“You can imagine the astonishment and chagrin of the Majah when he found the safe empty of funds, afteh he had wo’ked all day to blow it open. He was ho’nswoggled by this infe’nal thief of a Milt Tuttle. He had taken ev’ry cent befoah the Majah came, and left the Majah in the lu’ch to face all the consequences, and to get away the best he could.
“When the Majah came to me that night, and told me his tale, I was astounded. Of co’se I do not approve of robbery, but the Majah had committed no robbery. He had taken absolutely nothing f’om that safe, and he was as innocent of robbery as a child unbawn. Milt Tuttle was the thief, and on his ill gotten wealth he went off somewheah fo’ his health, but he was stricken by a vengeful providence with pneumonia, and he is now dead, and theah is no way of proving his dasta’dly connection with the affaiah.
“I told the Majah that he had been made a cat’s paw, and that he had betteh go home as fast as he could. He was without funds, and, unfo’tunately, I did not have any to lend him, so he sta’ted fo’ the south on foot. That was the last I saw of the Majah, and I had a letteh f’om one of the fo’mah officers of ouah regiment, that the Majah is now dead. I assume, suh, that he died of a broken heaht, all on account of the villainy of that dehty thief of a Milt Tuttle.
“When I was unjustly and unfo’tunately dragged into that affaiah, I could have told the whole story, but I felt bound to protect my friend the Majah, who fought undeh me fo’ foah yeahs. He twice saved my life on the field, and foah such a man, no matteh what his failings might be, I was bound to make any sacrifice. I could have gone on the stand and pointed my fingah at the thief, but of what avail? The attorney who represented me in those disgraceful proceedings advised me to keep my seat, as the state had no case whateveh. That mutton headed old bi’led owl that was supposed to be a cou’t, bound me oveh, but I was soon released, and my friend’s secret was not in jeopa’dy.
“I have now expiated the penalty of the No’the’n law fo’ whipping that rascally editeh. My atto’ney also pounded him to a jelly. It is my intention to hawss-whip Tipton Posey, foah he was the one that sta’ted the talk that resulted in all those legal proceedings, and during the thi’ty days that I am in jail foah that, it is my intention to complete my novel, in which, as I told you, is to be woven my memoahs.
“It is a good thing fo’ Milt Tuttle that he had pneumonia, foah if he was not deceased I would fill him full of holes fo’ the dishonah he brought on my friend the Majah, and then I would leave the no’th fo’evah.
“I shall nevah blacken the memory of Majah Speed by using his name with the story of the blowing open of the safe in my book. I shall use anotheh name, suh, and his secret shall be fo’evah safe and his memory will be unta’nished, fo’ the Majah nevah stole a dollah. He can stand befoah that greateh cou’t, wheah he has now gone, with a guiltless and stainless soul.”
I was much interested in the Colonel’s narrative, and after talking over some of the details, we retired for the night.
I had quietly enjoyed the naive reasoning, and the chivalrous devotion of the Colonel to his war time friend. There was pathos in the tale of sacrifice, and, several times I saw moisture in the old soldier’s eyes, as he dilated upon the cruelty of his position in the affair of the safe.
His conceptions of right and wrong were refreshing, and his penchant for taking the law into his own hands was evidently going to get him into more predicaments, but it was useless to argue with him. I felt sorry about Posey’s coming castigation, but as Tip was abundantly able to take care of himself, I concluded not to worry over it.