CHAPTER IX.


From the time the plan was concocted, for making Taylor suffer the
penalty of another's crime, the utmost promptitude was required for its
execution--the machinery must be actively employed by the friends of the
colonel, and his brother. First, the colonel must be made sick, and a
sympathy thereby awakened, and hence the plea for his removal would be
the more plausible. His enlargement was important. He was a principal
man, with whom it would be necessary to have much consultation--an
intercourse more vital to the cause of his pretended than his real
friends. Besides, there were many who really desired his escape, but
being among the first class of society, as to wealth, respectability,
and influence, they were unwilling to frequent the prison to visit the
unfortunate colonel. Though interested deeply in his release, they were
not willing the public should understand that they were sworn friends.
The part the younger brother was to sustain, has already been detailed
in a former chapter. The medicine was administered with the desired
effect, and the colonel was removed to the hospital. He was now in a
situation to be consulted. Many would now visit him, who never would
have gone to the prison. If a reason was required for their familiarity
with so base a man, it could be found in the dictates of kindness,
called forth by suffering humanity. After his removal, his brother was
under obligation to do as he had promised, to produce the spurious
plates, the counterfeit money, and the correspondence, and swear them
upon Taylor, as the real agent and proprietor. As the signatures of the