Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-03-04

eWNAN W ctehQ " nun w lANNNuN any INb- |
cue that might be attempted by roughs |
who might be hired by Browler's sisters
When we got out Of O'Neil's hearing, |
though, we could not help slipping back |
again. Even Baxter was not quite SO |
hard on him And when we looked at |
his vacant desk, and closed inlSstand and |
remembered how gentle he always was |
with us and oui blunders and how he |
would oftentimes stand between us and |
the officers for any blame that rightly |
belonged 10 us, and how blind he used to |
be to our cuttings-up, we could not help |
thinking that we had no cause of spite |
against him, for he never was anything |
but kind and obliging to us If his shin |
ing old bald head ever bobbed up at any
thing we did, IL would only be 10 wag
once or twico, but never a harsh word !
came from him. He never used to make
us pay for postage stamps, and if his
monthly balance came out within twenty
four hours (as IL did about once in ton),
he used to stand us bottle Of claret,
which we used to drink standing, out of
paper cornucopias.
After we got pretty blue by talking it
| over, Browler's friend boldly proposed we
should visit him at the station house.
This was pretty emphatic, and we were
all silent, but Baxter said we had better do
it, as 1t would be our only chance of tell.
ing him what we thought of him and his
villainy. Then something was said about
carrying some chicken and Rhine wine,
and Baxter assented on the ground that il
would be an additional punishment, as il |
would remind him what his knavery had
deprived him of
had not told O'Neil that knew tho
whereabouts of his father, or in fact any
thing about him whatever, as l did not |
know how Browler might like it, and as
it could not affect O'Neil to wait littlc |
We did not ask him to go with us TO see |
Browler, of course, as it would only make |
1t more disa9reeablc all around.
We provided ourselves with a permit |
from the deputy sheriff, and with trem-
bling legs and humping hearts sat down |
in a row on the edge of the waiting-room |
sofa, to have ourselves announced to |
Browler, who they said was in No. 10.
"The worst one in the whole house."
said Baxter, under his breath. It's |
where they put the violent ones. They |
probably have got him shackled to the |
wall, with his arms and legs stretched out |
spread-eagle, they call it,"
/ never knew fellow of seventeen to |
know as much as Baxter did.
| "If were an officer here, think |
would try the water punishment, Two !
quarts would make Browler tell where |
the money is--he's got such fine bald
| head"
To this we made no reioinder we
were all too busy staring at the long rows
of clubs and pistols hung up against the |
wall, and wondering if Browler would be |
kind to us.
"Hell be very much emacated," whis.
pered Baxter, "and you must not be
| frightened at his eyes nor his thin hands, |
for he's probably well into the prison |
fever by this time"
] Poor Browler. The vision of his suf |
fering was vividly before us, and the |
memory of our hard words about him |
| came strong upon us as we gazed through |
the open door, at the long white washed
corridor with its row of black iron grated
doors. We four trembling little wretches,
or at least three of US, would have given
| worlds to have known that we had fought
O'Neil instead of backing him up.
Suddenly, in the midst of dead silence,
= laugh came from somewhere down that
long dismal passage. 1t was Browler,
for we recognized his voice in spite of the
hollow, ringing reverberations. Welooked
at one another in terror, and more than
half inclined to put off out the door into
the street and leave the prisoner to his
| own reflections.
IL told you so," muttered Baxter, as
! soon as his teeth stopped chattering.
/ He probably imagines himself in the
office, and that they've raised his salary
Before we had time to muster enough
courage to run, turnkey entered and
beckoned to us to follow him. Half choked
and half scared we did so, and skipped
| along over the stone pavement with
tread anything but firm and even.
Don't you feel q little spooney,
Smythe P" whispered Baxter.
Yes" said !, have you got pocket
handkerchief?" : -.
"No, / want it myself" - -
Now, then, youngsters" said the
officer, who looked rather pleasant, "hurry
up and get through" He pushed open
the solid iron door and we filed in, being
the last. s1 .+r
"Wheres Smytbe 2'' heard voice ask,
and pushed forward, and we all stood
| stupefed with amazement at what we saw.
Instead of being chained, half-starved, and
bleeding from bullet-holes, to the wal, and
being sick and raving crazy, there was old
Browler sitting smiling and hearty behind
dinner-table, surrounded by his three
specialized sisters, all staring az us good
humoredly. We all went sheepishly for-
ward and gave limp hand shaking,
hiding our chicken and Rhine wine be-
| hind us.
well, young Smythe," cried the old
fellow, ais it all right?"
"Yes, sir, he'll be here to-day" Then
there was great confusion, BroWler giving
his three sisters hug all around, while
Baxter and the fellows glared at me like
wild beasts, for had given them TO under
stand my absence had been on my own
business, and it had really transpired that
l was traitor after all
should like to know, Mr.. Browler,p
said Baxter detiantly, stepping forward
and eying him, whether you ran OFF with
O'Neips fathers money or not? If you
really did, why, we won't stay, and we
only came because we thought YOU might
be miserable But it seems to me that il
you can carry on this style with such
thing on your conscience, you can get along
well enough without our sympathy or
grub +
1t was just like Baxter to say that.
All the four spectacles broke 0ut-into a
scream of laughter, while We all looked
black as thunder. Presently Browler
sobered little, and leaned forward on his
knuekles on the table. e.s - +, =
Boys, you are very kind TO me in,
deed. Indeed, cannot tell you exactly
how stand just now, but and my sisters
thank you from the bottom of our hearts
NOT misplaced"
At this Instant the turnkey entered, and.
whispered TO BroTler, who nodded quick
ly, and then whispered TO his sisters, who
Immediately began to hdget with their
hats and gloves and to look very much
cut up. -rc crrtt A a. 1rl-4s
Presently somebody came along the
corridor, and pushed open the door.
I Dear old Vanp !
Then came sueha tempest of embraces,
EXPLANATIONS, ndshakings, tears and
all that stuff, which Baxter declared after,
wards made him sick, but know ii made
him cry with the rest of us 1t was long
while before any thing like SENSE was
restored, and then Drowler discovered us
sitting all huddled up in the corner, with
the commanded jugs OF Rhine wine be-
tween our legs; He whispered 10 Mr.