The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-04-16


o strong case against the accused-the /
most formidable one being the finding of /
q large SUM of specie in ManselPs trunk. /
Knowing that he could not satisfactorily I
account for the possession of this money, t
without the evidence of near relative I
who had departed for the continent I
week before, and whose address was un- |
known and return uncertain, Edward, to |
avoid the horror and disgrace of lying in
the county gaol in the intermediate time,
resolved on evading the officers of Justice,
until he could surrender himself with the
proofs of his innocence in his hands.
The moon had now risen above the hill
which bound the prospect, and warned
the lovers that it was time to separate.
ssAnd now, dearest" said he, "I
leave you with the brand of thief upon
my fair name, to be hunted like beast
of prey from one hiding place to an
the blest assurance that one being, and
that being the best loved of my heart,
knows me to be innocent and that
Shought shall comfort me-
"a remarkably pretty speech, and
well delivered 2'' exclaimed voice which
caused the youthful pair to start and
turn their eyes in the direction whence it
| proceeded, when from behind solitary
! tree that grew in the Hollow, q tall fig
ure, wrapped in an ample cloak, walked
toward them.
Il The place, as we have before said, had
| an evil reputation !; and although Ed
ward and his companion were, of course,
| free from the superstitious fears which
characterized the country people, an
undefnable feeling stole over them,
as they gazed on the tall form before
them.
| Mansen, however, soon recovered him.
| self and told the stranger that, whoever
it was, it i'll became him to overhear con-
versation that was not intended for other
ears than their own.
g Nay" was the rejoinder ssbe not
angry with me. Perhaps you may have
reason to rejoice in my presence since,
being in possession of the story of your
grief, it might be In my power to allevi-
ate it. I have assisted men in much
greater straits.
Edward did not like the last sentence,
nor the tone in which it was uttered but
he said, ''I see not how you can help
me you cannot give me clue by which
I can find the box
/ Sc Yes here is a clue" replied the
other, as he held forth about three yards
of strong cord. s'Here is a line. Go
to the river, at pSint exactly opposite
the hollow oak wade out in a straight
line until you find the box attach
one end of the cord to the box, and
the other to stout cork, but remove it
not yet
ssThe devil 7" said Mansell.
Whether he really believed himself to
be in the presence of the evil one, or
/ that the word was merely expressive of
surprise, we know not.
The stranger took the compliment, and
acknowledging it with bow, said, ssThe
tin box which you have been accused
of stealing, is at the bottom of the river,
and you will find that have spoken no
more than the truth"
Mansen hesitatea no longer, but ac-
companied the stranger to the spot, and
| In few minutes the box, sealed as when
he last saw it, was again in his posses
sion. He looked from the treasure to
the stranger, and at last said, 81 owe
you more than life, for, in regaining
this, I shall recover my good name,
which has been foully traduced" !"
He was proceeding toward the shore,
when the other cried, 'sStop, young
gentleman Not quite SO fast. just
/ where you found it, If you please" Ed
ward started, but the stranger continued,
ssWere you to take that box back to
your employer, think you that you would
produce any other effect ON him than
the conviction that, finding your de-
inquency discovered, you wished to
secure impunity by restoring property
We must not only restore the treasure,
but convict the thief. Hush hear a
football
| AS he spoke he took the box from
Edward, who now saw his meaning,
fastened the cord to it, and it was again
lowered to the bottom of the river, and
the cork on the other end of the cord
was swimming down with the tide.
s'Now follow me in silence" whis-
pered the stranger and the three re-
tired, and hid themselves behind the
huge trunk of the tree, whence by the
light of the moon they beheld figure
approach the water, looking cautiously
around.
That is the thief, . said the stranger,
in low voice, In Edwards ear. g
saw him last night throw something into
the river, and when he was gone, I took
the liberty of raising it up when, ex-
peeting that he would return and remove
his booty, / replaced it, and had been
unsuccessfully watching the place, just
before met you in the Hollow.
BY this time the man reached the
rivers brink, and after cropping some
time through the water, he found the
box, but started back In astonishment on
seeing long cord attached to it. His
UaCA WAS bUInG4 ~ CAE N4tuCbS6S I'll Lille
transaction, SO that Edward and the
stranger had got him securely by the col
lar before he could make any attempt to
escape. The surprise of Manseu and
Kate may be more easily conceived than
PARTED, when, as the moonbeams fell on
the face of the culprit, they recognized
the features of Burton, his fellow-clerk
Mansell's character was now cleared
while Burton. whom Mason, for reasons
of his own, refrained from prosecuting
, quilted the town In merited disgrace
The stranger proved to be gentleman
OF large landed property in the neighbor
hood, which he had now visited for th'
first time for many years /; and having
, been interested in the young pair whom
he had delivered SO opportunely from
! tribulation, he subsequently appointes
ManselI his man of business, and thu
laid the foundation of his prosperity. ]
is almost needless TO add, that Kate, VIII
had So long shared his heart, became hi
! wife, and shared his good fortune also.
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