The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-11-22

rians."
So Mr.. Fry put out his head and said,
very gruflly, you're to come inside"
would have refused, but the steady |
chilling rain, and my vanishing condi-
tion, for had not eaten good meal |
since the previous morning, overcame
my fortitudo,and / obeyed the sum-
mons.
"Guilty or not guilty, Mr.. Parker"
observed Langford, "you must have
| some breakfast"
So | sat down on packing-case,
apart from the others, and silently ate
the food which was proflered me.
As soon as ] had finished, Langford |
said,--
ave have decided, Mr.. Parker, to
have this affair Investigated by the po-
lice. Will you be kind enough to ac-
company Us to the Camp"
"Certainly," answered.
"My wife and Adamson," continued
Langford, addressing Brocklebank,
twill take charge of the store while
we are away"
"And ye must leave us the tin box,
! Mr.. Brocklebank," :" observed Adamson,
a shrcwdfaced old Scotsman. "Mistress
Langford and l purpose TO give it a
searching examination"
"Oughtn't we to take it to the Campo
asked Brocklcbank, who had the box in
his hand.
Il don't think it's necessary, replied
Langford; "thc police had better return
here, and examine it on the spot"
every wcll," said Brocklebank.
"IIerc's a strange thing" he suddenly
exclaimed, as he turned over the separ-
ate packages. "Another parcel ofgold
is missing"
"Thcn Mr.. Parker can't be the thief"
exclaimed Mrs. Langford, joyfully.
She had just entered the tent. "You
know, John, that he was watched all
night, and that he never stirred"
"IIc wasn't watched all night"
growled Fry.
How's that, Fry ?" asked Langford.
81 thought you undertook"
"To watch him >" interrupted Fry.
So did; but | fell asleep in that mi-
mosa-b bush foran hour and half by my
watch. He'd plenty of time" he add
ed. with sour glance at me, "to help
himself if he pleased"
| The extreme improbability that a
= thief would steal Brocklebank's parcels
of gold one by one occurred to my mind
, and must have occurred to every re-
@ flccting person present. But as l had
/. determined to say as little us possible,
@ kept silence.
Il Shortly afterwards we started for ouI
d destination. No attempt was made tc
s. keep me in formal custody, and to the
d eye Of II chance passer-by we We're sim
:, ply party of blue-shirted, cabbage
10 tree HATED diggers walking along brisk
,c ~ together; but | noticed that boil
10 Brocklcbank and Fry had their revol
80 vers in readiness, and that they neve
d. suffered their eyes to stray from m
| person.
st We had reached the camp, an
d. Langford had begun to narrate to tn
~ ce-superintendent on duty there
on circumstantial account of the suppose
NO robbery, and was ointing out the pail
%. full suspicion which attached to mysel
when the clatter of horses hoofs WI
ne heard, and moment later we saw Mr.
Al. LangfOrd with her hair streaming
the wind from under her bonnet, and
NJ heightened color IN her checks, cante
ing towards the police barracks. 81
nd was evidently practiced horsewoma
for she was seated calmly and securel
feminnetashion, on masculine sadd
,so with one foot in the stirrup, and Il
in other resting gracefully on her steet
I shoulder.
ou John, my dear" she exclaime
breathlcssly, as she stopped her hor
49, and alghted without assistance, "A
. amsOn wanted to ride Old Jack, but
' wouldn't let him, | determined
bring the good news myself. Mr. p;
ne ker is innocent. The parcels of 60
I'm are all right"
od "All right?" cried Brockleban
'lil " How can that be?"
II "Why somebody-yourself, / su
pose, Mr.. Brocklebunk-had fold
ell two packets into one parcel. This h
no been done in two instances so I'll
what we took for two packets, accoi
to ing TO the label outside, We're real
red four"
rh " I'm confident never did So" {
the swcrcd BrocklCbank, almost angrily.
AIRS need not describe the joyous lc
hy which my heart gave as | listened
ter this most welcome intelligence. 1t
y enough TO say that everybody pres,
los crowded round me and shook me war
lad ly by the hand. When | say eve
my body, do not mean Mr.. Fry. |
ger not sure that he was not rather dis
It | pointed; he certainly looked sou
my than ever, but he had the civility
der blurt out
You're we'll out of il, Parker"
,pu As we returned to Iron Bark Gu
,wu the rain ceased, and the sun shOne
| glorouslF, as if to celebrate my rest
led alton TO innocence; and couple
ling hours later, Langford and his mi
rs having temporarily admitted me
wet, membership in their digging party
# of was busily engaged in shovelling "w
nor, dirt into the chopper" of their era
thc And now for the conclusion of
that tale, which may appear somewhat
der prising, but which | assure the read'
lca, strictly true, as are all the main fact
ont this narrative. have altered the ma
hich of persons, but otherwise my story
illcd story OF real lhcts' ana some OF u
hab- who were working on Iron Bark q
,eds, in 1862 may possibly read this art
,ara. and be able TO attest the truth o
too statements.
pera- | had worked very pleasantly
Il.