Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-25

at their case, in the roll of well.to-do business
gentlemen. Wine was freely drank, with, in
time, no inconsiderable amount of jingling of
glasses, singing of songs, and lively conversa'
ton, but not to that extent that indicated that
it was anything more than it purported to be-
the social gathering of few friends. At late,
or rather carly, hour we separated, all apparent
ly well pleased with the affair and each other.
The third or fourth day after the entertain
ment was an unusually busy one with me.
Late in the afternoon was recalling how very
tired was, and how pleasant change of scene
would be, when up drove my late host with q
fine carriage and a splendid span Of matched
roadstcrs-the crack pair of the city-and asked
me to take an airing with him, The fear that
all was not right again flashed over me, but after
a moments hesitation | was by his side. We
made a few turns through the drives Of the town,
and then went dashing away at q spanking rate,
over one of the finest drives in the land. When
a few moments of this eXhilerating speed had
put miles between us and the city, my compan.
ion brought the nags down to light trot, and
then a walk. No sooner had he sobered them
down to this last gait, than, loosening up the
rcins, he turned suddenly upon me, and, with
voice and manner all lchanged, said in tones
short, sharp, inciSive: 81 see, captain, that your
suspicious are aroused You're right. / have
been playing part. l have an object in view.
My intentions have been for the purpose of stud
ying you. AS one result, am convinced that
shall, therefore, state the case fully and frankly
and you may rely upon it from the first word to
the last. Up the river, not far from Buzzard's
Roost, lies hidden a large pile of cotton. 1t
never belonged to the confederate government,
but the looks are against us. Beyond doubt
if discovered and seized it would be confiscated.
Myself and partner have bought it, as we be
lieve, of its rightful owner, but, unfortu
nately, his bill of sale won't give US undisputed
possession. That cotton in New York city to-
day, would, at the very least calculation, be
worth TO us one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. The point is to get it there. We can
with your aid. We are willing TO make ii an
object to you. On the simple passing of your
word that you will allow us to unload it from
barges to our vessel, and permit us to sail,
am authorized to place in your possession, now,
this package" AS he said this he took from an
inside pocket bundle of notes. As if to see
that all was right, he placed them on his knee,
and, turning them up one at a time, saw ten
bright, new, and Enthusiastically genuine treas
ury notes, each for five thousand dollars. While
thus handling the bills, he remarked, with deep
significance; "Whether you accept or refuse,
know that the United States government shall
never be one cent the richer for this cotton. We
have parties carefully stationed through all the
neighbOrhOo1, and on the first indication of
movement to seze it il will be given to
the flames" He held the notes towards me.
Our eyes met. ! know must have been very
pale. trembed as in chill. For an instant
felt as weak as an infant, but the next nerved
myself to say, with some decision, "You mis-
take me sir, that is not my style; we will return
to the city, if you please" He looked lrreso-
Lutte for a moment, then turned, and without
another word, drove back, left me at my office,
and | have never seen him from that day to
this.
Such was the provost. marshals story; For
some moments we sat in silence, and then
said "Fiity thousand dolarsl That's an enor-
nous sum, Hal"
81 fully realize it," he replied.
"And you let such chance slip by you"
Certainly"
"The more fool you."
"Clare, old friend, Pm surprised"
Surprised be hangedP broke in. "This is
not the millennium, mani What business have
you setting up for an immaculate? Don't you
know that such transactions are quite the thing
in our day? The man must have thought you
were born idiot"
''But," he urged, 81 hadn't any right to that
money; l never could have enjoyed it; you
wouldn't have had me to sell myself-Stoop to
aIbribe, would youp
"BribeP answered; at was mere pres
ent, a consideration; everybody receives con-
siderations. How do you expect men are to
help their friends, defeat their enemies, pass
their little bills, be made senators and cabinet
officers, if they cannot make and receive con-
times. The idea of your being so very nice, in
an age when a vulgar sharper boasts that he
carries the legislature of the empire state in his
pocket, and a great railroad expects to defraud
the government OF its dues by buying up con-
gress with a few million of dollars. Don't you
see that it is taken for granted that every man
has his price, and why shouldn't you have
yours2 It's rather expected of you. Public
opinion won't mind it. It's no disgrace. Even
if discovered, it's no gSeGt matter. unless soce-
ty happens to be in one Of her virtuOus spasms,
when you have but to keep stiff upper lip and
what you've got and year or two will find you
a bank president, or governor, or the Hon. Hal
Dudley, NJ. Co. of our state or some other.
Fifty thousand dollars oh, you precious inno-
cent"
"Drve ahead" said he, "now that I've caught
your drift. l can stand it, as long as l know
that in your heart you think far more of me
than you would had l enriched myself with any
amount of ill-gotten wealth."
you're right, my boy" said l grasping his
hand. "Gm bursting with admiration-and Gu
riosity. The admiration is all for you, and the
curiosity you must satisfy. Did them fellers get
their cotton?"
mo" says he, "they didn't If you must
have the finale, it's told in few words. No
sooner was back in my office, than | sent de-
tachment of soldiers, ordered a steamtug in
readiness, and in less than hour we were on our
way up the river. My purpose was to land
mile or so below the RooSt, and with the break
of day, scatter my men, beat up the neighbor-
hood, and try to discover the cotton before there
should be any time TO destroy it. But fate was
against us. Soon after midnight a dense fog
arose. We had to feel our way. When it lifted
it was broad day, and we were still ten miles dis
tant. Fooled in the attempt at a surprise, re-
solved 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 sooner
were they thus unmasked than, from hill near
by came the report of gun, followed by one
more distant, while third could just be heard.
Taking these evident signals for guides, hur-
ried forward, but, in less than twenty minutes
we saw rolling up from wood some way ahead,
dense volumes of smoke. All excited, | urged
the men to the top OF their speed, and in a short
time we were gathered around an immense pile
of burning bales. The work had been well done.
Covered with branches of pine and bark and
leaves, it burned with furious heat. Not
pound could be rescued. All we had to do was
to stand by and see n1y friends fortune waste to
ashes.
"Along with yours" said l.
"Be it So" said he.
"And better SO, old fellow" said |. "Hal,
you'll sleep none the worse for it. clear con-
science is better bed-fellow than $4,000, and
now with thanks for your story shall we saw