Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 118 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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_ fluence to bear to ne \ lation naturally troubled her, and it was only by de- grees that the lingering doubts faded from her There was something very gentle and lovable about the old man, and she felt herself strongly drawn toward him. To Will, also, she had felt from the first a sense of attraction, which had caused her to like him desp'te his rudeness. Gradually the belief stre ened upon her that this was indeed her father and her brother, and she grew very happy as she sat listening to the old man’s story of past life, and remembrances of their dead mother. Raky one lingering uneasiness dwelt upon her mind, and that was dispelled. A ring at the door, an an- nouncement of a gentleman to see her, and she was ushered into the presence, and clasped in the em- brace of John Elkton. : ‘Let me congratulate you, dear Jennie,"’ he said. “‘T have met Mr. Lednard. He has told me of the surprising change in your relations. I am glad to learn that you have found a new father.”’ Ts it not strange, John?’’ she murmured, yieldin to his caresses; ‘‘and so sudden. I have hardly go accustomed to the thought yet, though I am grow- to love him. You know all?” shadow of doubt as to how he would view her alms-house experience came upon her. “J know all,”’ he replied. ‘‘ You are from the alms-house and I from the prison, If there is any disgrace attaches to either of us it is to me,” ‘* No, indeed, you brave, noble fellow,’ she cried, wa kissing him. “I love you for what you did. Every one will respect you that you were willing to suffer for your friend.’ “How was it all found out?” “TI discovered it,’’ she « nswered. “ee You?” “Yes. On my visit to the prison I learned that Jesse Powers was the man who gave you the silk.”’ aA | re ioe ges told you nothing of the kind!” he ex- “No, but I found it out. Iam a better detective than you think,” she said laughing. ‘* Sit down here and I will tell you all about it.” John was surprised and laughed at her shrewd- mess, as she told how she had arrived at his conceal- ed knowledge, and described her interview with his false friend. ‘“‘T have not been very much deeeived in Jesse Powers,’ he said. ‘“ But I felt that it was not for me to him. I owe him a debt which honor fo me to repay in the way I did.”’ ‘“*Tt was a noble action,” she replied. A half-hour afterward the two happy lovers sought the presence of the father and brother, who were still where Jennie had left them. It was an embarrassing task for Jennie to intro- duce her lover to a father who was almost a stranger, although she had felt toward him the im- pulses of natural love. But Will took all the trouble of the introduction off of her hands. “Hal I’ve caught you now, Jennie,” he cried, with a quizzical laugh. ‘“*This is the young man that I wanted you to throw overboard. Father, this -. our Jennie’s beau, and a first-rate fellow, you can Mr. Somers looked with some doubt from one to the other. “Will ts right,’ said Jennie, in a _ low tone, and deeply blushing, ‘‘Mr. Elkton and I have been en- gaged for some time. I wish now to present him to my new father.”’ ‘And I hope he may prove a dutiful son,’’ said Elkton, as he warmly grasped Mr. Somers’s extend- ed hand. “I love your daughter so well, sir, that I gennct but transfer part of my affection ‘to her ather.”’ “IT do not know you,” said the father, with a happy smile, “ but I trust in the choice of my daugh- ter, and in the discretion of Mr. Leonard,” ‘‘Andin Mr. Elkton’s face,” cried Will. ‘That's & passport to honesty."’ ‘Thank you,” said John, turning and offeri bis hand to the impulsive boy. “ You have p me under obligations to live out the promise of my “Told Jennie once I was bound to cut you out,” said Will. ‘‘ Guess now though that I'll let you have her. She’sa good girl Make much of her.” ‘She is all the world to me,’ said John, turning and the hand of the blushing girl. It was a happy family y which time and for- tune had thus reunited, r alife of many vicissi- tudes, and it is time we should leave them, and seek ether less happy inmates of our story. The capture of the burglars was an event which sdadrioet a considerable sensation in police circles, and Mr. Ficler gained praise for his shrewd- ness in work out case. Of course Will's share in the b ess was credited to him, and quiet- accepted. vt oom lete search of Black-Eyed Joe’s domicile brought to light the fruits of other bu es. It was evident that the thing had been of long con- tinuance the goods being ually sold as fast as hes could safely be put on the market. The goods ewe sold cheap on the pretense of being smug- : The arrest of Augustus Wilson and Jesse Powers was a terrible blow to their friends. Mr. Leonard cog Bg troubled in mind to think how im- ego he trusted in this man, how terribly he been deceived. Strong efforts were made w procure their release en bail, but their employers brought all their in ve = fearing pe they to esca indignant against them to allow them the opportunity. | Will Somers. 202] ee SS —_——— — Mr. Leonard deeply regretted his action in the ar- rest of John Elkton, and yet he could not see that he could have acted otherwise under the circumstances. The latter had certainly laid himself open to: deep ov ean. no doubt from a noble motive. But noble motives are not appreciated till divulged. The trial of the burglars came on in good time, and the evidence against them proved so strong and conclusive that but one verdict was possible. It was proved conclusively that Jesse Powers was the active person in the plot, that the various spe- cimens of handwriting shown in court were all his, and he was recognized as the person who had pre- sented the forged check at bank, and the stolen or- der at the custom-house, The assumption was that this had been removed by Wilson from the safe before his journey to Harris- burg, and passed over to Powers to operate with during his absence. Such a plan was well adapted to divert suspicion from the real burglars, and to make this theft ap the work of some other of Mr. Leonard's employes. There wasno evidence to offer, however, on th Agere except to show that there had been very slight opportunity for any one else to approach the safe, The robberies were traced back, by a close ex- amination of Mr. Leonard's books, for a period of a ear and a half, thus fully exoneratin ill Somers rom any participation. Nothing been taken from the store of Jesse Powers’ employers. The thieves had evidently feared :o provoke an in- vestigation here, since they could not get their booty to the street in the same mysterious mode in which it was taken from Mr. Leonard’sstore. There was evidence, too, that goods had been left con- cealed in this establishment on some occasions for several weeks before removal. The two main operators had then no connection with a receiver, and did not remove their spoils till they had ef- fected a sale. Evidence of the intimacy of Powers and Wilson was forthcoming, as also of their gradual falling into habits of gambling. Their losses in this direc- tion seemed to have been the moving cause of their gm lg grew more bold and frequent through unity. Finally they became so involved in gambling debts as to render necessary some more protitable robbery than any mney had yet attempted. This resulted in their connection with a fang of professional burg- lars, and in the successful forgery and robbery which had been consummated, Wilson’s confidential intimacy with his employer kept him fully posted in all the purposes of the lt ter, and he knew just when and how to conduct his burglaries so as to divert suspicion from himself, Only Will Somers’s suspicions of him, and strict charges of secrecy given Mr. Leonard, had enabled the officers to catch them in the act. Will’s evidence was the most direct and positive of any given in the court, and the deepest interest was manifested as he described his early suspicions of Wilson; his first 2s ha in the cellar, in which he had failed to discover the secret of the burglars’ opera- tions; the finding of the torn letter; and the ambus- cade of himself and Joe the bootblack, in which he had positively recognized Powers and Wilson in the receiver’s den He finished with a clear description of his last night’s adventures in the cellar. His ragge friend, Joe, fully sustained that part of the evidence that related to the ambuscade; and ositively recognized the four men in the dock as hose who had been present on that occasion. He had a clear recollection of the scraps of conversation they had overheard from the burglars, Other corroborative evidence was brought, finish- ing with the positive testimony of Mr. Fitler and the other officers, who had caught the prisoners in the very act of removing the stolen goods. But one verdict could be given, d spite the strong efforts of the defense, and the jury were not twenty minutes in forming a verdict of guilty. With this verdict our story ends, so far as these characters are concerned. vere sentences, rang- ing from six to twelve years at solitary imprison- ment, were given by the Judge, and they sunk from the surface of the living world into the slow death of a prison-cell. went well with those without. Mr. Somers and his a 0 family were as happy as family could be, and Mr. Leonard was fully for- given by Jennie for his somewhat selfish course in relation to herself and her lover. This lover’s attentions were more pressing than ever, and it was not ay 3 before a ma cere- mony broke the quiet of the Somers. household, and Jennie again changed her name to Elkton, Will gave up his position in the store to ed Joe, whom Mr, Leonard accepted at his strong solici- tation. He had a better opinion of street boys, too, than he had formerly entertained, Will proved as energetic a student as he had been in his former avocations, and made immense pro- gress under his tutor, and at the schools which he afterward attended. His school intercourse, too, brushed off the rude- ness of his demeanor and gave his manners a new lish; a result greatly assisted by the example and essons of his sister, who did her best to make a gentleman of her roughly-trained brother. Fortunately Will had good sense enough to per- ceive the value of her advice, and to profit by it. On Koy ye he went into the same business in which he received a partial training under Mr. Leonard, and by his enerey and business ability soon made ae of his ang Ay ag ae oO one wo now ag ny illiam Somers, the su merchant, him whom we have so far known as Willful Will, the street boy. THE END. fe — a ————— EEE a I . ———- Beadle’s Dime Library. 1 A Harp Crowp. By Philip 8. Warne......... . 10c. 2 Toe Dare-Davit, By Col. P. Ingraham ...... 10c, 3 Kir Carson, Jr. By Buckskin Sam.......... 10c- 4 Tue Kipnapper. By Philip S. Warne.... ... 10¢, 5 Tue Firkt Frenps. By A. P. Morris, Jr......, 10°. 6 Witpcat Bos. By Edward L. Wheeler 10e, 7 Deatu-Notcu, THe Destroyer, Oll Coomes. 10¢. 8 Toe HeapLess Horseman, By Mayne Reid... 1c, 9 Hanpy Anby. By Samuel Lover..... . 1c. 10 Vinocg, THE FRENCH PoLice Spy. By himself 1(¢. 11 MrpsarepmaN Easy. By Capt. Maryatt ... 100, 12 Toe Deatu-Snuotr, By Capr. Mayne eld... 10c, 13 Parnaway. By Dr, J. H. 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