Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-01
A TREASUR RE ESCORT.

purlieus of Westminster behind the sane
tuarv, approached the river She was max.
ing for the bridge, not the beautiful mod
ern structure but the old one, with its
arches and roceSses which We're still in
numbered by the waits and strays of the
great city who had sought this comfortless
shelter for the night. She pressed on at a
rapid pace, almost running in her eager
ness to cover the ground and be at her
journeys end.
Hers WAS perChanCe q
perilous-mission. accepted on the spur Of
the moment, without moment 5 hesita-
ton, as involving great issues-the for
tunes, the fate and future OF one most dear
to her. She must get to Woolwich that
very morning and warn them. \ dark,
deep plot was being hatched, and she held
the clew. The mischief might be prevent
ed, her father saved, if only she could reach
Woolwich in good time. Once there. she
would make a compact with them, would
sell her information. The price should be
the rescue of her erring but long suffering,
sorely tried father, whom overw hclming
trouble and misfortune had led astray.
Inez Nersehoyle, this poorly clad slip Of
a girl, whose dark, handsome face and
gracious gliding walk limited at southern
possibly Spanish-descent was of gentle
birth. Her father was an officer of Horse
artillery, who had served through the pen
insula war US lieutenant in one of the most
famous batteries and was as disting uished
as any man who wore tho jacket But
he had been placed on half pay before the
peace for "a breach OF military discipline
be had always strenulously denied, pro-
testing that he was the victim of grievous
error. His career had been blasted. Moth
ing prospered with him. He could not
live decontly on the small pittance, few
shillings day all that a grateful country
awarded the man who had fought and bled
in its service.
How well Inez remembered the first ap-
pearance of the man who had led her ia
ther astray! He had come to their poor
lodging in a court off the Horseferry road,
calling himself Hiram Eldridge.
There was no surer way to poor Yer
schoyle's heart than to take his side against
the military authorities whom he believed
had so grieyously mispsed him. Mr.. Ell
bridge said he knew al, about it.
Il am satisfied that yOu should seek re-
dress. Present d memorial; have the case
reopened. They will be bound to right
you, to restore you to full pay. II l can
be of any use, command me. l am
thought to be skillful with my PEN
The memorial WAS duly sent to the
Horse guards, and in due course answered
with the stereotyped words that "the com
mandcr in chief saw no reason to reverse
the decision already arrived at in the case
Of Lieutenant Nerschoyle late r. II. a. !"
In the fresh access OF rage and despair
that now overlook tho unhappy man. he
found "A very kindly echo in Eldridge.
The latter swere roundly that it was the
most monstrous piece of injustice ever
known, that it should go before parlia
ment, that Nerschoyle was really being
robbed and plundered and was entitled to
revenge himself to make any sort of re-
prisals.
who could blame you If you did turn
highwayman, or broke into his ma esty 5
pay Office, or laid hands upon lump OF
public money wherever you found it?"
AT least l should blame myself, said
the old officer with much dignity. you
forget. MIR. Eldridge, that am a gentle
man still; a pauper gentleman, perhaps,
but noblesse oblige, and have eaten the
kings salt, worn the kings uniform.
bear the kings commission still"
In those days-a survival of worse, years
back, when the conveyance of specie had
been a hazardous business and gentle
men of the road infested all wild and
lonely places-it was still the rule to send
cash down to Woolwich under escort.
Once a month clerk from Cox S Travelled
from Craig court in post chaise bearing
the money to pay the officers and men of
the Royal artillery. The amount was
Representatives between $1,000 and
4s, 000-and the risk at ono time was IN
doubtedly great. The route lay across
Blackheath common, a locality with u
most evil reputation-as bad as that OF
the Hampstead Heath. Special precau.
tons were therefore taken for the safe con-
duct of the treasure, and sergeant es-
cort Of Horse artillery was invariably de-
tailed to meet the post chaise en- route,
generally at the sign of the Green Man, in
Blackheath village, and escort 1t safely in
to Woolwich.
Eldridge was fully conversant with all
these facts and had long desired a raid up
on the post chaise and its valuable load.
The main difficulty In plotting the opera
ton was to find confederate who could
organize and command a mock escort,
which would nominally protect and really
carry off the treasure.
Eyes, l could do that, I think" said
Verschoyle gloomily. He did not like the
business into which hard necessity was
driving him. 1--WE should want men,
arms, uniforms, horses. 1t viii cost
money
All this Eldridge promised.
"There is one point on which am not
clear" went On Verschoyle. How do
you propose to deal with the real escort?
Are we to avoid it or forestall it, or to
fight it, or what? Not the last trust.
l do not care to face real horse gunners,
good men and true, with my scratch pack,
recruited God knows how or where''-
"No fighting, of course" neryously in
terrupted Eldridge. "It's not my profess
sion. But have very pretty PLAN"
"There must be no violence, except at
the last extremity" sternly observed Yer
scboyle.
"By no means"
After this the preparations proceeded
apace. The month of February was fixed
for the attempt, and Christmas was ~.