On one of the last occasions that I was in that vicinity, the train on which I was traveling stopped for a few moments at this station. It was a delightful summer's day, and if the objects which met my eye, as I gazed up and down the street, had not been, many of them, monuments to me of a melancholy history, I should have thought that the place yielded in beauty to few of the villages which adorn New England. But a stranger occupied the store where the unfortunate B. maintained the contest with his rivals; the post office was in other hands; and I was just turning away from a scene that suggested nothing but unpleasant reminiscences, when Squire W. emerged from the station-house, and cordially addressed me. This was the first time I had seen him, since our memorable interview in his office. "Good morning, Mr. H.," said he; "how is the rogue-catching business now? I suppose you have disposed of a good many since you despatched B. so summarily. When I first heard of his arrest, feeling sure of his innocence as I did, I don't know that I should have been much surprised if you had come after me next; and I felt a little sore, to tell you the truth, to think that my endorsement of him had so little weight with you. But I have since seen that you were perfectly right about it, though I am sorry that poor B. should have turned out so badly." Here the iron horse began to manifest indications of impatience, and shaking hands with the worthy Squire, we went our several ways. CHAPTER IV. High Crimes in low Places--Honest Baggage-masters--Suspicious Circumstances--Watching the Suspected--Shunning the Dust--Honesty Triumphant--An Episode--Unexpected Confession--The Night Clerks--Conformity to Circumstances--Pat the Porter--Absents himself--Physician consulted--The Dead Child--Hunting Excursions--"No Go"--Pat explains his Absence--His Discharge--The Grave-stones--Stolen Money appears--The Jolly Undertakers--Pat at the Grave--More Hunting--Firing a Salute--Removing the Deposits--Crossing the Ferry--Scene at the Post Office--Trip to Brooklyn--Recovery of Money--Escape--Encounter with a Policeman--Searching a Steamer--Waking the wrong Passenger--Accomplices detained--Luxuries cut off--False Imprisonment Suit--Michael on the Stand--Case dismissed. Public confidence in the United States Mail, and in the integrity of those connected therewith, never perhaps received a severer shock than that which it suffered from the extensive robberies committed in the Summer and Fall of 1853, by Pat R., at that time a night porter in the New York Post Office. The range of _his_ ambition was by no means commensurate with his humble station in life and the post office, and his menial occupation did not repress aspirations which could render him a fit rival to such men as Swartwout and Schuyler, both by the extent of his schemes of villany, and the success with which they were carried on.