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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron News-Record, 1889-08-21, Page 7- .. .... _, ... .L1+F•i1' 4IAPD nPgf AMA)=E iEMOORW The. Huron News - Record Struggle for the pistol, a report, and 91.60 a Year -91,25 to Advance. SW The man does not do Justice to his business mhoends testi ttt advertiainp than he does in rent. +A. T..STSWART, the ratttionaire merchan of Nero York. Wednesday. Aug. gist, 1889 exile, and whose wife she mur- dered." "But—but—John Houstou is dead—killed by Nugent, as you yourself have told me." •'No. It suited my purpose to let you and Nugent suppose so, but, though to the world I was dead, I have dragged through a score of years in poverty and Misery." "But the paper you showed, signed by the dying man, and properly witnessed." "So far as it goes, the document is authentic. I did snake that docu- ment, and it was signed by the man who rescued Ine, but afterward, by a miracle almost, I recovered." "And why have you kept silent all these yeatsl" "Because, as 1 tell you, I was poor and (riendless. When, after months of hardship and illness, I reached San Francisco, it was to find that my last remnant of money had been taken from we by the scoun- drel who stole not only my mine but my name. I could do nothing for my pretonsious were laughed at, lint. I waited, for I know my opportuuity mustcomo. More•than once' t managed to save a little money and prepared to start to the East, but always some unforeseen calamity prevented me, until about a year ago, when I mode a real strike and a fortune, Icante to New York as ardent for revenge as ever. but with uo well defined plan of action. Chance throw you in my way, and my scheme matured ou the instant." "Well," said Strange, "I don't think you have any reason to be dissatisfied 90 far." "May be not, b,tt I have gone quite far enough. Iu any case, I shall not allow you to benefit any longer by my enemy's downfall," "What do you moan 1" asked Strange in an alarming tone. "That the play is played and to- morrow I put Nugent iu the posses- sion of certain information that will land you in Sing Sing, my than. Tom marry a pure young girll Pah ! It sickens me to thing of it." Strange's expression grew set and hard. Eves a rat will fight when it can not run, and,so he, when be saw the whole fabric of his future happiness and security crurnblo away, becameifor the moment brave; "And you think I am going to fold, my hands and give up without a struggle 1 Why man 1 What proofs have you that you are Hous- ton 1" "I don't think Nugent as he calls himself, will need a second look at me.. I have not changed more than he, and I knew him at a glance. Besides. as you may remember, I took steps to prevent you showing your teeth. I think I have in my pocket here a confession of a cer- tain felonious assault committed by one Lemuel Strange and witnessed by me. For the last moment or so Lemuel had been fumbling unno- ticed by the other in a drawer in front of him. Now he suddenly sprang up. "Then by God 1" be cried. "you don't leave this room alive unless you give that paper back to the 1" and- he pointed a revolver at the other. Quick as a flash Houston's ••' ' ' ' ' • ••'tot nand strip• ped id hits hip, but with a look of chagrin he murmured, "I've for- gotten my . gun;" then in louder tone, but still cool and collected. ho answered, "Don't play with that. It might go off. You fool I Do you think you will mend matters by murdering me 1 People get hanged in this hart of' the world for that Emil of thing," With a cunning leer Strange replied, still pointing the pistol at the other,"I have thought of that. You are unknown, while I am a man of undoubted respectability. Don't you think it will be easy for me to tell a story of attempted rob- bery and assault, and a hasty shot fired toscare but unfortunately hav- ing a fatal effect. Now will you give me the paper or notl" "You're pluckier than I gave you credit for," said Houston, eyeing him steadily. "Suppose wo com- promise. I will let you go and say nothing to Nugent, providing you ,are out of the country inside of twenty-four hours." "Thank you, you're very kind," sneered the other, "but I mean exactly what I say. Hand over that paper or I fire." Houston slowly unbuttoned his coat and apparently was going to place his hand inside the inner breast pocket when, with an agility hardly to be expected from one of his years, he made a sudden dart•at Lemuel. As he did so there came a' hasty knocking at the Outer door, and between the surprise of this, and the suddenness of Houston's movement, Strange lost his head for a moment. The elder man closed on him, there was a short when the smoke cleared away Lemuel was Laying stretched out on the floor with a stream of blood trickling from his forehead, and the still 8mvking pistol clasped firmly in his hand. He had discharged it himself, but the bullet had taken hie own life inatoad of that of hie adversary. Houston walked to the door as coolly as though nothing had hap- pened, unlocked it, and Proudfoot rushed in followed by Jack. "Then you are not hurtl" gasped the former, "But where is Strange 1" "I don't know who you are, sir, but if you are a friend of Strange's you had better send for a policeman. He is lying in the the inner room shot through the head, and I am inclined to believe he needs a coroner rather than a doctor." "Thank god 1" panted Harold. "That sounds as if you knew Strange well !" said the other with grim sarcasm. "I mean, I am glad you are un- hurt," was the answer. "But what is it all about 1 And what does it mean 1" broke in Jack, who thought, as he afterward averr- ed, that the stranger must be an escaped lunatic and that Harold had caught the malady from hits. "I was about to ask that question myself," said the stranger, "for matters seemed a little• mixed. Suppose, to begin with, you tell me ,who you are," and he turned to Harold. "I ani Harold Proudfoot, of the Chronicle." "And your friend., " "is Mr. Jack Houston."' Houston stepped up to Jack and patting his hand ou his shoulder peered eagerly into his face. "Don't think me atoo eccentric," said he with a queer srnile, "but I whit to have a good look at you. I ani Johu Houston, your father 1' FATHER AND SON. Jack started at his father with a comical expression of bewilderment and apprehension, for he was now more than ever firmly convinced thathe had to do with a lunatic. The older man did not fail to notice the oxpreseiou and to rightly in- terpret it. •'I don't expect you to accept me as a relation,on'rny were say so," he remarked, "but within a very few hours I shall be able to convince you of the truth of nay somewhat startling statement. In the mean- time, Mr. Proudfoot,perhaps you will explain how you managed to arrive in the very nick of tilne like the hero of one of those startling melodramas 1 used to steal away to the Bowery to athudder•over when I was a boy 1" "I saw Strange draw the pistol and threaten you," replied Iiarold, "and then I lost no time." "You saw him 1 And how, in the name of all that's powerful 1" "Come with me and I'll show you," and Harold led the way toward the inner room, followed by Houston and Jack. As they crossed toward the window, Harold could not resist casting a glance at the something which lay by the table with a dark pool already formed about one end of it and soaking into the carpet. Jack followed the direction of his glance and saw it also, but he was by this time so supercharged with amazement that even that ghastly horror had but a barely appreciable effect upon his nerves. Taking the elder Houston by the shoulder, Harold led him to the window and pointed to the buildil:g on the other aide of the narrow .f-eet, "lie j.,11 see tilos() windows op- posite?" 11.3 asked. The other nodded I. head. "Well," continued the journalist, "I was sit; ir,g in my room, which is directly alsoreAllis, and in those sheets of pl Its -glass across the way I could ase as •though in a huge lnirror all that wont on in this room. It is not the first time I have care- lessly spied out my neighbor's do- ings in that fashion, but I never thought I should see a scene such as I have witnessed to -night.,' "It's lucky for mo that you hap- pened to be inquisitive, young man," sold Houston drily, "or I might find it difficult to satisfactorily explain hatters and account for the presence of that," and he catml3 pointed to the body which lay half under the table. "That reminds me—I sup- pose wo ought to do something— Call the police or something of that sort. In my part of the country we aren't so particular in such cases, but here I suppose it is different." "Yes," said Proudfoot, "ono of you had better step round to the police station., I had better go my- self—it is only a few blocks die - tont, and I know the captain well enough to get him to arrange that. lora and with aa•little fuse as possi- ble. But stay—there's a telephone in the corner. We had better make use of that." and he walked toward the instrument. "It's a private wire only," broke in Jack, who was beginning ,to emerge from his state of bewilder= went. "It is only connected with old Nugent's house. I know that, for Grace—I mean Mide Nugent"— with a glance at the mysterious stranger, whom, since the claim of paternity, he seemed to suspect of an unlimited capacity for ohaff •'told me about it once." "In that case," Proudfoot, "I had better ring him up and ask him to Some down at once," aucl in another moment he was "hallooing" into the instrument. Luckily Mr. Nugent happened to be in bis library, and when informed that an accident had happened to Mr. Strange, and that his presence was urgently required, he answered that he would be there in the course of half au hour. "But hadn't we better get d Jack, young man lost ne time in pointing tor as soon as possible 1" aske "I can't say I am particularly fond of poor Strange. but he mayn't be— er—dead, you know 1" "My boy," replied the eider Houston, "wheu it comes to gun• shot wounds I guess I can give Most of your .Eastern doctors pointe and still have some knowledge to epare. The fellow's as dead as a herring, and a good job, too," auil he coolly took a fresh cigar out of his case and bit the end off before lighting it. "Yes," said Proudfoot, who with somewhat whitened face, bad been kneeling at the side of the body, "there is not a doubt of it, bet of course I'll send the police -surgeon round as soon as I can," and he left the room hurriedly. ton of the sli hteet suspicion of wrongdoing, while the sarno astute young man's iuilueuce with his fellow city editors prevented more that a mere formal etatemont of the fact being published. David Nugout's reason' never re- turned, though hie bodily health was as robust as ever. Be lived for years a harmlosa, mild old man, whose memory seemed to atop when it reached the molnent at which he caught sight of the face of the man ho thought he had murdered. He livea with his son-in-law, Jack; for a dos - it need hardly be said that that Jack and the elder Houston followed him as far as the outer office, the former with a scarcely concealed shudder closing the door of the private room so as to put a barrier Its it were between them and the horror withiu. The other, no whit disturbed by the presence of death, swung himself up to a sitting poli• Hon on one of the tall desks, and looking down upon the young man with an amused smile started •the conversation after a somewhat awk- ward pause by observing, "Perhaps you don't believe .,I am your father. Eh 1" . "Well," said Jack politely, "I should be sorry to doubt anyone's word on most subjects, but you see my father has been dead a good many yoats aid--." "And you think I hardly look like the father of such a . good-look- ing young man as Mr. Houston, anyhow. Well, perhaps I don't, and perhaps I don't deserve, after° hearing what I'voheard to -night, to he auy decout young fellow's father, but while we are waiting just Retort to what I have to tell you. After that we'll go and see my sister Jane, and I think then you'll go and kill the, fatted calf and welcome your prodigal old father in proper filial fashion." and in the same tone of semi-sarcf,sm which served to concea 1 the emotion under which he un- doubtedly labored, he told to Jack the story of his life supplemented by what he had just 1leard from the unfortunate Lemuel Strange. He had hardly finished when a knock was heard at the door which had been locked • by Jack after Harold's ,exit. Jack hastened to open it, and there stood Mr. Nugent, panting and puffing, after his quick journey up the steep•rstairease. "What's the matter he gasped, "and what the devil are you doing in my office at this time of night 1" as his glance fell on Jtsck. "I'm waiting for the police to come," said Jack quietly. "The police 1 what for 1" "Mr. Strange has shot himself ! That's what for," blurted out Jack, somewhat nettled by the other's manner, "Shot himself ! Good God 1 I don't believe it. Strange was too smart ever to shoot himself. Some scoundrel must have murdered hien." "As Jim Horton murdered Dandy Dave 1 Eh !" quietly put in the elder Houston, advancing from the shadow in which he had been stand- ing unobserved of Nugent. The latter turned as though ho had been shot. "What do you mean 1" he was angrily beginning, when the tight of the solitary gas jet fell upon the other's face. Nugent started at him in a dazed way for a second, then in a hoarse sort of whisper stanitnored, "His face I great God 1 his face!" and throwing one arm before his eyes„as thougl}"to shut out some terrifying sight, ho fell forward like a log upon the floor, stricken down by hie accusing con- science. CHAPTER XV. EPILOGUE. The police surgeon when he arrived with Harold a few minutes later found two subjects for his professional "diagnosis in place of one. Death had visited David Nugent,Ias we may still call him, as well as his brother rogue, Lemuel Strange, but it was a mental death, not a physical death, for when he recovered from bis state of uncon- sciousness his intellect, enfeebled by the constant strain of the past months, was completely shattered,. He was taken to his home and given into his daughter's tender care by Jack, while the older Hous- ton and Harold went to the police station and gave a succinct account of the circumstances which led to Strange's death. At the inquest, which soon followed, Proudfoots evi- dence was sufficient to clear Hous - out to Grace that her fathers de plorable condition rendered i absolutely necessary for`her to have some ono to take care of her, and that no one was more fitted for this pleasing task than Mr. John Hous- ton, Jr. The elder Houston was amply able to provide the young people with enough to begin house- keeping with, on no very modest scale either, a fact the less to be re- gretted, as Nugent's fortune had, on the death of his whilorn partner and his own mental wreck, melted away after the fashion of the little people's tnoney in the Irish fairy story. When Mr, Houston, who lives with Aunt Jane, pays a visit to the young people ho is peculiarly tender and thoughtful in his treatment of an old white -healed child, whose chief occupation in ,life is to play on absolutely equal -,terms with the bright 3 year old, whose name is John Houston the third. As to Harold Prondfoot, he is still ou the staff of the Daily Chronicle, and.is still the terror of the youth ful and unfledged reporters, and the friend and confident of those who have passed the tyro -stage. Ile has bat one aim in h fe, to ''beat” all his contemporaries 00 some important matter of news, and but one regret that ho was not able to Write up in his own felicitous style the interest. ing story in which he took no small share of the punishment solfnteted to a pair of rogues, THE END. -CARL DUNDER. Sometimes a young man comes to me and says ho likes some advice ash to his future. I say to him : "Shpeak der truth—be honest— be temperate und keep oudt of debt." He goes right away und tries to bo nominated for office, and maybe in six menthe he vhas in shall for embezzlement. Therefore I be lief it vhas beat to shpeak to,yonng mans •w -ho like advice : "Go und do shust like" you want to do, and you will be all right." Sometimes a girt brings me her album und says she likes me to write in it. I liko to oblige her, and so I write : "If you expect to be happy in der parlor, you most practice econ-. only in der kitchen." Der next time I see dat album dot page vhas cut oudt and dot girl vhas telling people dot some old Dutchtnans vhas shust too cranky to -live.. Therefore ',believe it vhas better to write in that album : . "Find a rich and fsolish young man—marry him—sit down in der parlor—let de kitchen go py Hali- fax, and you will lif one hoonered years and take -all der happiuess dere vhas," Sometimes an oldt man comes to me uud says he likes to get married again to a young girl and he would L o glad a I tell him how it vhas. Ii vhas pteeiaure for Inc to say : "Dot man ,who vlias feefty years old and hsf seex chirdren vhas an idiot asylum to marry himself to a girl of eighteen." 'Dot oldt man says he vhtY as eater so much obliged und he goes right off and marries dot gal, and in four weeks all his shildren vhas turned oudt doors. Somebody spheaks about Carl Dunder, rind he says I don't know so much ash dot bird's nest of last year. Therefore, it vhas all right, Mister Schmit—marry at once—it vitas your duty—young wives like oldt husbands—never mind childrens=you vhill be so happy., ash nofer vhas;" Sometimes a fellow copses to me and says it vhas queer how I get Meng so vhell. He goes down hill all der times, vhile some odder peo- ple who don't work half so hard ash he does gods oop. He says he likes to ask my advice, and pooty soon I tells him : "Don't go by some saloons—keep oudt of strikes—let politics alone, and lif like der man who makes only two dollar a day." He says he vhas eafer so mooch obliged, he goes by a saloon and sets em oop for der boys, and says I vhas a fool and der liberties of die country vhas in danger. Maype she vhas better if I told him : "Drink all der beer you can—go on some strikes eafery. Week—keep in mit der politicians—half plum pudding all der time und shwear dot der rich vhas growing Licher all der time." I vhas tired. Let somebody ad- vise herself. iUINESS DIRECTORY eltttgitt'U, C. H. 000K, Licentiate 01 Dental Surgery, 'Honor Graduate of the Toronto School 01 Dentistry. Nitrous Oxide Gas administered for the painters extraction teeth. OflIve—Over Jackson's Clothing Store, next to Post Office, Clinton. kW Night Bell answered. 592y OR REEVE. Office --"Palace" Brick B1ook Tomperan ebHall,, Huron StreeResidence n Coronerfte the tor the County of Huron. 0d3 hours from 8 a.w. to 0 p.m. Clinton, Jan. 14, 1881. I -y DR. GUNN W. Gunn, M. D. L. R. C. I'.Edinburgh L. 11. 0. S. Edinburgh Licenciate of the Midwifery, Edin. OIBeo, on corner of Ontario andtWiniam Sts., Clinton. 478-y. OWENS & JOHNSON, Barristers, 4.e., ALBERT STREET, - - CLINTON. AND QUEEN STREET, • - ELYTII E. W. J. OWENS, T. F. ,JOHNSON MANNING & SCOTT, Barristers, ELLIOTT'S BLOCK, - CLINTON. Money to Loan. A. H. MANNING. JAS. SCOTT. EDWARD NORMAN LEWIS, Barrister, Sol leiter in Coderic )and Bayfield Court, Money to + loan atfive and one -hail per cent on two•third margin. Bay• field office open every Thursday frons 9.80 to 4.30 Office in Swartz' hetet block, opposite Division Court . — 46353 SEAGER & MORTON, Barristers, &c. (god• rich and Winitham. C. Seager, Jr.,Goderich .1. A. Morton Wiogharn, DAVISON &-JOH?iSTON, Law, Chancery,and Conveyancing, Office—West' Street, next ddor to Poet Office, Goderich, Ont, 57, it) C. HAYS, Solicitor, .Sc. Oifee, corner of IL Square and West Street, over Butler's Book Store, Goderich, Ont. 07. A$' Money to lend,at lowest rates of interest. Els CAIIPION, Barrister,Attornoy, Solicitor in ove Jordan'sCformerly occur pled by Judge Doyle. ds' Any amount of money to loan at lowest rate et interest. 1.ly uctionterluq. H. W. BALL, A UCTFONEER for Huron County. Sales at- tended to in any part of the County. Ad. 4rees•ordere to GODERIOIl P 0. • V-17. CHAS. VAiIIILTON, AUCTIONEER, land, loan and Insurance agent Myth. 1toffrsd m reasonable tors. attended amand village lots for sale. Money to Loan on real estate, at low rates of interest. Insurance effected on alt classes of property. Notes and debts collected. Goode appraised, and sold on commlesion. Bank- rupt stocks bought and gold. Myth, Dec. 16,,,1880 Photegr paters Fos Ey, CAD CLINTM Life Size Portraits a Specialty. •. a CHARLES F. M. McOREOOR, Vet %erinary Physician and Surgeon, Hon- orary Member Ontario Veterinary Medical Society. ' Treats al! diseases of domesti. 'Charges moderate. Office—one door easDentistry a i of Tum News-REcoko office, Clinton. 540-3m J. E. BLACKALL, Votertnary Surgeon, honorary graduate of Ontario Veterinary College, treats diseases of all domestic animals on the most modern and scientific principles. LSSrcalts attended to night or day. Office immedihely west of the old Royal Hotel, Ontario street. Rcsidence— Albert street, Clinton. 549-3m Clinton Marble Works, HURON STREET, CLINTON. W. H. COOPER, Jr., Manufacturer of an dealer in all kinds fit Marble & Granite for Cemetery Work at figures that defy competition Also manufacturer of the Celebrated ARTIFICIAL STONE tor Building pur- poses and Cemetery Work, which must be seen to be appreciated.—All work warranted to Rive satisfaction. McKillop Mutual Insurance Co, „.:1 T• NEiLANS, WARLOCK GENERAL AGENT.] Isolated town and village property, as well as farm buildings and stock, insured. Inenrancee effected against etockttthat may be killed by lightning, if you waiWinsurances drop a card to the above address. 602•tt. Goderich Marble Works Having bought out JOSEPH VANSPoNll, in Goderich, we are now prepared to fur nish, on reasonable terms, HEADSTONES AND MONUMENTS. GRANITE A SPECIALTY. We aro prepared to sell cheaper than any other firm In tlio county. Patties wanting anything in this tine will find it to their interest to reserve their orders for us. R013ERTSON:Bt BELL. May 17th, 1886. 392.3m Woo to geed RR 05U S' to Lend fry large et swan p iu p -I-VA set ell x n5 rates.r erseeat security at Clinton. A. DALE, boron St. Clinton. Feb. 25,1.861 1y MONEY. P 11 SATE F'JNVA$'3 on Town and Ismsppp y to Office, next Nawa•8c sD (up tairs) Albett•St 859.3111 7ltiktltg. TIE MO -�S 111E. Incorporat�edltt otofParlianlent, 1865 CAPITAL, • - $2,000,000 REST, $1,000,000 Read Office, - MONTREAL. THOMAS WORKMAN, Prestdent.p J. 11. R. MOLSON, Vtce•Presldenti F. WOLFERSTAN THOMAS, General Manager. Notes discounted, Collections mange, Drafts issued, Stooling and Antorican ex- change bought and sold at low- est current rates.: INTEREST AT 3 PER CENT. ALLOWED ,ON llEiOtrt, F'ARMERf- Money advanced to note with one or more endorserfarmers No mortgage re quired as security. R. C. BREWER, Manner, (.LINTON vaasereinssas tr:lallc. e`fLINTON Lodge, No. 54, A. F. & A. M. kJ meets every Friday, on or after the fut moon. Visiting brethren cordially Invited. J. YOUNG, w. M. J. CALLA NDER, Ss Clinton, Jan. 14, 1881. 1 - February. 1884 r111111h L.O.L.No. 710, CLI1V "O 1V Meets secoro Monday of every month. Hall, 3.1d 'flat; Victoria block. Visiting brethren always 0 made welcome: P. CANTELON, See. D. BCCALI3ICK, 11., 5l Jubilee Preceplory No, 161, (Blue/ Ifnfyhts of Ireland) Meets in the Clinton Orange Hall, the second Wednesday of every month, at 7.30 o'clock its the evening. Visiting Sir Knights will always r`•eelve a hearty welcome. A. M. Toe, Worshipful Preceptor GNrEnv HANLEY, I)epuly Preceptor : rai,o;, Registrar Royal Black Preceptory 397 Black Anillltts of Ireland, Meats in the Orange 1141, Blyth, the Wednes• day after full moon of every month. Royal Black Preceptory 315. black Knights of Ireland, Meets in the orange riall, Oodcrich, the Tide. Monday of every'inonth, Visiting Knights aiway made welcome. JAMES WE1 S,•Preceptor, Saltford P 0 W H MURNEY, Registrar, Ooticrioh P O CLINTON KNIGHTS OF LABOR Rooms, meetingeverytThursditVictoria vening atk8 o toes sharp. Visiting Knights made welcome. FOR FIRST CLASS, HAIRCUTTING AND SHAVING. Go to A. E. EVANS, FA:I!YONABLE' BARBER, 2 doors east of NEWN•ItECORD of- fice. Special attention given to LAolcs J AND CHILDREN'S JlairCllttiDg. POMPADOUR HAIRCUTTING A SPECIALTY. FOR SALE. THE SUBSCRIBF,R offers for ante torr eligible Building Lots fronting on Albert Street; also two fronting on Rattenbtlry Street; either en bloc or in separate lots, to stilt purchasers," For farther particulars apply to the ulydersignt.d,—E. DINSLEY, Clinton, 8821014:1!" ret r1: O:r ROPERTY FOR SALE OR RF,NTQ—Advertisers will find "The News•Record" one of the best mediums io the County of Huron. Advertise in ' The Newe-Record"— The Double Circulation Talks to Thousands. Rates as low as any, J. C. STEVENSON, Furniture Dealer, tic. THE LEADING UNDERTAKER AND FUNERAL DIRECTOR. Opposite Town Halt, • Clinton, On SALE Bl1.LS.—•The News•Reeord has un- surpassed fa,•i'lties for turning out first-class • work at low rates. A free advertisement in The News Record with every set of sale bilis, WILL. CURE OR RELIEVE BILIOUSNESS, DIZZINESS, DYSPEPSIA, DROPSY, INDIGESTION, FLUTTERING JAUNDICE. OF THE Hear, ERYSIPELAS, ACIDITY OF SILT RHEUhf, THE STOMACH, HEARTBURN, DRYNESS HEADACHE, OF THE SKIN, And every species of disease arising frogs disordered LIVER, KIDNEYS, BTOtIIIAOH, BOWELS OR BLOOD, T. MILBURN & CO.. PPPr?a . NTS.