Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-02-20
SWIFT JUSTICE

"A HStSh0ut 4Ett Iots GttInDuhE ~
travel across Europe. In the course
Of his journey he arrived at Warsaw
/ Being furnished with a letter Of intro.
duction, he repaired 10 the honsc OF
one OF the chief citizens there, and
was most courteousIy re.
ceivcd. He stayed at Warsaw FOR a
week, and his host spared no pains To
make his visit agreeable, aud showed
him everything worth seeing in the
town. Indeed, the visitor was over
whelued by an amount of Kindness
rarely shown but to friend Of long
standing
AT last the pleasant visit drew to a
close, and after breakfast the guest cx-
pressed wish to see some poor parts
of the town, of which he had heard.
But said he, II have with me box
Of great value that / do not like to
risk in such places. II it were my
own should not be so particular but
it was intrusted to me by a friend who
requested me to deliver it to q person
in another town. Ii contains dia-
monds and other valuables. Would
you do me the great favor of taking
charge of it for the dayf"
The host, with his usual urbanity,
willingly agreed to this proposal, aud
the merchant departed with Il light
heart on his tour Of inspection, | for
get the name, but let US say in the
.Seven Dials.' or "f'ive Points, Of
Warsaw.
Next morning after breakfast he
cordially thanked his kind entertainers
for their jealous hospitality, and added
that he was about to depart, he would
now resume charge of the box, which
had never before quilted his person,
since he had received il from the own
er. The host and hostess stared at him
in well acted amazement. what
box 2" replied the host. Il remember
no box; do you my dear? r. turning to
his wife. NO." she said, IL have no
recollection of any box whatever
"What was it like?" asked the host !;
perhaps you left it in your ro0m.''
But the merchant persisted that it was
the with host himself it had been left,
on his turning TO his hostess aud try
ing to make her recollect the circum-
stance, both (atter appealing % each
other several times, aud tof{ifying
each other in their deniaD became cold
and distant, and began hinting some-
thing had happened to the merchant
to induce him to persist In SO strange
= delusion. As the host touched his
forehead witha significant glance. the
poorInan remembered that he was in
q strange city; the ground seemed to
be slipping from under his feet; dan
ger to himself loomed in the distance,
and he hastened from the house in
alarm. Straight to the police he went
and stated his case. The official list.
ened impertnrbably TO the whole story
and then said:
"You gave this valuable box to an
acquaintance of q weeks standing,
without any witness or any written
acknowledgements y
'1He had been so very kind man
of his position"
bah !you are man of business !
But have you no proof that the box
belongs to your
"Nonc whatever, except the key. Ii
is locked, aud I have the key-here it
is,' and he produced 4 small kew from
an inner pocket.
The official Remained lost in thought
for some time, and then said: well,
l will do the only thing can for you.
The Archduke Constantine, Che Gov
ernor of Poland) is stern. harsh man
bnt he is known for his rigorous JUS
ticc, and il he believes yonr story he
viii do his best for you. will take
you to him at once l
( No time was lost. and the merchant
soon found himself in the Archduke's 5
presence, and was desired to relate his
story. When ii was concluded tho
Archduke, after q few moments re-
fioction, rang bell. An officer ap-
peared. sSend tor NJ naming
the treacherous host. 1t was quickly
done, and the Archduke, without pre-
amble or question, said to the guilty
man: "Sit down at that table. and
write as l shall dictate you.r The
man took his seat and took up the pen.
The Archduke began debating:
"My LEAR WIFE:
"All is found out"
".No," said the mar, springing from
his sent
Il won't write that
"Then you are guilty, . was the
prompt answer.
Puzzled and foiied, he resumed his
seat and wrote as he was desired.
my DEAR WIFE:
"All is found out. Send me the
box by the bearer. !"
Then he signed it with his own
name, by the Archduke's order, and a
messenger was dispatched with it,
The messenger found the lady at her
toilet: when she read the missive she
turned ashy pale, trembling violently.
Then, leaning forward, she drew the
box from a recess in her toilet table,
aud handed it to the bearer, who swift
/ ly running, placed it in the hands oi
the Arcbduke. He immediately hand.
cd it to the merchant, desiring him to
unlock it. That being done, he asked
whether the diamonds were all there
Yes, the box had not bcen opened
they were exactly as the merchant had
left them. A
Again the Archduke rang the bell
and 10 the attendent who entered, he
said designating the guilty man, "raks
him to Siberia he Is not 10 go tu his
own house again