Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-12-11

as he was borne along, what does it al
mean, what made that man attack me-?
81 reckon it was case of shooting on
sigLt, Mr.. Fowler; but be missed It by
not waiting to see if you were armed. II
wasn't the square thing, and you re al
right with the crowd now, whatever he
might have agin you"
But, protested the unhappy Flint, Il
never laid eyes on the man before, and my
name isn't Fowler
Flynn matted, and dragged him in a
doorway, who are you?' he asked
roughly. Briefly, passionately, almost
| Historically, Flint told his scant story.
An odd expression came over the gambler
face.
Look here" he said abruptly, Il have
passed the word to the crowd yonder that
you are deadbroke miner, Fowler. | al
lowed that you might have had some row
with the Sydney duck, Australian Pete, in
the mines. That satisfied them. If | 60
back now and say it 8 a lie, that your name
amt Fowler, and you never knew who
Pete was, they jest pass you over to the
police to deal with, and wash their hands
of it altogether. You may prove to the
! police who you are, and how that clerk
/ mistook you, but it will give you trouble.
| And who is there here who knows who you
! really are?"
No one," said Flint, with sudden
+ hopelessness.
"And you say you're an orphan, and
| amt got anV relations Twin that you re
! behoIden to-"
| "No o1v.'
"Then take my advice and be Fowler,
and stick to it. Be Fowler until Fowler
| turns up and thanks you for 1t; for you We
saved Fowler's life, as Pete would never
, have funked and lost his grit over Fowler
as he did with you; and you've right 20
his name" He stopped, and the same
! odd superstltions look came into his dark
eyes. Don't you see what all that
means? Well I'll tell you, You're in the
biggest streak Of look man ever had
Good night and good luck, Mr., Fowler. "
The next morning journal contained an
account Of the justi6able killing Of the
notorious desperate and ex convict,
Australian Pete, by a courageous young
miner by the name of Fowler, can act
of frmness and daring, said the Pioneer,
(which will 60 far to counteract the ter
rorism produced by those lawless ruff
fans" In his new suit of clothes, and
with this paper in his hand, Flint sought
the dry-gocds proprietor; the latter was
satisfied and convinced. That morning
Harry Flint began his career as salesman
and as Shelby Fowler"
From that day Shelby POWERS career
was one of uninterrupted prosperity.
Within the year he became a partner.
The same miraculous fortune followed
other ventures later. He was mill owner,
mine owner, bank director-a millionaire,
He was popular, the reputation Of his
brief achievement over the desperate kept
him secure from the attack of envy and
rivalry. H never was confronted by the
real Fowler. There was 40 danger of ex-
posure by others-the one custodian of his
secret, Tom Flynn, died in Nevada the
year following. He bad quite forgotten
his youthful past, and even the more re-
cent lucky pOrtmanteau; remembered
nothing, perhaps, but the pretty face of
the dagnerreotypet that had fascinated him
There seemed to be no reason why he
should not live and die as Shelly Fowler.
His business a year later took him to Eu.
rope. He was entering train at one of
the great railway stations Of London,
when the porter, who had just deposited
his pOrtmanteau III a compartment, reap
peared at the window followed by a young
lady In mourning.
BEG pardon, sir, but handed you the
wrong pormanteau. That belongs to this
young lady. This is yours"
Flint glanced at the pormanteau on the
seat before him. 1t certainly was not his,
although it bore the initials IS. F." He
was mechanically handing it back to the
porter when his eyes fell on the young
iady's face. For an instant he stood petri-
fed. It was the face of the daguerreotype.
81 beg pardon he stammered. "but are
these your initials?" She hesitated;
perhaps it was the abrupt,
mes of the question, bat he saw she was
confused. No. A friends" She disap-
peared into another carriage, but from
that moment Harry Flint knew that he
had no other aim in life than to follow
this cew and the beautiful girl who had
dropped it. He bribed the guard at the
next station, and discovered that she was
going to York. On their arrival he was
ready on the platform to respectfully
assist her. A Few words disclosed the
fact that she was fellow conntrywoman,
although residing in England, and at
present on her way to join some friends at
Harrogate. Her name was West. At
the mention of this he again fancied she
looked disturbed.
They met again and again. The i'm
formality Of his introduction was over
looked by her friends as his assumed name
was already respectfully and responsibility
known beyond California. He thought no
more of his future. He was in love. He
even dared to think it might be returned;
but ne felt he had no right to seek the
knowledge until he had told her his real
name and how he came to assume another,
He did so alone-scarcely much after their
first meeting. 10 his alarm she burst into
food of tears, and showed an agitation
that seemed far beyond any apparent
cause. When she had partly recovered,
she said, in low, frightened voice.
You are bearing my brothers name.
But it was a name that the unhappy bow
had so shamefully disgraced in Australia
that he abandoned it, and, as he lay upon
his death bed, the last act of his unhappy
life was to write an imploring letter beg
ging me to change mine For the in
famous companion of his crime, who had
first tempted, then betrayed him, had
possession of all his papers threatening to
bring them to our Virginia home and ex-
pose him to our neighbo7s. Maddened by
desperation the miserable boy twice at
temuted the life OF the scoundreI. and
light have added the blood outlines to
his other sins had he lived. | did change
my name to my mother maiden one, left
the country and have lived here TO escape
the revelations of that despersdo should he
fulfil his threat"
In a flash of recollection Flint remem-
bered the startled look that had come in Q
his assailant'S eye after they had cIinched,
1t was the anne man who had too late