook violently from head to foot yet
he ran on to his victim and hurriedly
robbed him of his purse, pocket book,
gold watch and chain, some curious
seals, q diamond breast pin and q dia-
mond ring, which he fairly tore from his
finger. Then he dragged his body into
the thicket, picked up his rife, plunged
madly through the bushes to the road
mounted the travellers horse and dashed
away from the awful scene.


We must now suppose lapse of twen-
ty years.


In the spring of 1862, there lived in
the city of New York q banker and a
millionaire whom we shall call Stephen
Edwards. He owned a palatial mansion,
splendidlJ furnished, in the very heart
of the town, and he and his wife were
among the leaders of the fashionable
world. They had beautiful daughter,
just turned to sweet sixteen, who was
about to be married to foreign noble
man, and great preparations were max
ing for the happy event.


One day, about this period, is the
great banker was conversing with gen.
tleman from another city, who called to
see him on business, he observed the lat
ter turn suddenly very pale and begin to
tremble.


"My dear sir" he said, in his usual
tone of off-hand sympathy, "what is the
matter? Are you i'll %


"a little faint, sir, but nothing to
cause alarm, replied the other, hurried
ly. ''1 AM subject to similar spells. II
you would be kind enough to exense me
| for ten minutes or SO, / will take q
short walk and return in better condi-
tion."


| In ten minutes he did return, report.
ing himself quite well. calmly proceeded
to finish his business with the banker.
and then respectfully took his leave.


1t was perhaps week after this that
ons right the banker was sitting before
the fire in his library, when a servant
came in and presented him letter. He
took it with yawn, opened it in the
most indolent and Indifferent manner
possible; but had not read dozen words
before he rose mp with start, turned