Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-09
NO. 29l.


trunk, take parcel lying on the top, and
at once pitch it into the river. In due time
Albert brought back message to say her
orders had been complied with, and all
was safe
The evening after Mrs. Ford's return to
her usual employment, Mr.. Green, the
steward, came to her, and having ascer-
tanned that there was no one else present,
produced the identical parcel which she
had believed to be safely slowed away in
the bed of the river.
''Oh, Mr.. Green p' cried she, in pertur-
baton, "Why did you deceive me and
keep that dreadful thing?"
GLOW do you know it is dreadful
thing!" replied he. II am sure don't;
and thought, before we threw it away.
we would just take look before we make
it leap over. We can throw it away any
time"
To own the truth, Mrs. Ford herself, al
though perfectly satisfied that the contents
were equally dangerous and wicked, and
very much afraid of being involved in
some dreadful scrape, had yet so great
curiosity that she was not altogether un-
willing to proceed to an investigation. So
when Park joined them, they unfastened
the cord and opened the package.
"Hum, thought so," said Mr.. Green.
as they unwrapped copper-plate for
printing forged ten dollar notes.
81 don't understand what it is" said Mrs.
Ford, as she contemplated it.
Mr.. Green explained and added that he
had understood Seaton belonged to reg
ular gang. who were waiting for his ar
rival with this plate to proceed over the
boundary to Canada, where they were to
establish their headquarters, whence they
could conveniently circulate these false
notes.
"And so this is the spool he intended to
make, the villain" said Mrs. Ford. ..He
was nearly making very tangled skein
for me, am sure. Lets toss it over
board"
Don't be in hurry" said Mr. Green.
look here this man is in prison now,
and they want evidence If you produce
this it may convict him at once if YOU des-
troy it you will allow him perhaps to go
at large"
''But if produce it they will take me
for an accomplice, and may be lynched,
or hanged, or imprisoned for life," ex-
claimed Mrs. Ford mo, no. will run
no risks of the sort. Who knows what
trouble | might have?"
She would certainly be detained here
after we sail, said Mr.. Park, 'and so lose
her situation, perhaps; or, at any rate,
have whole peck of trouble; and being
English, | think she might, likely enough.
have some difficulty in establishing her
perfect innocence. would throw it away,
and say nothing, if were she." So the
dangerous article was tossed out of the
window, and fell with splash into the
waters of the dock, where it no doubt re.
poses in the mud at this day.
Had Mr.. Green's advice been followed,
Mr.. Seaton. (who, it appeared, had few
aliases for suitable occasions,) would not
have been discharged in one week, as he
actually was, in default of evidence, and
set at liberty to begin some other fraudu-
lent action.
1t was not till after his discharge that
Mrs. Ford ventured to put her foot ashore,
so terribly was she alarmed lest she should
be in some way involved in his guilt; but
one evening few days before the City of
- was to start she did venture into the
city, under the escort of Mrs. Lock. To
her great surprise as they were walking
up Broadway they met Mrs. Seaton her.
self, who, instead of trying to avoid her,
stopped aid spoke to her. There was
not much cordiality on the part of the
English woman but Mrs. Seaton was per-
fectly composed and very friendly, and as
sured her that it has all come about Just as
she had expected. Her husband had been
set at liberty, and was now quite well,
and so was Freddy, and she would be
glad if the stewardess would come and
see them and would she bring that little
parcel she left with her on board the
steamer2 Mrs. Ford looked her full in
the face, equally amazed at her audacity
and enraged at the injury SO nearly done
to herself.
'If you wish for that parcel" she re-
piled, as soon as she could speak, '.you
must look for it at the bottom Of the dock,
for you will find it in no box OF mine.''
''And how dared you give me your for
geries and cheats to take care of, Mrs.
Seaton? How dared you try to bring me
into your scrapes? am not at all obliged
to you, can tell you, and don't ever wish
to sail in the same boat with you again"
Hush hush!' said Mrs Seaton, fright
ened at her language. and glancing at her
Don't talk of forgeries, pray;
there's no occasion to be angry you have
been in no danger; you are qnite mista-
KEN
81 have been in danger, and am not
and Mrs. Lock knows as well
as |, what that parcel was; and we threw
it out into the dock, having no mind at all
to be concerned in your busipess. So you
will never see it again"
And if you knew what it was; were
you really such a fool as to throw it away?
Why. you might have made your fortune
by it. We would have given you any
share of the profits You liked to name, to
get it back; and you have really lost such
Il chance :"
81 don't want any shares, either in your
profits or Your prisons, Mrs. Seaton," ex-
claimed the stewardess, strong in indig-
nant and outraged honesty. ~ should
have been far more likly to have one than
the other, and should have deserved it,
besides, as much as you"
"Well, you are fool with your hon
esty," said Mrs Seaton, with an imperti-
nent laugh. "You have thrown away a
chance you will not have again in hur-
ry, can tell you" And so saying she
walked away. Nor have they ever met
since.