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

officer, wholooked rather pleasant, "hurry
up and get through" he pushed open
the solid iron door and We filed in, being
the last.
" Where's Smytbe Z" / heard voice ask
and I pushed forward, and we all stood
stupefed with amazement ct what We saw
Instead Of being chained, half-starved, and
bleeding from bullet holes, TO the wall, and
being sick and raving crazy, there was old
Browler sitting smiling and hearty behind
. dinner-table, surrounded by his three
specialized sister,, all staring ct us good.
humoredly. We al 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, y IL Ill nghtf"
"Yes, cir, he'll be here to-day" Then
there was great confusion, Browler giving
his three sisters hug III 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
was . traitor after all.
IL should like TO know, Mr.. Browler,"
said Baxter defantly, stepping forward
and eying him, whether you ran of with
O'Neirs fathers money or not! II 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 If
you can carry on this style with such a
thing on your conscience, you can get along
well enough without our sympathy or
grub"
It was Just like Baxter to say that.
All the four spectacles broke out into q
scream Of laughter, while we all looked
black as thunder Presently Browler
sobered little, and leaned forward on his
knuckles on the table.
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,
and we assure you that your sympathy is
NOT misplaced"
At this instant the turnkey entered, and
whispered to Browler, who nodded quick
ly, and then whispered to his sisters, who
began to fidget with their
hats and gloves and to look very much
cut up.
Presently somebody came along the
and pushed open the door.
Dear old Van!"
Then came such tempest of embraces,
hand shakings, tears and
all that stuff, which Baxter declared after
wards made him sick, but l know it made
him cry with the rest of U.s. 1t was long
while before any thing like sense was
and then Browler discovered us
sitting all huddled up in the corner, with
the COMPOUNDED jugs of Rhine wine be-
tween our legs He whispered to Mr..
O'Neil, who looked AZ uS aud thor, sl,nt
the door.
"Boys," said he, very kindly and pleas
antly, "Mr. Van Colt or Mr.. Browler, has
long been known to you, but much longer
to me. Latterly he has been in the
character of defaulter and robber to
few people in this city, but is known a.
such all through the South, where he
made his extensive theft" Here he bowed
to Browler, who bowed back again.
II have been known in the South a. an
upright but sadly unfortunate merchant,
who was ruined by the Vaccinations Of
his principal clerk. Now briefly say,
that am the criminal and Mr.. Van Colt
the innocent man. was the forger, the
wrong doer, and thought my operations
were unknown to any but myself, but was
mistaken. Van Colt knew me; Van Colt
imagined had all to lose if was dis
covered, and by the earnest entreaties Of
his brave sisters he did steal COM
small sum and ned, leaving q
letter for me explaining his conduct, and
solemnly assuring me that all hopes
of discovering him would be useless
The storm broke, remained passive and
let it ferlaent and settle as it would. The
odium was heaped on Van Colt, and
escaped settled according to law, and
have since been able to re-make my
broken fortunes, Just as the savior Of my
name Is discovered and thrown into Jail
for crime he never committed. He sends
for me, having kept track of me, and here
/ am, beginning TO rectify the infamous
yet generous error of his reputation, by
setting him right with those who will be
the happiest to know the truth"
We all made dash for old Browler
and his sisters, vowing as loud as our thick
voices would let Us that we knew al
along that he waA shamming, and
begging he would forgive us He was
guilty. Of little danpncss and hts three
sisters Of great deal.
Young OyNeil was very penitent, but
Browler told him he did just right, and
was pretty smart at it too, and they were
great chums after they got settled again.
Mr.. O'Neil settled up dollar for dollar, and
took Browler in % even partner.
They said Van Colt got . perfect ova-
ton when he went South, and his sisters
married Oh with q vengeance. Baxter
says he believes it was regular put-up
Job Ill around, but he only stands by that
q bluf, a. Baxter's stock 10 awfully low
with us fellows since the bullets and
shackles. Putnam's Magazine.
How In Ia BAaptifnL
RrAuTY hAa ita foundations In physical