Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-05-14
The Story Trller.
"MY PRISONER. SIR !"
How the Robber Deceived the Agent

had crossed the Allegheny noun
tains from Cumberland to Brownsville
in the stage. had occupied a week
in the passage, stopping at the several
towns to perform the business of the
agency with which was intrusted.
A few days before my arrival at u,
the bank there had been robbed, and
the town was in a state of intense ex'
citement on account of the robbery
As there was comparatively but little
passing to and from the place, almost
every man in the village had made up
his mind that this or that person whom
he had seen was the robber-only he
had left the place. 1t was of course
very fortunate for the poor travellers
that hardly two of the village agreed
as to the identity of any single person
with the bold william.
1t did not occur to me that l might
myself be suspected, and 1 left the
place conscious that my looks were
more than enough to shield me from
suspicion. U. is only - miles from
Brownsville, and on my arrival at this
place, I put up at the hotel to remain
few days; but my business being
fortunately disposed of in few hours,
decided to take the evening boat for
Pittsburg.
At dinner I sat next to dashing
sort of person, who presently intro.
duced himself as Captain Ford, OF
New York. He was gentleman, so
far as could judge in the short inter
view, and I was pleased to make his
acquaintance. We spent the after
noon together till four o'clock, when
we both went on board the steamer.
The captain was quite communica-
tive, and told his history for the pre-
ceding 20 years, a portion of which
period had been passed at sea, as cap
tain of a Liverpool packet. Our in
timacy ripened into a very excellent
feeling, and we took the same state
room for the night.
"You stopped at Uniontown, l think
you said ?" remarked my friend, as we
seated ourselves in the saloon after
supper. ;,
"Yes, 1 was there couple of days"
"Of course you heard that the bank
was robbed"
81 did; but it was two or three days
before my arrival"
"That was lucky for you"
"Why SOP"
because every person who has
passed through the place within fort
night previous to the robbery has been
suspected of the crime. You would
not take me for bank robber, l pre-
sume?"
"Certainly not"
"Yet 1 am satisfied that suspicion
rested upon me, though I was not
openly charged with the crime"
"Impessible!"
81 think so. 1t is decidedly annoy
ing to be suspected of such an offence. "
"Well, I don't know if man is
innocent, why should he care ?"
II don't feel so"
"Sometimes, you know, circumstan-
ces give a color to suspicious. For ex-
ample, one having great deal of
money about him, finds himself the
possessor of some bills of this very
bank that has been robbed. OF course
they are scattered all over the coun-
try"
Very true 1 doubt not have some
of the bills of the L. bank"
II know that have"
l pulled out my pocketbook, and
found I had about SIS of the money.
Captain Ford also produced two $50
bills.
~ got a 500 bill changed in Cum
berland, and received these notes.
After this conversation, we went out
upon the gallery and smoked cigar /;
but the night was too dark and damp
to remain outside, and we returned to
the cabin. As we entered the saloon,
l noticed that a rough looking fellow,
who had followed us out, who was
close upon our heels as we returned.
He seemed to take no special notice
of us, though l observed that he placed
himself very near us.
The captain and myself had some
further conversation in regard to the
bank, which, however, was introduced
by me. Two or three times | caught
the rough-looking fellow in the act Of
paying very close attention to our re-
marks, and with a sudden conclusion,
l jumped at the fact that he was in
some manner connected with the rob-
berry. He did not look any too good
to be engaged in such an enterprise.
/ called Captain Ford's attention to
the man, and he conceded with me in
the belief that he was connected with
the affair in some manner. In order
to try him, we rose and walked to the
farther end of the boat. He followed
us, evidently paying the closest atten-
tion to every word we uttered.
"Have you a warrant for his ar
rest ?" l asked my companion, loud
enough to be heard by the listener,
winking at him at the same time.
"Yes-at least, should not scruple
to take him."