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


while his eyes sparkled more intensely than
ever. "There, look in there y
"Well, and what is itP"
"Do you not see that fine, white sedi-
ment ?"
Yes, l see it,"
"And that is arsenic. There must have
been enough in that loaf to have killed q
dozen men - vr I. lr.
"And twas meant for me-" said Orlan-
do, with shudder.
"Of course twas meant for you, for the
loaf could not have been long made"
"No, for twas warm when the jailer
placed it in here"
"Then is this villiany hard upon you
even here" exclaimed Chiron, as he gazed
once more into the mug, and then dashed
it in pieces against the wall. "But you
shall not he long thus, for l will tear the
old jail down about their ears ere its walls
shall hold you in contact with such danger
Here is bread of mine--'twill last you till
you can get some more safe to eat than
that. By my faith, but those poor rats nave
done humanity good service, at all events
'Tis pity, though, that the fatal expert
ment could not have been tried upon him
who compounded the internal dose l''
AS Chiron spoke he took from his pouch
several slices of bread and venison, and
Orlando was just upon the point of making
some remark, when the .jailer put his head
in at the door and informed the visitor that
the time allowed for his visit to the prison.
er had expired.
Here sir Look you here ~ exclaimed
Chiron, in an authoritative tone, as the
jailer stood waiting for him to come out.
There was that about the towering form
and the imperative look of the old hunter
that made the jailer almost forget his own
right to command on the premises, and
without hesitation he entered the cell.
"Was it you, sir, that brought this pris-
oner his food last night ?'' asked Chiron.
"Yes," returned the iailer
And was that loaf of bread prepared
in the jail?" 1
The jailer trembled as he heard this
question, and he silently gazed into the
face of his interlocutor.
"Was that bread prepared in the Jail p'
again asked Chiron. b
"No sir, it was not" answered the jail
er, with considerable perturbation "but l
trust you will not expose me for thus over
stepping the bounds of my duty. All the
bread in the Jail was hard and mouldy, and
as the gentleman kindly offered to send the
unfortunate young man warm loaf, l
could not find it in my heart to refuse him.
"Who was the gentleman that sent it ?'
asked Chiron.
81 promised him that would not tell, -
returned the jailer, with simplicity scarce
ly to have been expected from one in his
situation. "He was very kind to the pris-
oner, and wished him well out of the
scrape."
eyes, he was very kind" returned Chi
ron; "but tell me who he was, and you
may rest assured that no harm shall come
to you through the affair. have particu-
lar reason for asking, for to one in the
prisoners situation knowledge of his
friends may be Of much service"
Well, SIR" said the jailer with some
hesitancy, "it was Mr.. Berkley."
Mr.. Roswell BerkleyP"
eyes"
Now, Orlando, you are pretty sure of
one friend, at least" said Chiron, casting
upon the youth look of deep meaning,
"and, - continued the old hunter, in low
tone that could not reach the ears of the
jailer, this is no place for you. Keep up
a good heart, for there is no danger"
This last remark was delivered in loud
tone and giving the youth hearty shake
of the hand; the old hunter turned and fol-
lowed the jailer from the cell, and as his
footsteps died away in the distance, Orlando
turned his gaze upon the fragments of the
mug that lay seattle ed upon the floor, and
his heart beat with wild emotion as he
thought how narrow an escape from hor-
rible death had fallen 80 strangely to his
lot.
CHAPTER VI
IN WHICH AyILLAIN is ooRNERED.