The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-03-25
Gbe Gintes, Menu Bloonlaelo, 1]d.


was stirring, Lafont quietly descended
from his room and went to the stable. The
garcon was easily aroused, and in a few
moments the agent went on his way to
Chaumont, For two hours he rode on his
way /; but instead of pursuing the high road
to Troves, he again crossed the Seine, and
kept along by the banks Of the Aube. Day
light was just beginning to streak the
eastern heavens, when Lafont heard the
sound of horses behind him, and it was not
long ere he knew that he was being pur-
sued, and, in ten minutes, he was assured
thet the two robbers was after him. In
moment the agent leaped from his saddle,
and ,seizing heavy stone, he inflicted a
severe bruse on his horses fore leg. The
animal reared and plunged, but Lafont
managed to hold him, and again mounting,
he drove on, but the horse limped and stag
gered beneath the effect of the blow he had
received, and in a short time the two
other travellers came up.
"Ah good morning, gentlemen" said
the agent, as he reined in his lame steed,
at the same time raising his hat with af-
fable politeness. $50 it seems you, too,
are tired of the numbering diligence.
eyes" replied the foremost of the men.
"the diligence did not exactly suit our con-
veyance, SO we took horses"
Sand are you bound to Chaumont ?'
asked Lafont.
"Yes-that is-probably"
"On business?"
eyes important business"
"That is Fortunate" said Lafont. with
the utmost earnestness, "for you may if
you see fit do me great favor. !, too,
have important business at Chaumont, but
fear that without assistance l shall not be
able to accomplish it. have, gentlemen,
in my possession vast amount of valuable
papers, and intended to have continued on
my way in the diligence but at Nogent /
received the intelligence that..there was
plan on foot to rob me. Do not start
gentlemen, for what tell you is true. And
for that reason set out thus alone, but my
horse has met with a sad mishap, and
fear the robbers, who, think, are yet at
Nogent, may overtake me. Now, if you
are going directly to Chaumont, perhaps
you would be willing to take my package
in your charge and deliverit to M. Augient
at his office. Any one there will tell you
where it is. Then if am overhauled, the
robbers will find nothing, and, of course,
you will not be suspected. Ifyou will thus
accommodate me, you shall be suitably re-
warded. What say you, gentlemen?"
The two men exclaimed significant
glauces during these remarks; and after a
moments consultation one Of them said :
"You seem to be ready in trusting
strangers, SIR"
go, not at all SIR" returned Lafont, with
frank smile. al would much rather
trust honest travellers than run the risk OF
meeting with robbers. You see just how
am situated, gentlemen; and if you will
do me the favor ask, you shall not regre
it. 1 shall stop at Arcis, and change my
horse, and then follow you" jit e
"Well," said one of the men, "we will
do your wish, and meet you at M. Augient'l
Office" ufH1H si
"Then thank you most heartily" sale
Lafont, and as he spoke, he took closely
sealed packet from his bosom and handle
it over "In this, he said, 4" there are val
uable papers, and, l trust you win use al
discretion in their care. Now, the rob
bers may overhaul me as soon as the,
like" ''.
After some further directions, given il
an honest confidential manner, Lafon
bade his new messengers go6speed, ant
ere long they were out of sight. The agen
turned his horses head towards No
gent where he arrived in safety, and OF
! the next morning he procured a guard ant
) once more took the diligence. The robber
stopped at the first convenient place to ex
anime their prize, but their chagrin ca
better be imagined than described whe
r they found that they held only a securel
bound parcel of waste paper They kne,
a that they were suspected, and, of course
q they dared not push the matter further.
a M. Augustine Lafont spent month i
:. Chaumont and when hereturned to Paris
o almost the first object that met his ey
Q was chain-gang of criminals, just bein
n sent on the galleys in Toulou, and anon
d them he noticed his two friends of tb
g highway. They had attempted a heay
IS robbery in the city, and they had been d.
It tected.