The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-03-03

"My irregularity was the final act which
disclosed the position of affairs, and the
| total failure of the house instantly fol.
lowed. The crash was felt far and wide
They rushed through the Bankruptcy
court and paid fOrty-two cents. The wal
broke out, Mr.. O'Neil became separated
from his beloved family, and finding him
self without power to reach them, hit
upon the idea of making money ont of the
war. This was done, have reason 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 l wish to place
myself in communication with Mr.. O'Neil
who is now two hundred miles of, anC
who by the way is still totally lost to hiI
family, wishing to get arrangements fol
settlement with his creditors completed
before making the happy disclosure to bis
| family"
But where is the money yeu st-you
ah-hum-"
"StOlc. that's it."
| "Gone mostly for kickshaws,"-thii
from Miss Amabel.
| "Wines and horses" said Miss Belinda
"OrmOlu clocks, Turkey carpets, arti.
clcs of vertu," rejoined Miss Cora, allow
ing her glasses to roam about the room.
"General debauchery, my dears," said
Browler, coughing behind bis hand.
EYES," they answered in concert
turning their glasses full upon me, "gen.
eral debauchery."
"Mr. Browler," said 1, getting up, be.
ing unwilling if not afraid to trust myself
with people whose only merit was their
possible lunacy, understand that you
wish me to take message to Mr.
| O'Neil."
"Yes, Mr.. Smythe, am not at liberty
to go into explanations, but merely as
sure you that if you will kindly do so,
you will be serving the interests OF hon
esty and not rascality."
"Yes," said the chorus, "our obligation
will be very great"
81 will 90 on condition that your broth
er will give his word of honor as gentle
man and book-keeper, that he will not
run off before l can return" l said this
with the dignity of fellow Of principle
who was holding q scOurge over iniquity.
The promise was given with acclamation,
and Browler wrung my hand, which lib
| erty tolerated loftily. He gave me my
directions and parting bumper of cider,
which, coming from the iniquitous hands
of Belinda, and being mulled by thief's
hot poker, nearly strangled me to death.
Assured of my absence being satistactO-
rily accounted for at the office, left in
the midst of thanks and blessings, for my
two days trip. What would Baxter have
called me? How miserable would / have
felt, had he turned up on that wretched
ride. The vision of his contempt made
me very uncomfortable, and reproached
IoI r,1l 70 ha
the emissary OF black-leg.
This was Thursday night; l could ar
rive at my destination, complete my OBJ
ject, and be again at the Office ON Saturday
noon. | was sorry at not being able to be
on the ground to watch the progress OF
affairs, but consoled myself at being ad-
mitted above Baxter to the secret of the
matter, unhallowed though 1t was 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 so coelly, was not punishable
on earth. / found Mr.. O'Neil,
who was conducting his opera,
tions under the name of Townsend, be-
hind sugar refinery, and he turned out
to be tall, gentlemanly, gray haired
man, but who received me with trifle of
GOODNESS and suspicion. But l had no
sooner mentioned the name of Van Colt
in whisper, than he seized my hand and
burst into tears, instead of flying off into
paroxysm of fury as fully expected he
would.
"Bless my soul! and so you know the
gentleman? you know where he lives
how to direct me to him."
81 do know him, sir, but also know
Sardanapalus, Jonathan Wild, Warren
Hastings, Jack Sheppard, and Ross" said
l, tartly. He looked at me curiously for
a moment, while /, ruffled with indIgna-
ton, gazed back at him.
"And so you don't know"
"But | do know that he is defaulter,
an infamous vulture, stupendous Uriah
Heep"
BLESS himr" said he, half thou ght-
fully.
His three sisters are also well, and
ready to try their hands again at similar
business" l added by way of sarcasm.
Upon my soul, sir, hope they may
never have the requirement, but long
live their pluck, ingenuity, and sympa.
thy" There was no understanding all
this, and gave it up in disgust.
/ yawned, and wished myself. back at
the office again, with Baxter and the rest,
instead of being go-between of set of
fools and knaves.
He asked some other foolish questions,
and | answered them in like manner
He seemed very much agitated all through
our conversation, fact | could have ac-
counted for, had he exulted at the pros
pect of the capture of old BrOwler, but
which in view of his apparent liking for
that man was to me inexplicable, and so
gave it up.
He was very civil, though, and gave me
a crushing dinner with claret, and a box
at the theatre afterward, which put me on
good terms with all but his brains
He said he would follow me to town
and hunt up Van Colt instantly, and all
would be right. / therefore posted back
to the city at twelve p. M, on Friday,
and entered the Office at ten a. M, Sat
urday
There was an awful row directly. Bax-
ter gave me credit for more wickedness
than ever knew of and it was not until
l threatened to whip of my jacket that
he became bearable.
Where was BrOwler!
ARRESTED! Put in the station house
Thursday night"
"Good gracious, who did that?"
"I die" said O'Neil, swinging himself
around on his stool. "Do you object,
hey?"
mo, he deserved it, and his sisters
too"
"You're fellow of sense; all the rest
set me down for stupid. If man is not
to be punished for robbing you of house,
home, father, property, and making you
go to work in such confounded stable
as this is, should like to know it -
Although 1 appeared very just and
stern, must say l was little sorry for
the old fellow, after all. 1t would come
hard on him in his old age to be put to
breaking stones, and all that Baxter said
that he heard that they had to put five
bullets into him before he gave in to the
officers. He and his sisters barricaded the
dining room doors and windows, and laid
in stock of Colts revolvers, and they
ODly brought them to terms bv soIlirtinp