Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-09-27
The stranger took the compliment. and

The stranger took the compliment, and
acknowledging ii with a bow, said, The
/ tin box of which you have been accused of
stealing, is at the bottom of the river, and
you will find that / have said no more than
the truth"
ManSel hesitated no longer, but accom-
! panied the stranger TO the spot, and in a
| few minutes, the box, sealed as when he
last saw it, was again in his possesson.-
He looked from the treasure 10 the stran-
ger, and at last said, 81 owe you more than
life; for, in regaining this, shall recover
my good name, which has been so foully
! traduced."
He was proceeding toward the shore,
when the other cried
"Sop, young gentleman not quite so
fast Just fasten your cord 10 il, and re-
place ii where you found it, if you please"
Edward stared, but the stranger continued :
"Were you to take that box back to your
employer, think you that you would pro-
duce any other conviction on him than
that, finding your delinquency discovered,
you wished to secure impunity, by restor-
| ing the property! We must not only re-
store the treasure, but convict the thief
Hush l hear football" As he spoke,
he took the box from Edward who now
saw his meaning, fastened the cord TO it,,
and it was again lowered TO the bottom of
| the liver, and the cork on the other end OF
the cord was swimming down with the
tide. 'Now, follow me in silence" whis-
pered the stranger, and the three retired
and hid themselves behind the huge trunk
of the tree, whence, by light of the moon,
they bcheld figure approach the water,
looking cautiously around him.
"That is the thief" said the stranger, in
a low voice, in Edwards car. 81 saw him,
last night, throw something into the river,
and when he was gone, ! took the liberty
Of raising it up; when expecting that he
would return and remove his booty, ] re-
placed it, and had been unsuccessulIy
watching the place Just before | met you
in the Hollow"
BY this time the man had reached the
rivers brink, and, after cropping for some
time through the water, he found the boz,
but starting back in astonishment on seeing
a long cord attached to it. His back was
turned from the witnesses of the transac-
tion, so that Edward and the stranger had
got him securely by the collar, before he
could make any attempt to escape. The
surprise Of Mansell aud Kate may be more
easily conceived than painted, when, Us
the moonbeam fell on The face Of the cul-
prit, they recognized the features of Van
! Buren. his felIOw-Clprk.
Our limits will not allow of our saying
more than that ManseIl's character was
cleared while Van Buren, whom Mason,
for reasons confined TO his own bosom, re-
Trained from prosecuting, quilted the town
in merted disgrace. The stranger proved
TO be gentleman of large landed property
in the neighborhood, which he had now
visited for the first time in many years
and, having been interested in the young
pair whom he had so opportunely deliver.
ed from tribulation, he subsequently, ap'
pointed NIansell his man of business, anC
thus laid the foundation of his prosperity
Ii is almost needless TO add, that Kate, who
had so long shared his heart, became hi
wife, and shared his good fortune.