The Penn's Grove record., 1886-02-06

LNdCAlO dliu bIb oOphCl w. bOk W
work the better. How much have you
to account forP"
One thing was plain by this time
that | had been deceived. was in a
nest of hornets and 1 doubted if l could
escape without being stung.
aft yon will wait till Mr.. Farebrother
comes back, he will, no doubt. explain
why l have come here" l said as quiet
" as | could. 81 am at a loss to I'M
derstand to what you refer"
mo, no,n said a tall, c%adaverous
man, cycling me suspiciously, I'VE
should like a settlement of this job
without Farebrother's putting his foot
on iU. The less we see of him the bet
ter till we have done with you. How
much did you get for that last packet
if flimsies?n
The word was a revelation. 1 knew
it was used to denote forged notes.
Like a flash the whole thing became
clear. l had been skillfully trapped in
to being an accomplish of note-forgers
My friend Macfaflane instead of being
a reformed character, was the villain
he always had been. He had kept his
word. This had been his revenge.
Fortunately / did not lose my head.
l could see that l was among a despe-
rate set of men. If countenances told
anything they were an unmitigated set
of scoundrels. Should | cross them l
would repent it.
resolved that the safest thing to do
was to pretend that l was the accom-
plice they supposed me; then, when L
was safely out of their hands, the po-
lice should soon be on their track.
t~emporlzed; l said that Macfarlane
known to them as Farebrother-had
the accounts of what l had received.
l would step INTO the next room and
ask him for them.
This was prevented by a man lock-
ing the door and swearing that | should
not leave the room till their demands
were satisfied.
l listened patiently to the confused
uproar of voices. AS far as i could
gather. Macfarlane, who seemed the
chief of the coiners had taken a con-
siderable quantity of notes, stating that
friend of his vas passing them very
successfully. After some time had
elapsed, and he had produced very
small amounts for distribution, pres.
sure was put on him, and he promised
that his agent should come and himself
clear up the balance due.
was the agent, and now they de-
manded, in no measured terms, sums
amounting to several hundred pounds.
l explained that Macfarlane mad de-
ceived them; that l had never received
the sums. l was rudely searched, and
several notes and Macfarlane's check
were found on me. The threats be-
came more violent. 1 began to fear for
my safety, when there was a sudden
hush.
Steps were heard on the stairs; the
door was rudely shaken and then burst
III. and a file or police marched into the
room.
Never had I seen policemen with
such gratitude. l leaped towards
them for protection. l was only just
in time; there was a loud report, and l
felt a bullltt whizz past my ear. I
almost suffered the reward of a traitor
for the gang evidently thought L had
betrayed them.
So agitated and overcome was l that
it was some time before 1 realized that
l, too, was a prisoner. However, it
was so, but l had no anxiety on that
score; explanation would be sufficient
TO restore me to liberty. l yielded
without u protest; thankful enough to
find myself under the careful guard of
the stern policeman.
Little did | think then of what was
about to happen to me. | had not reck-
oned on the calculating vilainy of my
old enemy. He had so ~entangled me in
his transactions, so carefully put on me
personally the responsibility of his me-
farious transactions, that when l heard
my solicitor unfold the evidence against
me as an accomplice, L was horror
struck. was a known companion Of
Macfarlane. | had concealed his lden-
tity with an emOezzler. | had passed
numerous false notes, taking advantage
of my secure business reputation. l
even acknowledged to the gang that l
had been a partner in their swlndling
transactions.
Worst of all. Macfarlane was free.
He had given information to the au-
thorites of the meeting of the forgers,
and then quietly absconded, whittier no
one knew. furnished every particular
about him, but all attempts to track
him failed.
Now that his scheme of revenge and
profit had succeeded it was easy for me
to see howit had been accomplished, and
to wonder at my own blindness in never
suspecung that l was being made a
victim. Having once put me off my
guard by protesting his gratitude for
| NV nrncnn1fion IF him hn NOVA NM fha
note to change with the idea of my ma
king 1t a test of his honesty. He was
waiting for me at the bank next morn
ing with his pocketbook open to display
the magnitude of his transactions. He
came TO my firm because we conld sup
ply him with easily convertible goods.
which, when melted could not be traced
The gold he showed me vas bogus.
The check he gave me on the morning
of my arrest was dishonored. Every.
thing was managed to get as much
as possible out of me FIRST, and then in
Yolvk me in ruin.
hap almost resigned myself to being
found guilty. Judge then of my Joy
when my solicitor brought me the news
one morning of the capture OF Macfar-
lane.
1t had been affected in the most un,
expected way. So far as we know, al
the members of the gang had assembled
on that memorable night. There was
however, one exception-a man named
Barker was delayed. lie arrived at this
house an hour or two late, thoughtt haf
things looked strange, and found thu
police in possession.
He naturally withdrew. He hear(
full details of the capture, and ther
went to find Macfarlane, who owed
him personally a considerable sum
Macfarlane was not to be found. Blu
Barker p~ersevered tracked him at last
and demanded his money. Macfarlant
refused it Barker went the same day
to inform the authorities of Macfar
lanes whereabouts, offering to turI
Queens evidence, an offer that wa:
accepted.
The result of the evidence that HI
produced was that the jury inclined Il
the belief that l had been a victim, aut