Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-02-10
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 L had been deceived. Twas in a
nest Of hornets and l doubted if could
escape without being stung.
IF yon will wait till Mr.. Farebrother
comes back, he will, no doubt, explain
Why | have come here" / said as quiet
ly as | could. 81 am at loss to un-
derstand to what you refer"
mo. no." said tall, cadaverous
man. eyeing me suspiciously. 1--WE
should like settlement of this job
without Farebrother's putting his foot
on IT. The less We see Of him the bet
ter ill we have Gone with you. How
n,ueh did you get for that last packet
il himsies?';
The word was revelation. l knew
IL was used 10 defute forged notes.
tike fash the whole thing became
clear. had been skillfully trapped in
10 being an accomplice of note-forgers
My friend Macfa.laue instead of being
a reformed character, was the villain
ne always had been. He had kept his
word. This had been his revenge.
Fortunately did not lose my head.
| could see that was among a despe-
tate set of men. If countenance5 told
anything they We're an unmitigated set
of scoundrels. Should | cross them L
would repent it.
l resolved that the safest thing to do
was to pretend that l was the accom-
1 piice they supposed me; then, when 1
vas safely out of their hands, the pO-
lice should soon be on their track.
temporIzed; L said that Macfarlane
known to them as Farebrother-had
the accounts Of what had received.
| would step into the next room and
ask him for them.
This was prevented by a man lock-
ing the door and swearing that l 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 con-
Siderable quantity 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, 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.
explained that Macfarlane mad de-
| ceived them; that 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. 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
in. and a file or police marched into the
room.
Never had 1 seen policemen with
! Ssh gratitude. 1 leaped towards
trsm Cor protection. / was only just
in time; there was loud report, and I
felt bu.litt whizz past my ear.
almost suffered the reward of a traitor
for the gang evidently thought had
betrayed them.
So agitated and overcome was that
it was some time before realized that
L, too, was prisoner. However, it
was SO, but L had no anxiety on that
score; eXplanat ion would be sufficient
10 restore me to liberty. l yielded
without 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 ne
fariOus transactions, that when heard
my solicitor unfold the evidence against
me rs an accOmplice, l was horror
struck. was known companion of
Maefarlane. / had concealed his iden-
tity with an EN- ,eZZler. l had passed
numerous false notes, taking advantage
of my secure business reputation. l
even acknowledged to the gang that l
had been partner in their swIndling
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 how it had been accomplished, and
to wonder at my own blindness in never
suspecung that 1 was being made a
victim. Having once put me- off my
guard by protesting his gratitude for
my prosecution of him, he gave me the
note to change with the idea of my ma
king it 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 was bogus.
Tie check lie gave me on the morning
of my arrest was dishonored. Every
thlpg was managed to get as much
as POSSIBLE out of me first and then in
voivk me in ruin.
l 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, all
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 the
house an hour or two late, thought that
things looked strange, and found the
police in possession.
He naturally withdrew. He heard
full details of the capture, and then
went to find Macfarlane, who owed
him personally considerable sum.
Macfarlane was not to be found. But
Barker persevered; tracked him at last,
aud demanded his money. Macfarlane
refused it Barker went the same day
TO inform the authorities of Macfar-
lanes whereabouts. offering to turn
Queens evidence, an offer that was
accepted.
The result of the evidence that he
produced was that the jury inclined to