nd the witnesses had assembled at
the office of Squire Norwood.

"We have our witness here," said Mr. Simonton, with one of his
pleasantest and blandest smiles--"Colonel Montague."

The justice bowed to the distinguished witness, and requested Squire
Gilfilian to produce the five hundred dollar bill, which was promptly
done. Squire Norwood then rehearsed the evidence which had been given at
the former hearing. The letter had been left on Mr. Gilfilian's desk; it
had disappeared, and the bank bill it had contained was paid to Mr.
Gilfilian by Mrs. Taylor, to cancel a mortgage on her husband's house.
One of the defendants had denied all knowledge of the letter after he
put it on the desk, and the other, refusing to explain where she had
obtained the bill, had been arrested as a party to the crime, or as
accessory to it.

"This is the bill," continued Squire Norwood, handing it to Colonel
Montague, who examined it for a moment. "Have you any knowledge of that
bill?"

"I have."

"Do you identify it?"

"Fully. I gave this bill to Mrs. Taylor last Thursday afternoon, about
sunset, on board of my yacht."

This evidence produced a decided sensation among the spectators. Squire
Gilfilian sprang to his feet, and Captain Chinks, who was toying with
his pocket-knife, turned as red as a red cabbage.

"On what account did you pay Mrs. Taylor five hundred dollars, Colonel
Montague?" demanded Mr. Gilfilian.

"She was in my employ many years ago. She came on board of my yacht last
Thursday, and told me her husband would lose his house if a mortgage
upon it of five hundred dollars was not paid; that the mortgage was
already foreclosed, and the house was to be advertised for sale. Under
these circumstances, I loaned her the money to save her from being
turned out of house and home," replied Colonel Montague, deliberately,
but with more agitation than the case seemed to warrant.

"You are confident that this is the same bill?" added Squire Norwood.

"Perfectly confident; I declare upon oath that it is the same bill."

"Now, Colonel Montague, where did you obtain this bill?"

"At Bar Harbor, Mount Desert."

"Of whom?"

"I have really forgotten the name of the gentleman, but he came to Mount
Desert in a small yacht, and had a very rough passage. He was quite
sick, and told me he was disgusted with yachting in a small craft. He
had just sold his boat for half her cost, and had received this five
hundred dollar bill in paym