Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-07
OBJ family Circle.
The Mysterious Stranger.

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deal of excitement in State Street Boston.
when the officers were sure they had
him, he quietly slipped away, and could
net be discovered. 1t was ascertained
that a passage had been engaged in the
British steamer for a person about whom
some mystery hung. A watch for this
individual was set. but several DAYS be-,
fore the steamer was appointed to sail,
Hasbrook slipped away, so that he could
not be the mysterious person, or he had
abandoned his fight to Europe.
About this time, tired Of the dust and
din Of the city, | started for a tour to the
East. | missed the steamer Admiral,
which went direct to PASSPORT: but de,
termined not to be baked, | took the
cars for Portland, proceeding thence by
the steamer Governor to Bangor, and
arrived there on Saturday morning.
| intended to stay in the city of pine
boards for a few days butas it was hot,
and having made the acquaintance of a
very agreeable Philadelphia gentleman,
who was going to take the stage for East.
port that night, | decided to accompany
him.
We were reused from our beds at IL
o'clock midnight, to take the early stage.
1t was no great hardship for the nights
were cool and the days hot. In the stage
we found two passengers who had already
appropriated the back seat. It was SO
dark we could not make out our fellow
passengers, one Of whom had enveloped
himself in a great cloak, and seemed to
be asleep. The other was quite commu-
NEGATIVE, and we three were soon on ex-
c%ellent terms.
We talked politics, lumber and crops
till daylight began to appear, when the
the stage was invaded by an army of
rapacious~ mosquitoes, who threatened to
suck all the blood out Of our veins.
I'VE must fight or die, Boston," said
my friend slapping vigorously about me-.
Never mind Filly, / have a dozen
cigars. We will show them no quar-
ters.V
My friends name was Raymond, but
we had got in the way of calling each
other by the name of the city from which
we came. I had abbreviated the name
of the Quaker city into a very familiar
and loving cognomen. and Fi!ly, in re-
venge, sometimes called me Bosty.
Raymond was a right down good fell
low, one of the best companions in the
world for q journey. / had casually
made his acquaintance on board the Gov.
ernor, and we had since hung together
like brothers.
| passed cigars to the party.
mo" said the man in the cloak grufly.
Won't you smoke2?"
mo"
He seemed to have supreme contempt
for mosquitoes, for in his face and hands
we could see them busily engaged OF their
bloody work, which he suffered to pro-
coed, without even taking the trouble to
brush them off. He was a strange being,
whoever he was, and we were all very
curious to know who and what he was.
He would answer no questions. Filly
took a malicious delight in annoying him
but he only answered sith yes or no,
or by a nod. He was certainly a very
mysterious passenger, and we would have
given all our boots to know about him.
Our onslaught on the mosquitoes was
successful. The smoke drove them out,
and we were once more at peace.
The stage stopped for breakfast. but
our mysterious companion was not to be
tempted from his corner.
Would he have breakfast?
mo"
AS the day advanced, the mystory grew
more deep and profound. The day was
hot. but the stranger kept his cloak on,
and still kept his face concealed as much
as possible. On our arrival at Cherry.
field. where we were to dine, he still re-
NAMED stationary in his seat.
"Thudering strange isn't il, Bosty? Is
he crazy?".
Perhaps he is"
He will starve to DEATH"
Very likely"
Perhaps he has no money"
perhaps not"
II will offer to pay for his dinner.n
"Filly, I have an idea,pI observed, af-
ter he had failed in his attempt.
"Hold on to it. Bosty."
About this man."
WHAT"
HE is a rogue"
II shouldn't be surprised"
II will bet you FIVE dollars it is Hes
brook, the forger."
Every likely"
II am almost certain"
"OE the whole / don't think it is.n
Il will bet five dollars on it,
Done said he, and we shook hands
on it."
After dinner, and while we were enjoy.
ing the pleasant part of the journey
through the woods of Maine, the myste.
rious passenger was still mysterious.-
We could get nothing out of him. In
vain Filly questioned him.
siDo you kaow Hasbsook, the forger?u
asked he.
mo.
Never saw him 2"
{ Where ~
/ was sure he was Hasbrook, the forger,
and was sure of winning the bet with
Filly.
The stranger settled back, and made no
reply.
It was abont four o'clock in the morn
ing when we reached Eastport, and then,
for the FIRST time since leaving Bangor, /
believe, this suspicious indivual got Of the
stage. When the stage drove up at the
hotel, we noticed several persons in the
bar-room and two mel were standing. on
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