The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-10-11

world, colonel, to be astonished at
finding a good deal of sanctimoni
GUS respectability covering rascal
ty. 1t is the cheapest cloak to ge
and the easiest to wear"
"And how do you influence these
Solons? ?"
Sometimes one way, sometimes
another; but always in being very
quiet and exclusive. The men
bought cheaply are not worth buy
ing. My business is among the
higher sort that will not stoop to
common carriOn. and carry with
them great moral character, that
not only covers themselves, but all
the little rogues who vote with
them"
And you often fail ?"
i" Sometimes; not often. You re-
member the temptation of st. An
thOny -
Devils wicked, or devils wise,
Devils short, or devils tall
4 pretty woman with laughing eyes
Is the greatest devil of them all"
"My mission is to capture the
leaders. The lesser lights are left
to coarser means. Some surrender
TO delicious little suppers, others to
persuasion, others again to love.
There is General -, proud, sensi-
tive, and suspicious; he comes to
me with all his griefs, and I listen
to them. You'd be sstonished to
know how little the tongue and the
ear have to do with this business.
Then there is Mr.. =, who began
life with a homely, unrefned wife,
and is now ashamed of her. Poor
man he is really in love with me" ="
"And will all the money that you
make pay you for the degradation
you suffer in return? ? You are a
woman of fine intellect, an intellect
that approaches genius. You can
command admiration, respect,
wealth, by devoting your gifts to an
honorable pursuit"
Her face flushed for a moment,
and then starting to her feet and
pacing the floor in some excitement,
she exclaimed: AT learned my
power when it was too late. But
you are the last man to upbraid me.
Do you know when l discovered
my powers as an actress 1 will
tell you. Under y our tuition while
in Baltimore. l came to you starv-
ing and you sent me into private
families to worm out their secrets
and betraY their Intentions"
"There you go again. That was
in the service OF your country, and
the people possessed of those Sc.
crets were our enemies"
"What was the difference, so far
as my character went ? But I do
not regrot-I have nothing to re-
gret. I have no friends, no rela-
tives, no country. I never knew a
man who did not either insult me
or cheat me. I never knew a wo-
man who had not a stony heart and
claws like a cat. l hate them all. I
despise them all. They would hunt
me down, and so I hunt them down
when I can."
"But you have made money
enough, why not leave this horrible
business, and from this out try and
possess your soul in peace. You
are young yet, you can have many
years of happiness before you
"YOu want mo to desist," she
said, interrupting me. az have two
good reasons for going on. 1t is
not avarice, although, having sold
myself to the devil, I am right 10
getting the best price for my poor
soul. But let me show you my two
reasons for going on"
She walked to an arched recess,
and, pulling aside a heavy curtain,
showed me, playing on the floor,
two beautiful children.
"There," she continued, dropping
the curtain, "these are my two reas-
Ons. I cannot give my children a
good name, but I will give them
that which is more prec Gus than a
good name in this mean, wicked
world of ours-I will give them
wealth, and I will try to teach them
to be anything on earth but what
their unfortunate mother; is so now
if you betray me you betray them.
l left the detective business when
quit Baltimore. try moral suasion
now"