CHAPTER III.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 85, 17 January 1885, Page 4

CHAPTER 111.

So agitated and overcome was I that it was some time before I realised that I, too, was a prisoner. However, it was so ; but I had no anxiety on that score ; explanation would be sufficiont to restore me to liberty. I yielded without a protest, thankful enough to find myself under the careful guard of the stern policomen. Little did I think then of what was about to happen me. 1 had not reckoned on the calculating villainy of my old enemy. He had so entangled me in the transactions, so carefully put on me personally his responsibilities of his nefarious transactions, that when I heard my solicitor unfold the evidence against me as an accomplice I was horror-struck. I was a known companion of Macfarlano. I had concealed his identity with an embezzler. I had passed numerous false notes, taking advantage of my secure business reputation. I had oven acknowledged to tbo gang that I had been a partner in their swindling transactions. Worst of all, Maciarlano was ireo. He had given information to the authorities ot the meeting of the forgers, and then quietly absconded, whither no one knew. 1 furnished overy particular about him, but all attempts to track him failed. Now that this schoiro ot rovenge and ' profit had succeeded, it was easy fur mo to boo how it had been accomplished, and to wondor at my own blunders in never suspecting that 1 was being made a victim Having once put mo oil' my guard by professing his gratitude for my pioaocution of him, he gave mo the note to change, with the idea of my making it a test of his honesty. Ho was waiting for mo at the bank next morning, with his pockotbook open, to display the magnitude of his trans I actions. He came to my firm because we could supply him with easily convertible goods which, when melted, could not bo braced. The gold he fchowed mo was bogus. Tho cheque ho gavo me on the morning of my arrest was dishonored. Everything was managed to get as much as pos?ible out of mo first and then involve me m ruin. 1 had almost resigned myself to being found guilty. Judge, then otmy joy, when my solicitor brought mo the news one morning of tho capture of Macfarlano. It had been oll'ected in the mo&t unexpected way. So far as wo knew all the members of tho gang had assembled on that memorable night. There was, however, one exception — a man named Barker was dolayed. Ilc arrived at the house an hour or two late, thought that things looked stiange, and found the police in possession. Jlo naturally withdrew, 110 heard full details of the capture, and then went to find Macfarlano, who owed him personally a considerable sum. Macfarlane was not to be found. But Barker persevored, tracked him at last, and demanded his monoy. Macfarlano refused it ; Barker wont tho samo day to inform the authorities of Macfarlane's whereabouts, offering to turn Queen's evidence, an offer that was accepted. The result of the evidence that he produced was that the jury inclined to the belief that 1 had been a victim, and I wa3 adjugod not guilty. But though I left the court proclaimed to be an innocent man, none the le?s was I aware that Macfarlane had kepfc to the letter the vow ho made to bo revengod on me. — "All the Year Hound."

In the course of tho next few weeks wo executed a valuable serios of orders for him. He always paid me himself on the delivery of the goods. The payment was invariably in notes or gold. Only once did he offer me a checque. I took it, and it was honoured without question. His partner arrived in the courso of ten days or so, and Macfarlane introduced me, apologising first for tho want of refinement observable in him. "He's a rough diamond, a self-made man. But he has money and honesty, and knows hid business." As I had scarcely any transactions with him personally, 1 could not object to his appcaranco and manners ; but 1 should have put him down as a villain of considerably deep dye had not Macfarlane given him so good a character. Business became oven more brisk between Muctarlano and our firm. At tho end of a f'oitnight tho fonnor showed mo a largo consignment of metal which he had just leceived. He promised to send it to us the next morning. The same day we took for a socond time a chocque from him. The reason of his o tiering it was that ho had been obliged to pay on tho spot for duties, etc., of the gold. I received it without a misgiving. "I wish you'd como and spend a quiet evening with me and a few others," he slid, as he handed me tho cheek. <l l have been making some arrangements which I think may open up u new field for both ol vis. Will you come!" 1 assented. Ho gavo mo an address— a new one. Ho warned me that it was not a swell afl'air, that the men I should meet were of the type of Kichardi-on. Having plenty of time on my hands, I walked to the rendezvous at tho time appointed, but was overtaken by Macfarlane a low yards from tho door. j "I'm rather late," he said. I've had a little business to see to. Gome along." Ho took my arm and led tho way " by a short cut," as ho said, to a house in a street not fur from Soho Square. A latchkey gave I him admittance to a passage, at tho end of which were stairs, up which we clambered. "Brutal hole this is," he explained ; " but it holds moie money than you would believe, i Hero wo are." He pushed open a door and übhered mo into a large loom, almost bare of furniture and half tilled with tobacco smoke. Macfarlano was greeted with words from most of the men, fcomo of whom did not appear to be very woll disposed toward him. " You'ro late," said one with an oath. " Yes, I know," was tho answer. " Ricl> ardson, you know this gentleman, I believe ; will you introduce him ?" " Why don't you do it yourself?" Mas his reply. " I want to look out some samples from the next room," said Macfarlane. " I shall be back in half a minuto." He slid out of tho room leaving mo rather uneasy. The company was an ill-looking one. Even making allowance for the fact' that they were miners, perhaps, and self j made men, their appearance was unprepossessing. " This is the gentleman that helps to distribute," said Kichardson to the company generally. "I wonder how much sticks to him, "said one speaker. "Not .bo much as to that fellow in the next room," muttered another, with a glance toward the door out of -which Macfarlane had departed. A vague fear fell upon mo. What did these strange remarks mean ? "I don't quite understand you," 1 said to Richardson. "Mi Farebrother asked me to meet you to-night on a matter of business." " Exactly, and tho sooner we get to work the better. How much have you te account tor ?'* One thing was plain by this time— that I had been deceived. I was in a nest of hornet?, and I doubted if I could escape without being stung. "If you will wait till Mr Farebrother comes back, he Mill, no doubt, explain why I have come hoio," I said as quietly as I could. "I am at a loss to understand to what you refer." "No, no," said a tall cadaverous man, O)O'ng me suspiciously. "We should liko a settlement of this job without Farobrothor putting his foot into it. Tho less i wo see of him the bettor till we have done with you. How much did you get for that last packet of flimsies ?" The word was a revelation. I knew it was used to denoto forged notes. Like a flash, the wholo thing became clear. I had be en skilfully trapped into being an accomplice of note-foigers. My friend Maefar lane, instead of being a reformed character, was the villain he had always been. Ho had kept his word. This had been his re venge. Fortunately, I did not lose my head. I could eoe that E was among a dosperato set of men. £f countenances told anything, thoy wero an unmitigated lot of scoundrels. Should I cross them I would repent it. I resolved that the safest thing to do was to pretend that I was the accomplice they supposed me ; then when I was safely out of their hands, tho police should soon bo on their track. I temporised. I said that known to them as Farebrother— had the accounts of what I had received. I would step into the next room and ask him for them. This was prevented by a man locking the door and swearing I should not leavo the room till their demands were satisfied. I listened patiently to the confused uproar of voices. As far as I could gather, Macfarlane, who seemed the chief of the coiners, had taken considerable quantities of notos, stating that a friend of his was passing them very successfully. After some time had elapsed, and he had produced very small amounts for distribution, pressure was put on him, and he promised that his agent should come and himself clear up the balance due. I was the agent, and now they demanded, in no measured terms, sums amounting to I soveral hundred pounds. I explained that Macfarlane had deceived them ; that I had never received the sums. I was rudely searched, and several notes and Macfarlane's cheque were found on me. The threats became more violent. I began to fear for my safety, when there was a sudden hush. Steps were heard on the stairs j the door was rudely shaken, and then burst in, and a file of policemen marched into the room. Never had I seen policemen with such gratitude. I leaped toward them for protection. I was only just in time j there was a loud report, and I felfe a bullet whiz past my ear. I almost suffered the reward of a traitor, for the gang evidently thought that I had betrayed them.