The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-01-27

with a sudden start
"Who told you of this affairP"
"About the rats, do you mean9''
eyes. Was it the jailer?"
"No, saw it myself"
"Yourself2 And 90 you mean to say
that you have been admitted to the jail"
"Certainly, have. 1 had business with
young Chester, and received admission to
visit him. Is there anything strange in
thatP'
go, no." returned Berkeley, with con-
siderable embarrassment "Then you are
acquainted with the young man."
eyes, have seen him" said Chiron,
"and feel some interest in his welfare"
For few moments Mr.. Berkeley gazed
vacantly into the face of his visitor and
then he cast his eyes upon the floor. The
old hunter smiled as he noticed the manner
of his host, and lie thought he could guess
what was passing in his mind. Twice had
he been peremptorily requested to leave
the room, and yet the agent kept him now
in waiting. AT length Berkeley raised his
head, and while a look of anxiety rested
upon his features, he said
"Young Chester has mother living, l
am told.'
" He has, returned Chiron.
"And do you know her ?''
eyes. have seen her at her house in
the woods.''
"They tell me she is crazy"
"Then they told you part truly and part
falsely. The poor womans mind is shat
tered, but she is far from being crazy
"Since have been the means of having
this poor woman's son arrested, and as he
may never protect her more, believe
must take some measures to provide for
her welfare. 1t is hardly right that she
should suffer for the sins of her son."
There was something SO mean, SO SER
pent-lilSe in the tone and manner of Berk-
ley, and then his desire to get the poor
mother within his power was SO evident,
that the soul of Chiron could no longer
contain its Indignation, and, while his eyes
flashed, he exclaimed
"Roswell Berkeley, you have managed
to get young Chester within the walls Of
the prison-house, and you have managed,
too, to fasten upon him the imputation of
dark crime but you need not waste your
sycophantic fears upon his fate, for he will
not remain long in your clutches. He is
innocent Of all crime, and you yourself
know it well. The red man who fell be-
meath his rifle was the unfortunate victim
of the base villain who set him upon his
diabolcal plot as has been hatched up
against young Chester can escape the re-
vealing light of day-and tell me, too, il
you think its perpetrators can escape the
retribution of an incensed and outraged
God And now, not content with what
has already been done, you would fasten
your poisonous grasp upon poor Morgiana
Chester Roswell Berkley, if you dare to
lay finger upon that woman, you shall
sorely rue it. The lives Of two thousand
like yourself were not worth one moment
Of that mother peace Now, beware I
know that for some cause you seek young
Chester's ruin, but I'll yet show you that
you have counted without your host, for
I'll blow your flimsy fabric to the wind, and
yourself Ill give to the justice that de-
mands you W
Like whipped cur did Roswell Berkley
quail before the towering form of the old
hunter. His face was pale, and his lips
trembled with slavish fear. Twice he at
tempted to speak, but the words stuck in
his throat, and he sunk into his chair, ut
terly helpless.
"Villain, uttered the hunter between
his set teeth, 81 know you for what you
are, and know where to meet you. You
asked if the bread was all gone that was
given to the young prisoner last night. I
found piece of it, and analyzed it, and I
found it to contain most deadly poison,
and, sir, know that you prepared it, and
that you sent it in there P'
Those last words seemed to call Berkeley
to his senses, for with the balls almost start
ing from their eye-sockets, he sprang from
his chair. His face was livid with rage, and
his frame trembled beneath the most in
tense excitement. With nervous move
mept, he placed his hand in his bosom, and
his eyes sparkled with cat-like CLEAN,
he suddenly drew forth pistol.
Now, dog, go tell your story to the
angels Of the other world You'll never
repeat it on earth p Continued next