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


a not unnatural curiosity, were extremely
anxious to inspect the mysterious package;
but Mrs. Ford, who in the event of dscov-
cry, was the one to fear the result, cared
foI nothing so much as being assured it
was forever concealed from sight. Let it
be what it would, all she desired was that
it should be removed from the top of her
trunk, and lodged safely at the bottom
Of the dock.
While they were considering ways and
means, messenger arrived from the City
o., the assistant stewardess sent their
cabin-boy to inquire for Mrs. Ford, and
ask some questions in the way of duty.
This was favorable opportunity. Mrs.
Ford sent off her keys by the boy Albert,
and requested Mr.. Green the cabin steward,
privately to open her trunk, take the par
Gel lying OH the top and pitch it into the
river. In due time, Albert brought back a
message to say her orders had been COM
piled 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 was safely slowed away in the
bed of the river.
"Ob, Mr.. Green y cried she, in pertur-
baton, "why did you deceive me, and
keep that dreadful thing?"
"How do you know it is dreadful
thingP' replied he. 81 am sure don't;
and thought, before we threw it away
we would just see what it was all about
will call Park, now, and we will 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 convinced that the con-
tents 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 Mr.. Park Joined them, they un-
fastened 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 that Seaton belonged to
regular gang, who were waiting for his ar
rival, with this plate, to proceed over the
boundary to Canada, where they intended
to establish their headquarters, whence
they could conveniently circulate these
false notes.
"And so that is the spool no intended
to make the william ~ said Mrs. Ford. "He
was nearly making very tangled skein of
me, am sure. Let's toss it overheard"
"Don't be in hurry" said Mr. Green
Look here; this man is in prison now,
and they want to find evidence. If you
produce this, you will convict him at once
if you destroy it, you allow him, perhaps
TO 20 at large"
But if produce, it they will take me
for all accomplice, and ! may be lynched,
or Langed, or imprisoned for life," exclaim-
ed Mrs. Ford. "No, no. will run no
w
l might have ~
"She would DO certainly detained here
after we SAIL" said Mr.. Park, "and so
loose 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,
If ] were She" SO the dangerous article
splash into the waters of the dock, where
it no doubt reposes in the mud at this day.
Had Mr.. Green's advice been followed,
Mr.. Seaton who, it had appeared, had a
few other aliases for suitable occasions,
would not have been discharged in one
week as he actually was, in default Of evil
dence and set at liberty to begin some 9TH
er fraudulent action.
1t was not till after his discharge that
Mrs. Ford ventured 10 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 MIS-. seaton her
self, who instead of trying TO avoid her
stopped and spoke TO her. There was not
much cordialty on the part of the English
woman; but Mrs. Seaton was perfectly com
posed and very friendly and assured her
that it had all come about just as she had
expected il would. Her husband had