Year: 1870

cribed the poverty his family was brought
to through the rascality of BrOwler, we
swore to stand by him to prevent any res
cue that might be attempted by roughs
who might be hired by Browler's sisters.
When we got out of O'NeiPs hearing,
though. we could not help slipping back
again. Even Baxter was not quite SO
hard on him. And when we looked at
his vacant desk, and closed inkstand, and
remembered how gentle he always was
with us and oul blunders. and how he
| would oftentimes stand between us and
the officers for any blame that rightly
belonged to US, and how blind he used to
be to our cuttings-up, we could not help
thinking that we had no cause of spite
against him, for he never was anything
but kind and obliging to US. If his shin
ing old bald head ever bObbed up at any
thing we did, it would only be to wag
once or twice, but never harsh word
came from him. He never used to make
| us pay for postage stamps, and II his
monthly balance came out within twenty
| four hours (as it did about once in ten)
he used to stand US bottle of claret
which we used to drink standing, out OF
paper cOrnucOpias.
After we got pretty blue by talking II
over, Browler's friend boldly proposed we
should visit him at the station house
This was pretty emphatic, and we were
all silent, but Baxter said we had better do
it, as it would be our only chance of tell
ing him what we thought of him and his
villainy. Then something was said about
carrying some chicken and Rhine wine,
and Baxter assented on the ground that it
would be an additional punishment, as it
would remind him what his knavery had
deprived him Of


l had not told O'Neil that 1 knew the
whereabouts of his father, or in fact any
thing about him whatever, as l did not
know how Browler might like it, and as
it could not affect O'Neil to wait little.
We did not ask him to 60 with us to see
Browler, of course, as it would only make
it more disaRreeable all around.


We provided ourselves with permit
from the deputy sheriff, and with trem-
bling legs and humping hearts sat down
in row on the edge of the waiting room
sofa, to have ourselves announced to
Browler, who they said was in No. 10.


"The worst one in the whole house.
said Baxter, under his breath. It's
where they put the violent ones They
probably have got him shackled to the
wall, Will MS 2TIuS anu legs StIctCutQ Out
spread-eagle, they call it."


| never knew fellow of seventeen to
know as much as Baxter did.


"If l were an officer here. think
would try the water punishment. Two
the money is-he's got such fine bald
head"


To this we made no rejoinder we
were all too busy staring at the long rows
of clubs and pistols hung up against the
wall, and wondering if Browler would be
kind to u.s.


"He'll be very much emaciated," whis-
pered Baxter, "and you must not be
frightened at his eyes nor his thin hands,
for he's probably well into the prison
fever by this time"


Poor BrOwler. The vision of his suf
fering was vividly before us, and the
memory of our hard words about him
came strong upon us as we gazed through
the open door, at the long white washed
corridor with its row of black iron grated
doors. We four trembling little wretches,
or at least three of us, would have given
worlds to have known that we had fought
O'Neil instead of backing him up.


Suddenly, in the midst of dead silence,
q laugh came from somewhere down that
long dismal passage. 1t was BrOwler,
for we recognized his voice in spite of the
hollow, ringing greverberations Welooked
at one another in terror, and more than
half inclined to put off out the door into
the street and leave the prisoner to his
own reflections.


81 told you So" muttered Baxter, as
soon as his teeth stopped chattering.
& He probably imagines himself in the
Office, and that they've raised his salary"


Before we had time to muster enough
courage to run, turnkey entered and
beckoned to us to follow him. Half choked
and half scared We did so, and skipped
along over the stone pavement with a
tread anything but firm and even.


"Don't you feel little spooney,
Smythe ?" whispered Baxter.


eyes" said |, have you got pocket
handkerchief"


"No, want it myself"


Now, then, youngsters" said the
officer, who looked rather pleasant, "hurry
up and get through" He pushed open
the solid iron door and We filed in, being
the last.


Where's Smytbe?" l heard voice ask,
and l pushed forward, and we all stood
stupefied with amaZement at what we saw
Instead of being chained, half-starved, and
bleeding from bullet holes, to the wall, and
being sick and raving crazy, there was old
BrOwler sitting smiling and hearty behind
dinner table, surrounded by his three
spectacled sisters, all staring at us good
humOredly. We all went sheepishly for
ward and gave limp hand shaking,
hiding our chicken and Rhine wine be
hind u.s.


"Well, young Smythe," cried the old
fellow, " is it all right?"


"Yes, sir, he'll be here to-day" Then
there was great confusion Browler giving
his three sisters hug all around, while
Baxter and the fellows glared at me like
wild beasts, for had given them to under
stand my absence had been on my own
business, and it had really transpired that
was traitor after all.


al should like to know, Mr.. Browler,"
said Baxter defantly, stepping forward
and eying him, whether you ran off with
O'NeiPs fathers money or not? If you
really did, why, we won't stay, and we
only came because we thought you might
be miserable. But it seems to me that if
you can carry on this style with such a
thing on your conscience, you can get along
well enough without our sympathy or
grub"


1t was just like Baxter to say that.


All the four spectacles broke out into a
scream of laughter, while we all looked
black as thunder. Prese ntly Browler
sobered little, and leaned forward on his
knuckles on the table.


"Boys, you are very kind to me in
deed. Indeed, l cannot tell you exactly
how l stand just now, but and my sisters
thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
and we assure you that your sympathy Is
NOT misplaced"


At this instant the turnkey entered, and
whispered to Browler, who nodded quick
ly, and then whispered to his sisters, who
Immediately began to fidget with their
hats and gloves and to look very much
cut up.


Presently somebody came along the
corridor, and pushed open the door,


"Dear old Vanr'