The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-03-28
WHOLE NUMBER Is !.

3. Z" he asked.
mot yet; he is the nominal post mas.
ter, it is true, but you have a far more init
mate knowledge Of the details of the office
than he has. have another reason for mot
speaking with him. I dislike 10 disturb b;s
confidence until the establishment of strong
proof renders it my duty to do So"
"You can speak to me with perfect plain.
ness" said Carleton.
Il trust so," replied the Agent. aAnd I
am sure you will do all you can to set me
right, if l ann going wrong. Nor will you,
am convinced, suffer me to injure an inno-
cent person in your estimation. To come
TO the point, then, I wish you to open your
utmost thoughts, and tell me if YOU regard
it as possible that your follow-clerk can be
guilty of these depredations upon the mails"
You shock me," said Carleton, not with
out emotion.
Speak freely" continued the Agent. 9
"Why, l could almost as soon think Of
suspecting Mr.. B. himself" exclaimed the
other. Il believe Howard to be perfectly
honest"
"Ccrtainly, know nothing to the con-
trary; and sincerely hope your Judgment ia
well founded. But" continued the Agent
'"our public duty should not be altogether
biased ny private opinion. You will not.
therefore, fail to unite with me in tracing the
embczzIements to their true source. no mat
ter at whose door the blame may be laid.n
Il will do all in my power" said Carle.
ton. "Although would be almost willing
TO pledge my own reputation that the Losses
nave occurred outside Of the office, viii
use every exertion to discover any derelic,
ton from duty that may come within my
sphere of observation"
Ihe Agent expressed his thanks for tie
clerks ready promise of cooperation, and
took his leave.
Meanwhile he did not neglect other meas.
ures that he had adopted for trneinp the
robOerics. BY singular coincidence, with .
IN an hour after this conversation with Carle.
Ton: ne was able to seize ce1tain clue
On his return to tho hotel, the landlord:
thus addressed him: -
"You asked me if could give you any
more large bills, in exchange for small ones.
think can accommodate you this morn
ing. I have n one hundred dollar bank
note, which, if you are sending money by
mail, will be very convenient"
THANK you," replied the Agent; "it will
be great accommodation"
The landlord, passed the bank note over
the counter. One can imagine the Agents A
secret triumph OH discovering, at last, one =
of the very bills he was in search Of one
that had been lost in letter passing that
post-oi only week before and of which:
lie had an accurate description from the
Department. sJs
Having made the purchase, he held the !
bank-noto up to the light.
81 suppose you will warrant this paper to /
be genuine! lie suggested
"Of course you know from whom you
had it2"> -
TO be sure took it Of one Of my
boarders this morning, Captain Wilkins : ;"
81 have no doubt the bill IS good" said
the Agent, puttingit in his pocket. AYou
are sure you hadit of tho Captain 8"
20, yes twas an hour ago he gare'it to y 4
me-"
"By the way, who is this Captain Will
kins 2. Hes very gentlemanly'appearing
fellow"
80, he's capital fcllow!" said tho land
lord. ~
"What's his business :" - '!S&
lie keeps faro bank" 80"
To a Northern reader, the tsSosclanscs. OF
this statement may seem inconsistent with. Z
each other. But allowance rnast be made
for the freedom Of Southern manners and /
society. To bet at faro bank isyronsider-
ed no serious stain upon the honor and re-
spectability of gentlemen IN Southernciti
The keeper of a faro bank may pass, aswe I
have seen, for capital fellow" y But die
Agent feltpaincd to know from what source /
the landlord had obtained the biifs Already
dark picture Of temptations and crime
arose before his eyes. It 10 assigni6cant;,:ss
too often a trsgical ,word---the Faro BanksFss
Captain Wilkins had gone to ride. The I
Agent pretended to transact y little busiIess,s
mailed two or three letters utid read sthas
newspapers until fiis retYrn: The e4ratHiDg
of e light-wheeled buggy before sthe hotel
steps announced the expected arriyai.
20 Captain; Wiikiias- lbefrly,d dressed and
polite individual, whom ne liig have ta.ss
Fken for aclergy yman- teppeds ssopt ssofs It'd 6
vehicle scco.np BY d, ffiend pulled ch
his diving gloyes aaii
and lighted {, fresh igar5 at sfltS tbaS
.SThe Agepttooe 81 sarly escssio,l3 tosao'
cost him.
sCans speak III syolf 4
aCsftainly "a Gapt
ttyo Nall toget6 6s
lEhibas es bsp 8 { y ss s. 8 s. s So