Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-10

"You, you three gi- ladies = mid I
az confess that they did, said Browler
quietly, - If he were mentioning theil
subscription to race-cup.
l stared rather blankiy 1t the four pairs
of spectacles which were trained on my
devoted face, and at the four sin-hardened
yisages, which were - calm - II the only
crime they knew of was an excessive ami.
ability. "The hue and cry AFTER me WA
something frightful," continued Browler,
/" but Il was unsuccessful. I came to this
city, obtained my present situation, and
under the name Of Browler have been .
happy man, but sill . robber--An un-
doubled and confessed robber."
The three ladies' were stu g quiet sSd
demure % possible, while Browler made
the last retention with an elasticity that
nearly approached tone Of triumph.
"The papers credited me with defal.
cation amounting TO quarter OF .
million, though it was really mot 20 large.
The miAppropriation WAS effected BY sur
reptitious advances obtained on products
under storage, and the replacement By
forged notes of checks intended for the
liquidation Of claima All was skillfully
and neatly done, and the springing Of the
trap found me In possession Of sufficient
funds for my expenses, hey, girs!
"Quite plenty" said Miss Amsbel
"Yes, indeed, quite enough" rejoined
Miss Belinda.
Certainly" added Miss Cora.
What sort Of people had fallen
among did not know, but sensation OF
fear crept over me as realized that they
would not consider the cutting Of my
throat In any more serious light than the
cutting of q dress. Those cold-blooded
staring glasses, the prim slate colored
dresses, the thin cheeks, were TO my mind
exempfars of = systematic cruelty and
villainy, that to fly from was no cow
ardice.
"Mr. Browler," said I, hastily spring
One moment, Mr.. Smy.he, beg Of
you :" he touched me on the shoulder
with his odious white hand, and ! sat
down again.
any irregularity WAS the final act which
disclosed the position of AFFAIR." and the
total failure Of the house instantly fol-
lowed. The crash was felt far snd wide.
They rushed through the Bankruptcy
court and paid forty Two cents. The war
broke out, Mr.. O'Neil became separated
from his beloved family, and finding him
self without power. 70 reach Nen, hit
upon the idea of making money nut OF the
war. This was done, have reSon to be-
lieve, on an article called burlaps, which
the Government made extensive use Of
You know that have been discovered by
\ singular accident, and / will TO place
myself in communication with 1r. O'Neil,
who is now two hundred mics OF, and
who by the way is still totallylost TO his
family, wishing to get arrangements for
settlement with his creditors completed,
before making the happy disclosure to his
family"
"But where is the money YOU st-you
"StOle, that's IT,"
"Gone mostly for kickshws,"-this
from Miss Amabel.
wines and horses" said Miss Belinda.
"Ormolu clocks, Turkey carpets, arti.
cles of vertu," rejoined Miss Cora, allow.
ing her glasses to roam about DE- room.
"Gencral debauchery, my dears," said
Browler, coughing behind his haad.
"Yes," they answered in concert,
turning their glasses full upon me- "gen-
eral debauchery."
"Mr. Browler," said I, getting up, be.
ing unwilling If not afraid to trust myself
with people whose only merit wn their
possible lunacy, understand that you
wish me to take . message TO Mr..
O'Neil."
Eyes, Mr.. Smythe, am not at liberty
TO 90 into explanations, bat merely as
sure you that If you will kindly do so,
you will be serving the interests Of hon.
esty and not rascality."
Eyes," said the chorus "our obligation
will be very great"
II will 90 on condition that your broth.
or will give his word of honor as q gentle.
man and book keeper, that he will not
run of before can return" said this
with the dignity of fellow Of principle
who was holding . scourge over iniquity.
The promise was given with reclamation,
and Browler wrung mYhand, which lib
erty I tolerated loftily. He gave me my
and parting bumper OF cider,
which, coming from the Ubiquitous hands
of Belinda, and being mllled by thiefs
hot poker, nearly strangled me to death.
Assured Of my abs:ncc being satsstacto-
rily accounted for at the once, / Lett In
the midst of thanks and blessingA for my
two days. trip. What would Baxter have
called mes How miserable would have
felt, had he turned up ON thlt wretched
ride. The. vision Of his contempt made
me very uncomfortable, and reproached
myself that had fallen 20 low - to be
the emissary of blackleg.
This was Thursday night; I could Ar.
rive at my destination, complete my OBJ
ject, and be again 1T the Office On Saturday
noon. I was sorry ct not being able TO be
on the ground to watch the progress OF
affairs, but consoled myself ct being ad-
mittod above Baxter to the secret OF the
matter. unhallnKed though 1t MA OF
the three women had the meanest opin-
ion; that Browler could cheat was an ev-
ident thing, but that his three sisters
should tolerate his knavery and reap the
advantage 20 coolly, was not punishable
on earth. / found Mr.. O'Neil
who was conducting his opera
tons under the name Of Townsend. be.
hind q sugar refinery, and he turned out
to be Q tall, gentlemanly, gray-haired
man, but who received me with tribe Of
GOODNESS and suspicion. But ! had nc
sooner mentioned the name Of Van Colt
In whisper. than he seized my hand and
burst INTO tears, instead of flying of into
. paroxysm of fury ~ I fully expected h
would.
"A