Saved From Prison.

diately shown to an ordinary-sized hotel bedroom , containing , besides the bed , a couple of rickety chairs , a bureau surmounted by a broken mirror , and a threadbare carpet on the floor . The room had but one window , and one door , the one at which we entered . I noticed all these thintrs

particularly , as there was a presentiment in my mind that " something was going to happen . " The midnight hour ; the suspicious character thrust upon me for room mate ; the strangeness of the place all tended to impress me very unfavourably . However , I removed my outer clothing ,

laying it across one of the chairs , and with the door ajar , crept into bed . Being greatly fatigued , tired nature soon found repose in refreshing sleep . How long a time elapsed I cannot say , perhaps a couple of hours , when my bed-fellow hit me a violent blow with his elbow , which roused me to perfect consciousness at once .

" I have lost my money , said he . " How much had you 1 " "Fifty dollars . " "I think you must be mistaken about the loss . I am certain no one has entered the room since we retired . Yon will probably find it all right in the morning . "

" I tell you it has been stolen , " and he fumbled about some time , but finally quieted down again , and I fell into another sleep , which lasted without further interruption until daylight , when he suddenly leaped from the beddeclaring that his money ,

, amounting to one hundred dollars had been stolen . I also arose , dressed myself , and went below . Meeting the landlord , I related what had transpired during the night , declaring my belief that the fellow was an impostor and a cheat . Crabbs soon

followed me , and intimated that I had stolen his money . Would have me arrested , & c , on our arrival at Pittsburg . The boat was to leave at eight , consequently a half hour after breakfast found us all

aboard , anxious to be under way . The day proved to be a pleasant one , and the rugged mountainous scenery of the Youghiogheny and Monongahela rivers particularly attracted my attention . The boat had a fair load of passengers , both men and womenand it very soon became

evi-, dent to me that the man Crabbs had quietly circulated the report among them that I was a thief , as all eyes were upon me with that peculiarly suspicious look

that always attaches to a suspicious character . Even the bar-tender , when I asked for a cigar , had the boldness to insult me with the remark , " You can afford to smoke good cigars , after making such a haul . " It annoyed me very much , aud I kept aloof from the other passengers as much as

possible . I was standing at the stern of the boat leaning against the railing , admiring the beautiful landscape , that presented an ever varying appearance , when two Virginian gentlemen stepped up and publicly accused me of the theft . Crabbs stood near me with his hand on the stock of his

pistol . My first impulse was to spring upon and toss the scoundrel overboard . I could have accomplished the feat easily enough , but a second thought interfered in time to save me from committing an act that might have resulted in terminating the fellow ' s life . I patiently bore the jibes

and insults , that continued to increase in volume with every hour . Knowing 1 was entirely innocent of the charge , I carefully avoided every provocation for a disturbance , that my accuser was constantly trying to fasten upon me . I was a stranger

among strangers , and the circumstances were very much against me . The conviction seemed to be firmly fixed in every mind that I was a thief . What could I do but wait patiently our arrival

in Pittsburg , where I felt certain something would turn up to clear me from the foul aspersion . What that something might be I could not clearly define . I was a stranger even there . I could , however , telegraph home for references . Timewith never-ceasing treadat last

, , brought us to high twelve and the boat to Pittsburg . I went directly to the Monongahela House , and after registering , entered the dining-room for dinner . The meal being finished , I started to go out and was met at the door by a

roughspoken policeman , who at once p laced me under arrest . He searched my person and baggage , but found only fifteen dollars in money , all I had about me , together with bills and receipts covering my recent purchases in New York .

I was immediately taken before the mayor , and with the view of making the best possible defence , asked for an attorney . Colonel Samuel Black was recommended to me , who being present , consented to act in my behalf . A private interview