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

by me, and added lie thought Howard would
like TO change It for the. How So &. said |.
"'fou remember" said he, that How.
ARD ar bought house lot ofme, some time ago.
Tho last payment come due yesterday. He
seemed reluctant to part with this bill, and
said II | would wait, he would give ME spc-
Gle tor it ina day or two Something
more was said about Towards good luck in
making payments for the house lot, SO
promptly, aud 80 we parted"
'Where will find this Mr.. Fellows
asked the Agent.
"t saw Lin ten minutes ago enter store
i'll the village"
"You are sure he will corr"borate your
statcment?"
"Tl,erc's no doubt Of it. Hes a plain
practical man, who tells straightforward
story"
Come, then" said the Aent, "wc will 60
aud find him."
Carleton readily asscnted, and tho two
left the chamber.
"Ive little business to transact before
dinner. mother" said the young man, as
they passed out. IF am not back in a
quarter Of an hour, do not wait for me-"
But little difficulty was experienced III
finding Mr.. Fellows. ue was such per.
son as Carleton had described but hc
turned out to be very deaf, and the Agent
deemed it expcdent to retire with him and
Carleton to some secure place, where their
loud talking would not bc overheard. Tho
clerk proposed that they should make use
ofthe private room Of tho post Office. The
Agent readily agreed to this. for he WAS
somewhat anxious to make sure 0f Howard;
and he now resolved that the latter should
hs present at the interview. This plan WAS
also proposed by Carleton, and when they
had arrived at the post Office, tho senior
clerk informed the junior. in a low and &c
rious tone. that his presence was requested
in the private apartment.
"I3ut who will attend in the Office Z" ask.
ed Howard.
I'll speak to one Of the clerks in the
store; they accommodate us very often in
this way" Carleton added, addressing tie
Agent. ats only round the corner"
The thought struck the Agent that it
would he safe enough to accompany Carle.
ton. But to do so, it would be necessary
to leave Howard, who, if guilty, might by
this time have suspected the dang ger ut hand
Besides, it seemed not at all probable that
Carleton could have any motive for attempt
ing to escape. His position in society, his
family circumstances. his frank and manly
dem"anor-everytling tended to dissrn1
suspicion. Furthermore. nothing could be
more satisfactory thnn the story he had re-
lated of the manner in which lie obtained
the fatal bill. He was accordingly suffered
to leave the office. As there were persons
passing in and out, the Agent did not con
slider it proper to broarh tlle important sub
iect- until Carleton.,s return.
not reappear. -
II thought he said lie had only to &c
around the corner" said the Agent.
ut is probable" Howard replied, shat
the boys have gone to dinner. Tn that
case. If your business is important, he ha.
possibly gone to call the post master him.
self"
A quarter Of an hour passcd. Carleton
hal had time to walk to Mr.. BIS house and
back, but still he did no, make lis appear,
anre. The Agent grew uneasy. H. wait.
Ell live minutes longer, then resolved upon
4 decisive step.
| "Mr. Fellows" he cried in the deaf Gen.
| tleman's car, ibid YOU ever Sec that bili be-.
fore 2" Fortunately, Mr.. Fellows SIGHT
WAS good, though his hearing was bad.
tie examined the paper without spectaclcs,
and decided at once that he then and there
saw it for the first time. -.
ibid yon not buy horse from Carleton
yester'laya"
mo-" said Mr.. Fellows II have talked
of selling his mother pony, but I never
bought anything Of him."
The truth flashed upon tho Agents I'M
derstanding. For his credit let It I've de.
cIared. Carleton had played his game with
''"nsummate art that would have deceiv.
cd "the very elect"
No time VIA lost in obtaining traces Of
the Young mans fight. The Agent iude
ed rightly, from his character, that he would
not attempt to leave town. He anticipated
more melancholy fate for the unhappy
youth. Some inward prompting seemed
to direct him to an .apothecary's shop not
many doors distant, and on INQUIRY he
learned that Carleton had just been there.
(Which way did he go {"
"ln fact, am not certain he has gone"
said the druggiat. "He purchased some
medicine, renarking that he wished 10
write out some directions for its use, and
stepped into the back room. / have been
very busy. and lie may have passed ont
without my seeing him.
The Agent spraDg forward. The door
was locked upon the inside.
HyDIn< I'll