Southern shield., 1857-01-17

took the money. Then he came to me again, but did not offer to pay me-
 Had you the note with you?'
 'No; now I remember, he said he supposed had not the note with me. or he would pay it. He told me to come in next day and he would have it ready-that was yesterday. When l came to look for the note it could not be found; Anne and I have hunted the house all over.'
 You told Bryce sop
 I did; he laughed, and showed me the note with his signature crossed oTec with ink and hoHe puached through it..
 1t is plain, Mir. Wallace, that he paid you the money, as he alleges, or has obtained fraudulent possession of the note, and intends to cheat you out of the amount
 He never paid me- replied he firm ly.
 Then he has fraudulently obtained the note. What sort of person is this Chandler, who boards with you?'
 "A fine young man. Bless me, he would not do anything of the kind.'
 am sure he would not,' repeated Anne, earnestly.
 How else could Bryce obtain the note but through him? What time does he come in at night?'
 Always at tea time. He never goes out in the evening" answered Wallace.
 But, father, he did not come home till ten o'clock the night before you went to Bryce's. He had to stay in the office to post the books, or some thing of that kind How did he get in?'
 He has a night key.'
 T must see Chandler" I said.
 No harm in seeing him. added Mr. Wallace, I will go for him.
 In a few moments he returned with the young man. Chandler, in the conversation I had with him, manifes- ted a very lively interest in the solution of the mystery, and profered himself ready to do anything to forward my views.
 'When did you return to the house on Tuesday night?' asked him, with the intention of sQnndinA' him a little 7 rmolso!! said Anne, it was noI more than ten, l heard you.'
 'The clock struck twelve as I turn ed the corner of the street, replied Chandler positively.
 I certainly heard some one in tho front room at ten,' added Anne, look. ing with astonishment at the group around her.
 We are getting at something.' remarked. How did you get in, Mir [ Chandler?'
 The young man smiled as the glan4 ced at Anne.
 'On arriving at the door, he replied T found that I had lost my night key At that moment a watchman happen ing along, l told him my situation III He knew me, and taking ladder from an unfinished house opposite placed it against one of the seconc story windows, and I entered in that way'
 Good, Now, who was 1t that was heard in the parlor at ten, unless i was Bryce or one of his accomplices He must have taken the key from youl pocket, Mir. Chandler, and stolen the note from the secretary. At any rate I will charge him with the crime-le what may happen. Perhaps he vii confess, when hard pushed
 Acting upon this thought, I wrote g lawyers letter. demand against you, &c.-which was immediately sent tc Bryce. Cautioning the parties not tc speak of the affair, I dismissed them
 Bryce came.
 well, sir, what have you against me?' he asked, rather stifiy.
 "A claim, on the part of John Wal lace, for two thousand dolfars,' l re- piled, poking over my papers, anc appearing supremely indifferent.
 Paid it., said he, short as pie crust
 Have you?' and I looked him in the eye sharply.
 The rascal quailed. l saw that he was a villain.
 Nevertheless, if, within an hour, you do not pay me the two thousand l dollars, and one hundred dollars for the trouble and anxiety you have caus- ed my client, at the end of the next hour von shall be lodged in jail to answer to criminal charge
 sWhat do you mean, sir?'
 T mean what l say. Pay, or take the consequences It was bold charge, and if he had looked like an honest man, 1 should not have dared to make it.
 T have paid the note, I tell you. said he, I have the note in my posses sion.'
 Where did you get it?'
 I got 1t, of course, when l paid the-'