The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-04-06

you: ."
"Bribe!" answered 1T was mere
present, a consideration every body re-
ceives considerations. How do you ex-
pect men are to help their friends. de-
feat their enemies, pass their little bills,
| be made Senators aud cabinet officers, If
they cannot make aud receive consider
ations? Faugh, Hal, yoa're behind
the times. The idea of your hcing SO
very nice, in an age whcn n vulgar
sharper boasts that lie carries the Legis.
lature Of the Empire State in his pocket,
and a great railroad expects to defraud
government of its dues by buying up
Congress with u few millions of dollars
Don't you see that 1t is taken for grant
ed that every man has his price, and
why shouldn't you have yours? It's
rather expected Of you. Public opinion
won't mind it. It's no disgrace. Even
if discovered, It's nogreat matter, unless
society happens to be in one Of her vir-
tuous spasms, when you have but to
keep stiff upper lip and what you've
got, and ayear or two will find you
bank President or Governor, or the
Hon. Hal Dudley, NJ c. of our State
or some other. Fifty thousand dollars!
oh, you precious innocent"
"Drive ahead, now that I've caught
your drift. / can stand it, as long as |
know that in your heart you think far
more of me than you would had l en-
rched myself with any amount Of ILL.,
gotten wealth."
"iou're right, my boy" said 7, grasp
ing his hand. "I'm bursting with ad.
miration-and curiosity. The admira-
ton is all for you, and the curiosity you
must satisfy. Did them felIers get their
cotton?"
mo, says he, "tlley didn't. If you
must have the finale, it's told in few
words. No sooner was l back in my
office, than sent for detachment of
soldiers, ordered steam tug in readi-
ness, and in less than an hour we were
on our way up the river. My purpose
was to land a mile or 80 below the Roos.,
and with the break of day, scatter men,
beat up the neighborhood, aud try to
discover the cotton before there should
be any time to destroy it. But fate was
against US. Soon after midnighr a
dense fog arose. We had to feel our
way. When it lifted, it was broad day,
and we were still ten miles distant.
Foiled in the attempt at a surprise, l |
resolved to have it openly, or force them
to carry out their threat of burning it.
pushed right up to the landing, and
formed my men on the shore. No SOON
er were they thus unnasked than, from
hill near by, came the report of gun,
followed by one more distant, while a |
third could just be beard. Taking these
evident signals for guides, hurried on,
but, in less than twenty minutes, we
saw rolling up from a wood some way
ahoad dense volumes of smoke. All
cited l urged the men to the top Of their
speed, and in short time We We're gath
cred around an immense pile Of burning
bales. The work had been we'll done. |,
Covered with branches Of pine and bark
and leaves, it burned with a furious
heat.
Not q pound could be rescued. All |
We had to do WAS to stand by aud see
my friends fortune waste down to ASH
eS.
"Along with yours,' said I.
"l3e it So" said Hal.
"And better so, old fellow" said I.
Hal, youth sleep none the worse for it.
A clear conscience Is better bed fellow
than any $4,000, and now, with many
thanks for your story, shall We say good |
night:"