, 1864-01-09


fu l. "we may as well finish it. There's
not much in it, and | don't like my wine to
get fat, which this might probably do before
got back. Sit down then for moment,
if you please, gentlemen"
The sitting down the officers declined /;
but the proposal to finish the bottle they
readily closed with.
On the latter being emptied, and not be-
fore, Edgeconib rose from his seat, and, after
eoolly adjusting himself before the looking
glass over the mantclpiece, intimated his
readiness to attend the officers. The party
the latter and their prisoner-left the
apartment, and were about to quit the house,
when they met the landlord.
Extraordinary affair, this" exclaimed
Edgecomb, addressing the latter smilingly.
Charge of forgery! ha! ha! Odd affair
indeed. i don't understand it, However,
we shall see what it means by and by. In
the meantime, keep my apartment for me, If
you pleasc-for this matter must, of course,
be speedily put to rights-whcn l shall re-
turn to you.'
Confoundcd, after what he had heard, by
the unconcerned manner of his guest, the
landlord could only bow reply. Edgecomb
smiled and nodded in return, and, accom-
panied by his escort, quilted the house.
During all this time the conduct Of Edge
comb had been SO guarded, his manner SO
composed and SO entirely free from anything
like conscious guilt, and he had, moreover,
met the charge against him with such calm
indifference, that the officers themselves be-
gan to fear there was some mistake in the
matter; either that they had taken the
wrong man, or that the charge against him
was unfounded. They, however, proceeded
with their prisoner to the Jail, where they
left him for the night.
On the following morning, Edgecomb was
conducted into the presence Of the PrOcu-
rator Fiscal, whose chambers were within
the Jail buildings.
The case having taken wind, and having
excited considerable interest, on account Of
the gcntlemanly appearance and manner Of
the accused, the apartment Of the public
functionary before whom he was now brought
was crowded with the professional acquaint-
ancc Of the latter, curious to witness the
progress and learn the result Of the prison.
er's prccognition.
On entering the apartment, and finding
il filed with respectable people, EdgecOmb
raised his hat politely and bowed with an
easy graceful air to those around him.
Ills manner and elegant exterior--for he
was an uncommonly fine-looking man, and
dressed in the extremity Of the fashion,
although in perfect good taste-inade q
strong impression in his favor; so strong,
that several Of those present acknowledged
his courtesy byaising their hats also. Even
the Fiscal himself shared in the same SEN
timent as was evident by the way in which
he addressed him.
"Mr. Edgecomb," he said, in an unusu-
ally civil if not respectful tone, "herc is a
charge Of forgery against you"
Edgecomb smiled and bowed. $50
understand, sir" he replied, in his usual
calm and gentlemanly way. aVery strange
affair, indeed. Pray, sir, what sort Of for
gerry is it l am accused Off Is tia bill, bond,
draft, or what is it, prayg"
"Why. sir, its bill" said the Fiscal,
stretching out his hand and taking from the
top Of his desk q slip Of paper "a bill,
sir, for &25O, protesting to 30 drawn upon
and accepted BY Messrs. BROMLEY, Keunil-
worth 4 BROMLEY. Discounted in the
Royal Bank" ae se o
80, So" said Edgecomb. ella! very
good, indeed. A bill for ESQ, accepted
BY -. Whom do you call the people,
again /"
BROMLEY, KennilwOrth & BROMLEY"
repeated the Fiscal.
"Ah, just so. Pray, favor me with a
sight Of this extraordinary document, Il you
please!" ~
Thrown of his guard by the polite and
easy manner Of the accused, and the ap.
parently undesigning way in which the re-
quest was made, the Fiscal, simply enough,
handed Edgecomb, who was standing on
the outside Of small railing by which the
desk was enclosed, the bill
On getting possession Of the fatal paper,
the latter, without saying word, walked up
deliberately to a blazing fire that was imme-
diatcly behind him, threw the bill on II, and
with the heel Of his boot thrust il into the
heart Of the burning Goals, where it was, Of
course, instantly consumed,
On accomplishing this feat, which, though
done with the utmost composure, was yet
too quickly performed for any one present
to interfere, Edgecomb turned round to the
Fiscal, and, making him low and polite
bow, said-- W
"That, sir, will save both you and me
vast deal Of trouble. / wish you, sir, and
you, gentlemen, a very good morning"
Saying which, he again bowed, and, with
the most entire sclf-pOssession and deliber-
alton, walked out Of the Office; there being,
as he well knew, now that the bill was des-
troyed, no ground for his further detention.
We need scarcely add that the case was
one Of life and death; for, seeing the &C.
verify with which the law was in those days
executed, Edgecomb would, beyond all man.
ner Of doubt, have been hanged, had hc not,
by this prompt and bold proceeding, sue
cceded in destroying the evidence Of his
guilt. as
They have little town out West which
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