The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-01-21
A STOLEN PACKAGE.

| "A SIULEN i iNhANE II.
From a yellow, faded pamphlet that lay
for years on Il bookshelf in an old fash
| Toned farmhouse in TynC:iule, in the north
OF England the story given below is taken.
| William Tarbot was a lawyer at Hex
| ham, in the north Of England. Having to
| attend the as>iEcs at -Alnwicll and pruba-
| bly, spend SOn:c days there and Mrs. Tar
| bots parents residing about eight miles
| from that place, Mr.. Tarbut arranged that
| his wife and their daughter, n girl of Is,
| should accompany him and stay with their
relatives until he was ready to return
home The family Travelled on horseback,
as was customary among country people in
| those days, and reached the abode Of Mr..
and Mrs. Norman, the wifc's parents, aft
| er pleasant ride of few hours. Mr.. and
| Mrs. Norman were plain, old fashioned
! people, owning their own farm and ac
counted wealthy. The next morning Mr..
| Tarbot rode on to Alnwick and was soon
| over head and ears in business.
On the last day of the court one Wray of
scarborough paid over to Mr.. Tarhot -,
| $50 in Bank of England notes in settle
! ment Of suit Wray had the money in a
| brown paper parcel, which he opened in
1urDOU DcuTOOil III lIe lul "HCIS lLGy
were both staying. The two men count
ed the Il oncy, ard Wray wrapped it up in
the same way III which he had produced
| it and laid the package on the table, at
the same time saying:
"Now, Tarbot, you should stand some
thing, so ring the bell.
"Why, of course I will, with pleasure"
Tarbot said, and thcreupon Wray playfully
| turned him around and pushed him toward
the bell pull, which hung 10y the side OF the
mantclpiece.
After the men had dunk together they
parted with mutual expressions of good
feeling, Tarbot putting the package into
his pocket and buttonilrg his coat over it.
An hour later he changed his coat for
travelling one and laid the package on "a
chair by Il window, leaving it there while
he went ont upon the gallery and called
the boots to bring him his saddle bags,
which he had been cleaning. Having
slowed away his things in the bags, he put
on his travelling coat, placed the package
in his inside pocket and buttoned the coat
over his breast. Then he mounted his
horse and started for the dwelling of his
fathcr-in- law.
1t was an unusually hot day in Scptem
Der and IA thunderstorm was raging over
the Grampians. Fearing that he might be
hindercd by the swelling stream if he at
tempted to ford it, he rode two or three
miles out of his way to cross it by a bridge.
It was well he did so. for, though he rode
right into the storm and was wet to the
skin, he got on tho safe side of the water,
and the rest of his road was unobstructcd.
Nevertheless so heavy was the storm that
lie took refuge IL u smithy on the outskirts
Of h.,,, lnt a,,1 fl.rn until tho
blast had spent itself When he reached
Squire Norman's dwelling it was past 8.
A roaring fire soon dried his clothes and
hearty supper with HIullod ale speedily put
him to rights internally. As he sat by the
hearth smoking the squire said:
I'VE have a curious visitor here tonight
NOT here exactly either, as you'll see.
When the storm was at its height, a tall,
gauDt man, dressed like q drover came
here for shelter. We gave him all he could
eat and drink, and he Is now asleep, l
suppose in the hayloft. He told us very
strange story. He said he had been east
with drove of cattle and was returning
afoot when the rain caught him. He
managed with some difficulty to ford the
stream, and was making his way along
the bank when he heard cry for help. 1t
turned out, SO far as he could learn, that
man, in attempting to cross, had lost his
footing and was clinging desperately to
the exposed roots of u tree, while the rush
| ing flood was too strong for him to resist
SO as to get hold of the root or anything
else with his feet. 1t was impossible for
| the drovcr to reach him, and he shouted
| that fact across the food. Then the man
cried:
"'I have package OF money here which
| will be washed away if l lose my grip. If
you'll take care of it ion me, I'll share it
with YOU
"'Throw it this way, the drover said.
I am John Cotter and you can hear of me
at the Green Man at Carlisle any day.
with this the stranger hnrled package
toward TIE drovcr, which lie luckily
caught" continued the squire. 'ue
showed us the package and opened it be-
| fore Us all. 1t contained s2, $50 in Bank
| of England notes"
Great Lord" exclaimed Mr.. Tarbot,
clapping his hand to his breast. Can it
| be possible No. l feel it. The package
| is all safe
He opened his coat and drew forth a
brown paper package from the inside
| pocket.
~ tell you what, squire, he said. 81
| burst ont into n cold sweat all over when
| you told INC what the drovcrs package
| contained, for I hive package of money
| for n client amounting precisely to the sum
you named"
| "Why, the drovcr's package is the very
picture of yours, said the squire.
Outside perhaps; outside" said the
lawyer as he opened the package.
Inside there was nothing but a lot of
sheets of worthless paper cut into the size
| Of of Fnplann TnrhOk
| for n time struck dumb.
"Ive been robbed" ho snid savagely,
| but restraining his voice. "The package
containing my clients money has been
| stolen and this worthless package put in
its place. Your dTovcr squire, is the
thief"
! ''Wcll, it looks like it certainly" said
| the squire. but what would induce the
man if he were the thief to come here and
show me the money and desire 10 stay here
all night? Wouldn't lie have got as far
away with it as possible and just rs quick
| ly as he could?'
1T seems 50 certainly" Tarbot an
swcrcd Nevertheless the circumstances
are so rem arkablc that l think steps ought
10 be take / at once by you as q magistrate
to secure the drovcr II he hasn't shown
pair of clean heels already"
81 agree with you," said the squire,
"and l will send for the constable at once
and arrest him.
While a servant was quickly dispatched
for the officer of tho law, the squire and
Tarbot each armed with pistol, quilted
the house by the rear, and, being provided
with a lantern, went to the stable over
which was the hayloft where tho drover
was supposed to he. Ascending the ladder
without noise, the lawyer threw tho light
of the lantern across the floor. There,
sure enough, lay the gaunt form OF the
drover, with every sign upon it of deep
sleep. Nevertheless when the constable
arrived the droyer was aroused and, much
to his surprise, was informed that he was
prisoner. After he heard the explanation
! of the fact he laughed heartily and said: