The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-01-13


offer myself and possessions then and
there, but for the time I contented my
self with oondeling with her in her
trouble, and telling her to hope for the
best, as doubtless the fathers heart
would relent and she would find o check
on her arrival in Liverpool. II not,
1 said, why, strangers as we are. I
shall be happy to lend you any assist
ance you may require, either monetary
or otherwise. am going to New York
myself by to-morrow's boat, and if you
will trust me will settle the whole
business for you. Such a promise
rs yours should be kept at any cost.
She thanked mo very sweetly, and
soon after We arrived at Liverpool 1
asked permission TO escort her to her
house, which was readily granted. Ar
irving there she asked il would go
in and see il there was letter, an invi-
tation 1 gladly accepted. No, there
was no letter, and l thought she was
going to break down completely but
did my best to comfort her, and said if
she would allow me would make all
arrangements for her passage, and we
could talk the matter over on board
At first she said she didn't think she
could accept such kindness from
stranger, but finally agreed to it. Be.
fore l went she took nae into an ad-
joining room, and showed me the cof-
Tin with its one solitary cross of flowers
placed there by herself On tho plato
was simply Harold Meredith" with
the date of his death. 1t was early in
the afternoon when I left her armed
with the certificate Of death and other
necessary papers. In tho evening /
called again to say had made arrange
ments. that tho coffin would be called
Tor early in the morning and Ipromised
to call for her about 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, tho boat starting at 5.
Going across We became very friendly,
so that st the end Of the four days
felt my future happiness depended upon
her. On arriving ut New York l took
rooms for her at tho hotel / intended
staying at, the coffin being sent on.
promised to go the next day with her
to the church and mako arrangements
for the funeral. Ny business kept me
employed until late, 80 didn't see any
more of her that day. The next morn
ing waiter came to my room to say
gentleman WAS below and wished to see
me Oh important business. He did not
send his name, the waiter said "as L
wouldn't know it.. told the waiter
TO show him up, which he did. I GER
tainly did not know the man who en-
tered, but after the waiter had retired
he handed me his card, which informed
ME he was George Morrell, Detective. ."
Mr.. Maitland, / believe, SIR he
said.
Yes, Ireplied, much surprised, and
asked him what it meant.
He smiled and said "Oh 1 have
no doubt it is all right, sir, but l want
you to come down to the station with
me at once. | shouldn't ask any oues-
tions if l were you, as it will only
waste time, but wait and explain to the
Justice"
I was dumfoundel, and at first felt
inclined to argue the matter and ask
for his authority; but on second thought
| decided to go with him, as my con-
science told me i could be no worse off
1t the police station.
On entering the station the first per-
son / noticed was Mrs. Meredith in the
dock, She recognized me and gave me
bewitching smile. The sight of her
only made matters more complicated
and / didn't know what to say or do;
but my friend, the detective, told me to
standsnear the dock, and the charge
was read over to me, by which learned
that l was charged with aiding and
abetting one Sarah Bentley, alias
Blanche Meredith, with attempting to
defraud the United States Government
by smuggling into the country goods
upon which duty was chargeable.
When asked what answer had to the
charge, I was SO surprised that could
only say didn't understand the accu-
sation at all. and asked for a further
explanation, and then the whole story
came out 1t appears my charming
widow WAS really widow, but not OF
Harold Meredith. She was the widow
Of one George Bentley, the head of a
very clever gang, who for some years
had sluded the vigilance of the New
York Custom. House authorities, and
since his death bis widow had been in.
strumental In smuggling a good deal
into the country.
She WAS very clever at devices, and
her latest had been to make use of q
coffin which was supposed to contain
the body of her husband, but in
reality WAS full Of valuable stuff. She
had somehow obtained the certificate of
death which had used to obtain the
passage across. and it was one of the
gang who had disclosed the trick out of
revenge for some petty insult he had re-
ceived from his fair chief. My detec-
tive friend, for my consolation, in
formed me I was not the only man sho
had swindled, and when 1 told him the
facts of the case he said he didn't think
it was at all planned, but she had sim
ply made up her story on the spur of
the moment with the view of obtaining
pnopau fro,,