may have robbed, leaving his injured family in penury and want.  Some of these, who were comparatively poor at the time of the colonel’s downfall, in 1832, have since become rich.  There is reason to fear that such sudden wealth, obtained without any visible means, was not very honourably acquired.  It is seldom that honest industry will thus accumulate.  The letters I shall publish will be accompanied with explanatory notes.  The persons concerned will recognise their own productions, and I hope to see such a change in their future life as shall deserve a charitable silence.  But I return from my digression.

The sworn friends of the prisoner had forsaken him in the hour of need, and left him single-handed and alone to meet the stern rigours of the law.  There was no remedy unless in his own stratagem, which was now being matured.  It was as follows.  His brother was to remain in prison as an evidence against Taylor, mentioned in the previous chapter, while he was to assume all the responsibility of the counterfeit money, plates, &c., as well as all the other villanies which had been charged upon them conjointly.

The colonel was very sick from the action of the medicines.  He supposed every effort had been made to bail him, but was greatly deceived.  His fate was sealed.  A conspiracy was formed against him.  He suspected foul play, because his former associates did not come forward and bail him.  His removal to the hospital was only a pretence set up by them, that might give more time to carry out their treacherous designs.  He was a prisoner, and they were determined to make him such the remainder of his life.  He had his friends, however, warmhearted, and true.  He was almost worshipped by the poorer members of the brotherhood.  The richer part envied him for his superior skill in his profession and general popularity, and feared the consequences.  In this he differed widely from his brother, who was neither loved nor feared, and was only respected from his relationship.  When the plan was devised for the younger brother to swear the counterfeit money and plates upon Taylor, it was intended by these professed friends, that he should be caught in his own net, and be thus prevented from rendering the colonel any assistance.  The consummation of this plan, I will next detail.

CHAPTER IV.

The younger brother was to produce various letters which had been written to him from different parts of the Union, by different individuals.  That this could be done will be seen by what follows.  The colonel had been an extensive speculator in merchandise of almost every kind.  He was extensively known.  His correspondence was wide-spread.  In his villanous communications, however, letters were never addressed to him in his proper name, unless some one should labour under the impression that he was an honest man.  He used two fictitious names; the one was George Sanford, and the other that of his brother.