He was so disguised, however, that I did not recognize him until he addressed me and told me who he was.

He was attired in a suit of coarse brown ducking, heavy boots, and a slouch hat; around his neck he wore a large red handkerchief, and he looked more like a German tramp than like my old friend.

I felt at once that something was wrong, or that he was in some trouble; so I asked him in, and we went to my room.

My family were away at the time, and there was no one in the house but myself, and as he looked tired and hungry, I produced what eatables I had in the house, and he made a hearty meal.

After he had finished, he turned to me, and laughingly said: "'The devil himself wouldn't know me in this rig, would he ?' "I told him I thought not, and then asked him what was the cause of his strange disguise and his unexpected appearance in Des Moines.