Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-06-24

Mansell, however, soon recovered
himself nd told the stranger that
whoever he was it i'll became him to
overhear conversation that was not
intended for other ears than their
own.
@Nay,' was the rejoinder, 'be not
angry wi th me: per haps you may
have reason TO rejoice in my pres
ence, since being in possession OF
the story of your grief it might be
in my pdwerto alleviate it. | have
assisted men in much greater
straights+
Edward did not like the last SEN
tence, nor the tone in which it was
uttered; but he said, e see not how
YOU can help me; you cannot give
me a clue by which | can find the
box"
@Yes, here is a clue" replied the
other, as he held forth about thrF be
yards of strong cord. 4 Here is a
line; go ito the rive at q point ek <
.actly opposite th old hollow GA Is;
wade out in straight line until y$u
find the box; attach one end Of t be
box, an4Ithe other TO stout colIk,
but remove it not yet
"TlieI dewitt" said Mansell; whefh-
er he really believed himself to be
in the presence of the Evil One, OF
that the word was merely expressl lve
of surprise, we know not.
The stranger took the compliment,
and acknowledging it with a bow,
said, '9The tin box of which y ou
have b cen accused cf stealing, is at
the bottom Of the river, and you
will find that l have spoken no more
than the truth
AIansell hesitated no longer, but
ilccomp panied the stranger to the spot,
land inI a few minn es the box, sealed
;ls when he last saw it, was again IL
his possession. He looked from the
treasure to the stranger, and at last
said, II owe YOU more than a life, fol
in regaining this, | shall recover ny
good name, which has been foully
traduGed.'
He was proceeding towards the
Shore, when the other cried:
"S4op, young gentlem an! not quite
50 fast; just tasfen your cord to 1t
and replace it where YOU found it
if you please. . Edward started
but the stranger continued; "Wert
you to take that box back to YOU
empl5 5yer, think you that you woul(
produce any other effect on him thai
the conviction, tia finding your de
linquency discovered, you wish to Sc
cure impunily by restorng the prop
fcrty2 We must not only restore
the treasure, but convict the thlel
Uosl /! / hear a footEaIl!!' As h,
I spoll E, he took the box from Edward
who now saw his meaning, fastened
j. the 4 ord to it, and it wa S again low
cred to the bottom OF the river, an'
the cork on the other end of the corr
was swimming down with the tide.
}, ~Now follow mein silence" whis
pered b the st ranger, and the thre
retil+ led and lid themselves behln'
the huge trunk of the tree, whenc
! by the light of the noon they be
llheld a figure approach the wate1
, look ing cautiously around him.
. '.irhat is the thief SAID the strar
9 ger, in a low voice, in Edward s ea'
q sslw him, last night, throw some
s thing into the river, and when b
was gone, | took the liberty. Of ral'
ing it up; when, expecting thai b
f would return and remove his boot,
e / rdplaccd|it, and had been unsu
e ces$lully watching the place Just b
+ fore i met you in the Hollow.
G By this time the man bad reache
i tie. rivers brink, and after gropln
: some time through the water, !
t found the box, but started back
astbnisbment on seeing a long col
d att tached TO it. His back was turne
e to tie witaesses Of the transactlo'
o 50 that Edward and the stranger ha
! got him securely by the collar belol
n heI could make an attempt to escap
VI IThe surprise of Mansell and ka
d may b@ more easily conceived thu
IS Ipifnted, when as the moonbeam f(
e on theHace of the eulprit, they !
/ cdgnized the features OF Van bure
n bis fellow-clerk.
F. Our limits will not allow oil o.
e saving more, than that Slansell
/ Icharaster vas Gle ared. while Van b
d ren, viii ON Mason, for reasons co
filmed TO his own bosom, reiraln'