The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-12-05

passage, at the end of which we clam
bered.
"Brutal hole this is," he explained ;
"but 1t contains more money than you
would believe Here we are"
He pushed open door and ushered
me into a large room, almost bare of
furniture and half filed with tobacco
smoke. Macfarlane was greeted with
words from most Of the men, some of
whom did not appear to me to be very
well disposed toward him,
you're late, said one with an oath.
eyes, / know" was the answer
'Richardson, you know this gentle
man, l believe; ; will you introduce
him ?"
"Why don't you do it YOURSELF" was
his reply.
81 want to look out some samples
from the next room,' said Macfarlane.
81 shall be back in half minute"
He slid out of the room, leaving me
rather uneasy. The company was an
ill looking one Even making allow
ance for the TACT that they were min
ers, perhaps, and self-made men, their
appearance was unprepossessing.
This is the gentleman that helps to
distribute said Richardsont to the com
pany generally.
81 wonder how much sticks TO him."
said one speaker.
"Not so much as that fellow in the
next room," muttered another, with
glance toward the door out of which
Macfarlane had departed.
A vague fear fell on me. What did
these strange remarks meau?'
81 don't quite understand you," /
said to Richardson. "Mr. Farebrother
asked me to meet you tonight on a
matter of business"
"Exactly, and the sooner we get to
work the better. How much have you
to account for?'
One thing was plain by this time
that | had been deceived. was in a
nest Of hornets, and | doubted if could
escape without being stung.
"lf you will wait till Mr., Farobroth-
er comes back, he will, no doubt, ex
plain why have come here,' | said as
could. 81 am at a loss to understand
to what you refer"
"No, no. said a tall, cadaverous
man, eyeing ne .uspiciously. ave
should like a l.ment of this ioh
without Fareh o hers putting tis in.o
it. The less We See of him the better
till we have done with you. How
much di1 you get for that last packet
of tlimsles?"
The word was = revelation. | knew
it was used to denote forged notes.
Like flash, the whole thing became
clear. | had been skillfully trapped
into being an accomplice of note for
gers. My friend Macfarlane, instead
of being a reformed character. was the
william he ALWAYS had been. He had
kept his word. This had been his re
venge.
Fortunately did not lose my head.
| could see that | vas among a desper-
ate set of men. If countenances told
anything, they were an unmitigated lot
of scoundrels Should.I cross them |
would repent it,
l resolved that the safest thing to do
was to pretend that was the accom-
plice they supposed me then, when ]
was safely out of their hands, the police
should be on their track.
| temporized. | said that Martar-
lane-known to them as Far brother
had the accounts of what l had re-
ceived. would step into the next
room and ask him for them.
This was prevented by a man lock-
ing the door and swearing l should not
leave the room till their demands were
satisfied.
| listened patiently to the confused
uproar of voices. AS far as | could
gather, Macfarlane, who seemed the
chief of the coiners, had taken consi
derable quantities Of notes, stating that
friend of his was passing them very
successfully. After some time had
elapsed and he had produced very
small amounts for distribution pressure
was put on him, and he promised that
his agent should come and himself clear
up the balance due.
L was the agent, and now they de-
manded, in no measured terms, sums
to several hundred pounds. |
| explained that Macfarlane had de-
ceived them that I had never received |
the sums. | was rudely searched, and
several notes and Macfarlanes check
were found on me. The threats be-
came more violent. began to fear
tor my safety, when their was a sudden
hush.
Steps we heard on the stairs the
door was rudely shaken and then burst
in, and file of police marched into the
room.
Never had seen policemen with |
such gratitude. Ileaped toward them
for protection. | was only just in
time there was a loud report and | |
felt bullet whiz past my ear. | al |
most suffered the reward of traitor,
for the gang evidently thought that | |
had betrayed them.
So agitated and overcome was that
it was some time before | realized that
|, too, was prisoner However. it |
was so but had no anxiety on that
score; explanation would be sufficient
to restore me to liberty. | yielded |
without protest, thankful enough to
find myself under the careful guard of |
the stern policemen.
Little did | think then of what was
about to happen me. | had not reck-
oned on the calculating villainy of my
old enemy. He had so entangled me |
in his transactions, so carefully put on
me personally the responsibilities of
his nefarious transactions, that when | |
heard my solicitor unfold the evidence
against me as an accompIce | was hor.
Ior-struck. | was known companion
Of Macfarlane. | had concealed his |
IDENTITY with an embezzler | had
passed numerous raise notes, taking adj. !
vantage OF my secure business Ieputa-
tion, | had even acknowledged to the |
gang that l had been partner in their
swindling transactions.
Worst of all, Maciarlane was free.
Tie had given information to the au-
thorities of the meeting of The foruars