e former had
been written to the colonel, and one bore date as far back as July 9th,
1819; the latter had been addressed to various individuals, and some
bore date as far back as 1798.

To secure these letters was a work of great delicacy. Though the
constitution granted the right of asking the unreturned letters, yet the
writers feared to make the requisition of the colonel, lest he might
suspect them of a conspiracy, and being thus exasperated, let loose his
engines of destruction. They finally fixed upon the following plan. They
were to hold out the idea that they were ready to bail him, provided he
would leave the country. In case he consented, they were to request the
retention of the letters, feeling confident he had not destroyed them.
The plan was laid open to the colonel by the man from Dearborn county,
Indiana, the same who was dressed in disguise. He was told by the
colonel that the papers (meaning the package) had been taken, and he
could not furnish them, as he had no possible knowledge who had done the
deed. This reply, to the council of Grand Masters, was like "a clap of
thunder in a cloudless sky," so confident were they that he had them and
would produce them when thus requested. There was now only one
alternative, the life of the colonel must be taken, which they could and
did accomplish, as the sequel will show.

CHAPTER X.

From the time of the visit by the Dearborn county man till the death of
Colonel Brown, embracing about six weeks, there were constant and fierce
wranglings among the fraternity. A considerable change had been made in
the feelings of some of the colonel's former sworn friends, which of
course made those who knew him innocent more bitter against any one they
might suspect guilty of bringing such a calamity upon him. His friends
and foes were equally interested in finding the retainer of the lost
package, but all to no purpose. There was, however, but one sentiment in
the Grand Council; they still believed that the colonel had them, and
designed, as soon as he was liberated, to make a general exposure of the
whole organization to the world. But their own consciousness of personal
injury--of having acted a treacherous part against this man--was, in
reality, the ground of their conviction as to his guilt; for it was not
in the nature of the man to be false to his pledged honour. It only
remained that they should prevent his liberation; and the most effectual
way was to act i