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

BROWLERS DEFALCATION.
WE always used to pity Browler on &C
count of his three sisters; though l d.
not suppose he would have cared nucl
what we thought, even II be knew.
But 1t was really comical TO us fellow
to see the way he toted those three ole
girls around. He was great for lectures
and because he scrubbed q little fol
the papers, plenty Of tickets came to him
with compliments. You might see them
almost any night, at about eight, march.
ing in solid phalanx, the two Oldsst arm
in.arm in front, with Brower and the
youngest bringing up the rear. All four
Of them wore spectacles, and kept q per.
feet step; and little Browler, being rather
short, was obliged to stretch great deal
to keep up the stride.
1t was fun, too, TO see the way he
glowereA around at tho men who went past;
and he would make nothing Of stopping
the whole cavalcade and giving some
poor fellow lecture on civility, II he
Ancied he paid too warm attention to the
ladies'. And such rigmarole 1t was, too.
Baxter said he got it from one OF Can
ning's speeches, and learned it by heart /;
but never could find II.
Suddenly we found out, one day, that
none Of us ever visited Browler, or
knew where he lived. We could tell
pretty near the quarter he came from
mornings, but he used to slip away
from us at night, in a way that seemed
mysterious, now that We noticed It.
Baxter. who is our policy. clerk, said he
believed he lived in sewer somewhere,
on account of the musty smell he used
to have about his clothes, and his shrivel-
ed-up skin, which Baxter said, came from
being in the water so much. But, Of
course, we did not think this was fact.
However, we commenced TO have an
eye on Browler's movements, as there
would be reward coming TO us, If we
found him out in any rascality; and we
vowed that no pity for his three sisters
should prevent us from exposing him to
the world, Il we unearthed him. He had
mean way Of eating his lunch behind his
ledgeF, though we found out 1t was moth
ing but cracker and an apple but some
day he might be pretending to take his
lunch and really be altering some figures,
and so we determined ~ keep strict
watch.
About this time, young fellow was
brought into ne Office by the President,
and introduced 10 us lower clerks by the
name Of O'Neil. He was handsome one,
and looked 30 much the gentleman that
all Of us were afraid to speak with him at
first, though he presently turned out TO
be quite social and civil
He told us'right Off as though he meant
we should understand it, that he didn't
know anything about work, and that he
had been used { slaves In the South, but
that the war had made him poor; but he
said he could whistle and box beautifully,
and we might take it out In that II We
liked. We all laughed, and we struck up
9 friendship directly.
That day, ut about ten, when We were
al busy and still as death, we heard o Neil
sing out, :.
Hello I say, Van Colt, 10 that your"
We all looked around, and there was
O'Neil, looking at Browler, quite pale In
the face.
"Yes," said Browler, keeping his red
face down and writing away like mad,
"Hcre I am"
We fellows stared like owls to hear the
old gentleman called Van Colt, and to see
how 1t affected him. Baxter eyed the two
like hawk, but managed to give W q
look that said, "How are tho inno-
cent apples and bread now, eh :"
O'Neil stood for q minute, looking "a
evil az q thunder. cloud, and then walked
slowly over to old Browler's desk and
stood beside him, fiddling with his watch.
chain all the while. We did not let q
move or sign escape W.. Browler pretend.
cd TO be trying his pen on his thumb.nail,
and tried hard to appear unc0nccrned
but he could not get rid Of the flush In his
face and his hanging head. O'Neil leaned
his shoulder against the desk, and looked
down very cool but very fierce ct Brow
Ter, who was little below him, and aaid
something to him In very low voice, q
low that We could not catch q syllable
Browler answered him In the same mean
underhanded style that was piece OF thu
rest Of his actions lately. They talke(
some minutes this way, then suddenly
Browler broke out s
at viii only make heap Of mischief
dr."
aThats exactly what want to make,
said O'Neil, turning away. 49, An eye TO
an eye, and tooth for tooth cay /.
he made few steps, as II he were goinl
back to the private Offices, when Browle
scrambled Off his stool and touched hi
coat-sleeve very hurriedly, but very gent
ly.
don't, Cor Gods sake" says be
trembling like an aspen.
"For who's saket"
"For my sisters sake" stammeret
Browler, much cut up.
You mean your incomes sake" re
torted O'Neil aYou mean your comfort
your miserable salary"
Browler said nothing. but held his bali
head down farther than ever. They wer
both silent for Q moment, O'Neil scowl
ing, and drumming his foot on tho floor
and Browler very meek and quiet. Thel
O'Neil walked him of to the window
and leaned down and spoke In his ca
very quickly and in sharp, decided tone