The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-03-24

all meanP What made that man attack
meP'
II reckon it was a case of shooting on
sight, Mr. Fowler but he missed it by
not waiting to see if you was armed. 1t
wasn't the square thing, and you're all
right with the crowd now, whatever he
might have had agin YOU"
But" protested the unhappy Flint, Il
never laid eyes on that man before, and
my name isn't Bowler"
Flynn halted and dragged him in a
doorway "Who the devil are your he
asked roughly.
Briefly, passionately, almost hysteri-
cally, Flint told him his scant story. An
odd expression came over the gamblers
face.
Look here,'' he said abruptly, I've
passed the word to the crowd yonder
that you are dead broke miner called
Fowler. | allowed that you might have
had some row with the Sydney duck,
Australian Pete, in the mines. That sat
isfied them. If you go back and say it's
lie, that your name isn't Fowler, and you
never knew who Pete was, they'll just
pass you over to the police to deal with
you, and wash their hands of altogeth-
err You may prove to the police who
you are, and how that id clerk mistoOk
you, but it will give you trouble. And
who is there who really knows who you
are?'
mo one"
''Then take my advice and be Fowler,
and stick to it! Be Fowler until Fowler
turns up and thanks you for it; for
you've saved Fowler life, as Pete never
would have funked and lost his grit over
Fowler as he did with you; and you've
right to his name"
He stopped and the same old super
stitious 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 luck man ever had. You've
got the cards in your own hands! They
spell Fowler Play Fowler first, last
and all the time. Good night and good
luck Mr.. Fowler"
The next mornings journal contained
an account of the justitiable killing of
the notorious desperate and ex-convict,
Australian Pete, by courageous young
miner named Fowler. Gan act OF firm
ness and daring" said the Pioneer,
(which will go far to counterfeit 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 goods proprietor-the latter was sat
listed and convinced. That morning
Harry Flint began his career as salesman
and as shelby Fowler"
From that day Shelby Fowler's career
was one of uninterrupted prosperity.
With the year he became partner.
The same miraculous fortune followed
other ventures later. He was mill own
er, mine owner, bank directJr-a million
aire. He was popular, the reputation of
his brief achievement over the despera-
do kept him secure from the attacks of
envy and rivalry. He never was con-
fronted by the real Fowler. There was
no danger of exposure by others-the
one custodian of his secret, Tom Flynn,
died in Nevada the year following. He
had quite forgotten his youthful past,
and even the more recent lucky port
mantle ~; remembering nothing, per
haps, but the pretty face of the daguer-
rotype that had facinated him. There
seemed to be no reason why he should
not live and die as Shelby Fowler.
His business year later took him to
Europe. He was entering train at one
of the great railway stations of London,
when the porter, who had just deposited
his portmanteau in compartment, reap
peared at the Window, followed by a
young lady in mourning.
BEG pardon, sir, but handed you the
wrong pOrtmanteau. That belongs to
this lady, That is yours"
Flint glanced at the portmanteau on
the seat before him. 1t certainly was
not his, although it bore the initials rs
F." He was mechanically handing it
back to the porter when his eyes fell on
the young lady's face. 1t was the face of
the daguerreotype. 81 beg pardon" he
stammered, but are these your init.
ials?"
She hesitated; perhaps it was the alb
ruptness of the question, but he saw she
was confused. mo. A friends"
She disappeared into another carriage,
but from that moment Harry FIJI t knew
that he had no other aim in life THAI to
| follow that clew and the beautiful girl
who dropped it. He bribed the guard at
the next station, and discovered that she
was going to New York. On their arri-
val he was ready on the platform to re-
specially assist her. A few words dis
closed the fact that she was fellow
cOuntrywOnan, although residing in
England, and at present on her way to
join some friends at Harrowgate Her
name was West. At the mention of this
he again fancied she looked disturbed.
They met again and again; the infor-
mality of his introduction was overlook
by her friends, and his assumed name
was already respectfully and responsibly
known beyond California. He thought
no more of his future. He was in owe.
He even dared to think it might be re-
turned; but he felt he had no right to
seek that knowledge until he had told
his real name, and how he came to as
sumo another's. He did so alone-hard-
ly a month af' er their first meeting. To
his alarm she burst into flood of tears,
| and showed ali agitation 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 name that the unhappy boy
had so shamefully disgraced in Austral-
ia that he abandoned it, and, as he lay
upon his deathbed, the last act of his
wasted life was to write am imploring
letter begging me to change mine too.
For the Infamous companion of his crime
who had first tempted, then betrayed
him, had possession of all his papers and
letters, many of them from me- and was
threatening TO bring them to our Virgin
ia home and expose him to our neigh.
bors. Maddened by desperation the
miserable boy thrice attempted the life
of the scOundrel, and might have added
| fhat nf blood or,,flk;naes 20 HI. oEbo,, ,..,