Scarcely had she retired, before my curiosity was intensely excited to learn the contents of the concealed package.  I ventured into the room with the intention of satisfying myself.  I no sooner placed my hand upon the package, than I felt the blood seemingly curdling in my veins.  The thought that I was about to act the part of a dishonest man impressed me deeply.  I reflected a moment, and then dropped the package, and hastened to leave the room.  As I turned from the bedside, my desire to know the contents of the package came upon me with a redoubled force.  The passion was too violent for resistance, for I was confident some of these letters were written by men I had known from my infancy.  Whether I acted properly or improperly, an impartial public must determine; but after thinking upon the subject a moment, I turned, grasped the package, and bore it off under the keenest sensations of alarm and fear of detection.  I hastened down stairs and made my way to the house of a man by the name of Watkins.  He was a good man, and a sincere friend to me.  His wife was a kind-hearted and benevolent woman.  I met her at the door, and told her a friend of mine had given me this package to take care of, and I would let her see the contents at another time.  She took it and laid it away; I then hastened to the prison to meet Mrs. B——­, who I knew expected me to accompany her, or to be present with her that day.  Could I get to the prison as soon, or sooner than she, suspicion of my having taken the package would be lessened.  I soon found myself at the prison gate.  The lady had not yet arrived.  The prisoners were standing around the door on the inside.  I waited some ten minutes, when I heard B. say he did not see what could detain his wife so long.  I stepped to the door and remarked that I had been waiting some time, and was expecting her every minute.  Immediately she made her appearance and remarked,

“You have got here before me.  I looked for you before I left.”

I had observed her looking into the room I occupied, when she was about leaving the house; I, however, was in an opposite one, occupied by another boarder.  After conversing a short time with her husband, she remarked, that she must return to the house, as she had left the package where it might be found.  She called upon me to accompany her.  I did so, and we soon arrived at the house.  I remained below while she hastened up stairs to her room.

In a few minutes she came running to the head of the stairs and called me; I immediately answered her.

“Green,” said she, “some person has been robbing my room.”

I felt as though I was suspected, for “a guilty conscience needs no accusing.”

“What have you had taken?” asked I.

“Oh!  I have”——­then she paused, as if studying what to say.  In the mean time, the landlady had heard her say she had been robbed, and hastened to the place where we were standing, but being unobserved from the excitement, was occupying a position at Mrs. B.’s back.