The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-03-05


to for them, for Mrs. Lock hurried her
friend away aboard her own boat, and Mrs.
Seaton was left to her own devices.
1t was some time before Mrs. Ford re-
covered her equanimity. The disgrace
which she felt had been put on her
made her absolutely ashamed to be seen,
and even when good-humored Captain Steb-
bit paid visit, and joked with her about
smugglers and searchers she was too much
overcome to reply.
Unconsciously the same evening she put
her hands in her jacket-pocket, and as she
snatched them out, she exclaimed: "Good
gracious if haven't got those letters still
here that Mrs. Seaton gave me. What
shall do with them?'
"She will come for them, l expect
replied Mrs. Lock, when she had heard the
story. 81 would keep them until she
does"
The next day she had another unpleas-
ant surprise. The saloon steward of her
own ship paid her visit, having gossip
about passengers to impart "Do you
know what happened to that friend of
yours, that fellow, Seaton?"
eyes; know he was arrested. That is
how got into trouble;" and Mrs. Ford
proceeded to repeat to Mr. Park the par
ticulars which Mrs Seaton had confined
to her.
GA very pretty story" laughed Mr..
| Darly Gon1v IL bo nnanS tbot uona Of r. ic
true, but the arrest. He was caught and
detained on a charge of forgery"
The two stewardesses, dumb with the
unexpected news, stared inquiringly at Mr..
Park.
eyes" continued he, con a charge of
belonging to a gang of forgers who had
been passing counterfeit green backs /
suppose you know nothing about that,
Mrs. Ford-not an accomplice, heyP"
Mrs. Ford hesitated moment, and then
, drawing from her pocket the letters intrust-
ed to her, showed them to the others, and
asked what she had better do.
The steward examined their exterior for
moment; then, without any remark,
opened and read them in anxious silence,
, the two ladies looking on it in state of
, suspense. He had no sooner read them
than he tore them carefully into the mi
J nutest fragments and scattered them out
l of the cabin window, where the tiny NOR
sells huttered away, and were soon lost be-
; yond all possibility of detection in the
t waters of the dock.
: "What were they?" gasped Mrs. Ford,
9 in great alarm.
= Evidence of his guilt, which, found on
9 you, would have been considered proof you
were an accomplce, and given you share
=. of his probable twenty years in the State
: prison."
"Good gracious ~ cried Mrs Lock; ''you
o don't say SO! Why, my dear, what an
C escape you have had"
r "Yes, indeed; what an escape. They
I were in my pocket when l was searched"
t said Mrs. Ford, family.
d "Quite providential occurrence" OBJ
served Mr.. Park, as people are apt to say
d when they meet an occurrence for which
n they have especial cause to be thankful. 81
: strongly advise you to say nothing about
y them to any one at present"
i 1t is not quite clear in my own mind
c whether Mr.. Park was justified in the
It course he pursued, or whether he ought to
@ have retained the letters, and handed
d them over to justice as evidence against
If the prisoner. He feared to compromise
II Mrs. Ford; but have been assured that,
l. in this case, if she had come forward with
o the evidence she possessed, and with
character so we'll known among the line to
" which she belonged, she would have come
o to no harm. However, they acted as they
believed to be the safest and best, and least
" likely TO involve innocent parties and ac-
y cording to the rule, that it is better the
g guilty should escape rather than that the
o innocent should suffer, it seemed the most
5, pruden course to take.
"But now, look here" said Mrs. Ford,
d when the last morsel of paper had disap-
st peared, "there's another thing of theirs
" have;" and she told the story of the parcel
10 which was still in her trunk
% "You must get rid of it, certainly''
4; cried Mr.. Park, in great alarm. "There
Is is no telling what it may be. Get rid of 1t
x at once"
ID But how? My box is locked, and
X have the keys. Shall l 60 on board at
once, and throw it out of the Window"
r. "No, no. IL might lead to suspicion, If
n you went off in hurry. II they think