The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-12-05
IDAHO WORLD.
DISCOVERING THE THIEF

DISCOVERING THE THIEF.
Nick Bowers was member of thu
original Christy's Minstrels, and as th'
veteran performer, I. A. Hermon, re
Gently remarked to the writer, Nicl
was the greatest "middle-man" and Gin
terrogator" ever known in the profes
, sion. Nick's nobleness Of heart, anc
ever. generous readiness to serve &
needy friend, were proverbial; and, al
though a man of giant stature and
Herculean power, he, in disposition, was
as gentle and harmless as lamb.
Nick used to tell, with great merri.
ment, an incident Of his boyhood. To
preserve the flavor Of his relation, we
will record it in Nick's own words, and
only regret that we cannot accompany
it with his inimitable gesticulation.
"My old man." said Nick, as gen
eral thing, was pretty steady old gent;
but once in a while he would get OBJ
livious, and water was not the cause of
it. I recollect certain holiday was
approaching, and l had been shining
around to get little money to have a
time with on that day; but the fates
and purse were against me- Two days
prior to the anticipated holiday dawn,
I hadn't nary red Remember this,
boys, when | add that upon this same
afternoon | came into the house, when
10! there upon the floor, overcome byI
his ambitions, lay my respected daddy,
and beside him six shining halfdollars
which had rolled from his pocket.
Boys, Eve been an honest man all my
life; but once, when boy, committed
q theft. l hooked one of those half
dollars. Thinks | to myself, the old
mans been on .jamboree-won't know
how much he's spent, and will never
miss it. But, mark you, the next morn
ing | and my two brothers were sum-
moned into our fathers presence. The
old mans face lowered. | thought of
that halfdollar, and knew a storm was
brewing.
Boys" said he, "last night came
home with six halfdollars. One Of ems
gone. Your mother didn't take il.
There's been no one else in the house
Which one of you took it,"
I'VE allprotested our innocence.
Boys" said the old man, "that half I
dollar never walked away, and I'm 90 /
ing to find out which one of you three f
boys took it,"
Turning round, he took down from
the wall an old flint lock Queen Anne p
This he deliberately load =
I'd with powder and buckshot in our =
presence; then, fastening it upon the
able, he cooked it, tied string to the
risger, took seat behind it, holding o
ne string in his hand, and in solmcmn =
ones addressed US thus: y
"Boys, I'm going to discover the +.
hlef, and punish him at the same time =
eou must each blow in the muzzle Off
nat gun. When the guilty one blows, 4
It goes his head. Now, then, YOU =
ave a chance. VIII you own up, or n
low" ~ =
Not a word did either of us speak f.
Ben" said the old man to nv eldest n
rother. 'haye you got that missing q,
!,
No, Sir" :" =:
blow in that muzze., -
Ben T. e aid SO, and the gun didn't go off: a A.
Jack to my next brother "havc E,
ou got that halfdoIIar?" n,
"No, sir" ~
Take a blow" q
= Ni,ck"-eh, boys, l tell you, the eli
Ills began to crawl down my back ~
got that halfdollar," said the old man t ~
no, sir" said l, with defiant air on
;'blow III that gun" %
l walked up bravely, gave a blow. ~ u.
10
" Nick" said the old man, in a voice p Pr
thunder, where's that halfdolIar9n d. ~
lie mad me: The truth dodged out Of NC
e. Said ], "Out in the barn, pop" t t1,i