The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-06-17
0 Of {. H|'E|:.R|:ED|TY,
By r. De WITT BOWMAN.

ciation -
From my earliest remembrance !
lived with Patrick Coulter. an Irish.
man. All knew about him up to the
time was twelve years old was that
he was Mr.. Coulter. and was George
BisselI was given to understand by
him that he had taken me as an or
phan and was bringing me up. GER
tainly was not allied to him by blood.
for ] was as refined In appearance as
any gentleman's son. while Mr.. Coui-
ter showed unmistakable signs OF
plebeian origin. He was short. RED
faced, thickset. rotund and with grtz'
ely gray hair. He wore on bis. face a,
perpetual sour expression. | confess
that, although | was given to under
stand that | owed him everything. !
hated him.
And ! had every reason to hate him.
for be hated me. He was always
surly to me and never even in odd mo-
ments showed any affection for me.
Only In one way did he manifest any
interest in me. He would occasionally
have fits Of generosity with the. giving
me money quite freely, but always i'm
pressing it upon me that he was very
good to do so and that l should APP
preciate his kindness. He also seemed
to be troubled with a continued fear
Of losing me.
The only knowledge he possessed
was that OF figures. He wrote good
clerical hand, and remember that
such accounts as happened on that
were made by him had methodical
look
When l was twelve years old one
day found Mr.. Coulter in conversation
with lean. hungry looking man. who.
when | entered. asked. us this the
boy?' and Mr. Coulter grumblcd low
Eyes" The man looked at ME curl
ously. and when he went away saw
him putting a lot Of bills in his pocket
book He came after that from time
to time. and on several occasions when
happened to see him depart he had
evidently received something. His Wis
Its were always accompanied by bad
humor on the part of Mr.. Coulter. and
once overheard high words between
them.
The most remarkable bit Of treat
ment received from Mr. Coulter was
good education. When | came to be
eighteen longed to 20 to college and
begged very hard to be seut to a uni
versty. He demurred. but at last con.
scented, telling me that | should always
remember that he had pinched himself
to send me- At college ! formed the
pleasantest associations and often
spent my vacations with my college
chums Mr.. Coulter was greatly vexed
at this, but as was growing to be
more Of a man every day. and he was
growing old and seemingly trihe
afraid of me, ! usually had my way
At leaving college wished to study
! the law. but for some reason Mr.. Coul-
ter took strong dislike to my adopt
ing this profession. and in this in
stance. holding the purse strings. be
conquered
! One day while | was thinking what
| would do to make myself indrpend-
ont had occasion to hunt for letter
| had miSlaiA. Mr.. Coulter was not in
/ the house. and | rumma"ed AL over
1t. Finally got into the garrett. There
I were several trunks there. all locked.
and in ola }cSk Protrudin- from an
undrr portion Of the desk noticed the
corner Of !" paper. pulled II "ul AKA
, rr",i H. There was nothing in it that
| knew anyt'!in" about. hUl the haMG,
Indeed. ii WAS so like mine chat for Il
/ time ! SlnDuscd had written it ami
! wondered how it could have come Il
be whrrr 1t WAS put it in my MrN'
CT and studied il. The next time Nh
Coulter left me alone in the house
! went back to the garnet ard nunleA
ill found Il letter in the same band
writing. This time | was aS!oniShrd
IT appearrd to have been signed by
me At any rate. it was my nam" am
my handwriting 1t had been Wrltt"l
I to Mr.. Coulter from abroad and gave
Instructions in the matter of ccrtai
properties possessed by the writer an':
evidently managed by Coulter.
! folded the letter. put 1t in my
pocket. took it down to my room
locked the door and never gave over
making theories with regard to the
matter till struck the right one. The
writer Of the letter was evidently m!
father or near relative Without
ever having seen his handwriting. he
redity had determined that as grew
to manhood should adopt it | Their
and there determined. maintaining a
perfect secrecy between myself and
Mr. Coulter. to make an investigation
unearthed great swindle The
steps ! took to do so would form d
separate story The tracks of the mar
who had done the swindling had beer
! so adroitly covered that was obliged
to proceed step by step and very slow
! ". knew in few months all
ever came to know, but to untangle my
discoveries so as to turn them into