Saved From Prison.

SAVED FROM PRISON .

" THAT reminds me , " remarked Bro . Schmoker , " of an adventure that befell me some twenty odd years ago , while returning from a business tri p to New York . " The above was the introductory to a new story brought out by the closing sentence of an adventure in the Sierra

Nevadas , just related by the Grand Lecturer , Bro . Leming , who was on an official visit to our place . We had been to the lodge that evening listening to an exemplification of the work . Closing at an early hour , some half dozen of us , at the

invitation of Bro . Burch , repaired to his office for the purpose of spending a little time in social chat , before the final separation for the night . Bro . Schmoker being a dealer in the article , stopped at his store on the way , and took in a fresh supplof

y cigars , knowing full well that all but myself were his namesakes , at least b y habit and education , if nothing more . Bro . Leming had spent several years of his life on the Pacific slopes , and had experienced many hair-breadth escapes . He had just

completed the recital of one that occurred during a stage ride over the mountains , by which he came near losing his life , the conclusion of which "reminded" Brother Schmoker as stated at the opening . Said he :

_ I was , and had been for several years , living at Lancashire , Ohio , plying my regular avocation of manufacturing and dealing in cigars . It was my usual custom to make a tri p to New York about once a year , for the purpose of purchasing stock ,

and as railroads were not so common in those days as at present , I did a portion of my travelling by the old-fashioned stagecoach . The term " over the mountains " used to be as familiar as "household words " to residents and tradesmen of the

towns along the Ohio river , from Pittsburg down , even as far in the interior as the place of my residence , We steamboated it as far as steamboats could run , and then took stage over the mountains , to connect with other conveyances on the eastern side .

It was during my return from one of these annual trips to the metropolis that an adventure happened , which came near putting me behind the bars of a Pittsburg

prison , the particulars of which I shall never forget so long as I retain my senses ; more especially as I was wholly innocent of the charge brought against me , backed as it was by circumstantial evidence of the strongest kind . And to Masonry , brethren , am I indebted for saving me from incarceration in a felon ' s cell .

Of course , Pittsburg was a little out of the usual route to New York from our place , but on this particular occasion , after transacting my business , I returned by way of that city , to secure some hands to work in the factory . Passing through Baltimore and arriving at CumberlandI

, took passage in the stage by the old plank road over the mountains to West Newton , where I expected to take boat for the " iron city . " The stage was full , and among the passengers was a rough , disagreeable fellow ,

whose name , as I subsequently learned , was Crabbs . He seemed determined to make all about him as uncomfortable as possible , by his bragging , swaggering manner ; and to add largely to the disagreeableness of the situation , he managed , at every halt of the stage , to take in a considerable quantity of whiskey . The fellow had a double-barrelled pistol in his possession

which he frequently exhibited , giving at each exhibition a different account as to how he came by it , until every one in the coach became annoyed , disgusted , and in fact alarmed lest some accident should happen from the weapon , which was apparently loaded . This state of affairs

continued until just before reaching the Youghiogheny river , which is the principal feeder of the Monongahela , when an accident happened to the stage , by which we were detained several hours—so long in fact that we did not arrive at the end of

our route , West Newton , a little town some thirty five miles above Pittsburg , until midnight . Being obliged to wait over for the morning boat , we sought the only hotel in the place , which we found already pretty well filled with guests . Naturally quiet aud unobtrusive , I was the last one to receive attention . The landlord informed me that

my only chance was to share a bed with this man , Crabbs . At first 1 positively declined the honour , but on ascertaining that the landlord's statement was correct , I very reluctantly consented . We were imme-