Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-04-11


o how guilty did l feell II had
actually been instrumental In bringing
about jerry's death. and had purpose
ly deceived and cheated the insurance
company. question II l should have
felt worse.
81 never had any intention TO In
sure my unele's life,"' / cried, in q
tone that was intended to terrify, but
which seemed TO hayc quite contra
ry effect, for Sykes laughed, and his
laugh Is one Of the most disagreeable
you ever heard. II sounded then
more hideous than the howl Of hy-
ena.
"IIal hal hal You didn't. hey?
That's good one. I'D like to know
how came TO ask our president about
IL, and Why he consulted the finance
committee. II you didn't tell me TO in
qu;re about IL? Ha! haI''
This was terriblel The president
Of tha, company was man for whom
| had high respect. and in the Board
Of Directors were two gentlemen with
whom was personally acquainted.
There was no knowing what Sykes
had said TO them, or what arguments
he had used 10 induce them to take
this risk. Horrible thoughts passed
through my mind, shaping themselves
into a prison, myself the inmate. my
character blasted. my name in all the
papers. my family ruined. Eliza Jane
heart-brokcn. my dear children dis
graced, and ashamed Of their father.
OF course Il will all come out that |
knew Of my uncle's dcath when /
sent Sykes upon this damnable errand.
A fraud, a pslpable cheat, the case
clear as MONDAY, the verdict Of the
jury unanimous without leaving their
seats. The sentence horror!
All these thoughts whirlcd through
my brain In far less time than II has
taken me to record them. l felt as II
l should faint. but. screwing myself
up by q desperate effort.
"Sykes," said I. "you are an i'm
pertinent fool. I had little conver-
sation with you. and may have men.
toned the name Of my uncle. but"
and paused, not knowing exactly
what else TO say.
"WelI. that's too good" replied
Sykes, his laugh now subsidipg 10 y
chucxle. which sounded even more
iiendish than his loud guffaw. "Thas
Is too good. But no matter. There's
no harm done. l thcnght / was doing
you favor. Ihad hard work TO per-
suadc them to agree TO do your cos
founded old uncle, and now am n
fool for my pains. am II"
/ succeeded, at length, In pacifying
the fellow. and compelled him to own
that he must have misunderstood me.
| offered. indeed. to give him the
amount OF the commission he would
have made II the insurance had been
effected; but he refused II stoutly. /
never knew him to refuse Eve dol
lar bill before; but that's no matter.
VIVA. want 70 get at. a'is ano'rer very
e"s'oas 0v'''''ue"'' '""' ""PP'"'u '"'
same n'ghI
ais was y lsve'"aon %aae ., IN 70 u
s''',' no'a ~ ano'ne, ps's VI 'ne .''y'
70, no" a''cnoeu .ne's mee"ngs
whenever an opportunity onereu. on
Tue wno'e, 'n's was very 'oonsn ana
unp'on'ao'e ga,ner'ns Inc mcu'"m
was raw manu- ~ 'ne ous'ness, OF
s,se 'he sp'r''s were very lerverse'
~, no one OF US oo.s'nea any sa''s'ac,oh'
ine r"ps 'alne, 'naeeu' ou' IN such "
ne''ef-ske''e' way ina. " was 'mposs'
'o,c 10 translate 'ncm 'no uecen' I'm
gnsn' Inc iaay msue napy apologies,
ana assured Us ,nas sucn 'n'ngs d'a
not o''en occur. one wou'o return our
money y we w'sneu' "a. - mol OF course
no'' ~ "''' WV P'''s' ""' NV
her iaui'' rA
l bad scarcely leit her house, on
my way home. when 1t occurred TO
me that, sftersall, had been rash in
reaching the conclusion that the splr'
its had revealed nothing of impor-
lance. l will state the fact just as Il
was. and let the reader Judge. The
question / had proposed, mentally.
was this:
"Who Is my best friend ON sarthg's'
forgot to mention that on this oe-
casion all our questions were propos 4
mentally. it not being necessary. the.
medium said, to speak, or even write
them. had previously asked all con-
ceivable questions about the one thing
uppermost in my mind. the death Of
Jerry and the twenty thousand dollars,
but, rs before observed, had received
no satifactory response. Now / asked.
and, as directed. endeavored to keep
my mind inlently fixed upon the
question:
"Who IS my best friend on earths'
OF course the answer ought to have
been, as the reader very wells knows,
Eliza Jane. for tnat was prepared
out u did not come' anu instead OF II
these three unmean,sg letters, r'J's
L. A ~ a <..4. A.. .