Squatter sovereign., 1857-01-20

noie, WI b his signature crossed over with
ink and a hole punched through it, :
1t is plain, Mr. Wallace. that he paid
you the money as be alleges. or has OBJ
tanned fraudulent possession of the note,
and intends to cheat you out ofshe amount
'He never paid me- replied he firmly.
Then he has frauiulenlly eblained tie
note. What sort Of d person is this Chan
dler. who boards with yoal'
"A fine young man. Bless you! he would
not do anything of the kind
/ am sure he wouldn,,! repeated Annie,
earnestly. =
How else could Bryce have obtained
the note but through him. What time
doei lie generally some in nights2'
But father. be did no, come home till
ten o'clock the night before you went 20
Bryce's. He had to stay at the office to
post books, or something Of .ha, kind"
How did he get ins'
'ie has night key
i must see Chandler
Il hope you DON'T think be had anything
to de with it,
i don't know. / should like to see
him.
He is innocent, am surer exclaimed
Annie & f
No harm in seeing him. added Mr..
Wallace. ! will go for him.
In few minutes he returned with the
young man. Chandler, In tie corrersa-
lion | had with him. manifested very
lively interes, in the solution of the r1vs.
tery, and prosossed himself ready to do
anything to forward my views
'iYLat time did you return to the house
on Tuesday nigh,?' asked, with the in
ten ton of sounding him.
a bout twelve
'Tweive!' said Annie. II wa. not more
than ten. l heard YOU
The clock struck twelve as turned the
corner of the street, replied Chandler, pos
itively.
i certainly heard some one in the from,
room al that time, added annie, looking
with sstonishmens at the group arornl her.
we are getting at something, re-
marked laughing. How did you ge. ia
Sr. Chandlera'
The young man SAILED as he glanced
at Annie.
did not tell you about it, said he .for
I vas afraid it would make you nervous,
ard perhaps get an homes, man into troub.
le. Ifo,t my aigt. key
'Eh
Il lost my night.key.'
Go On, sir
! began TO b~ deeply interested.
"A watchman happening along, told
him my situation. lie knew me and ia.
king ladder from an unfinished Lcuse
opposite, he placed it against one of Tie
5 s,cond story windows, and / entered in
that way
"Good; now who was i, you heard at 1 O
o'clock z"
Wallace looked at Annie and Aanie
looked at her lover.
sWhe WAS it.'
1t was Bryce!' I replied. Yoa may
depend upon it,
The villianr exclaimed Wallace, ta-
king it for granted.
: He is mean enough to 90 such thing
added Ci adler.
'When you lost your nigl.t-key, he
found it.-Wnere did you keep it afr
In the rocket of my outside coat
Exactly sor
I wrote lawyers letter. demand
yoa. &c-which was Immediately sent to
Bryce. Caution;ng the parties not to speek
o! the affair l dismissed them.
Well cir what have you against me p
he asked rather stifiy.
"A claim on tie part Of John Wallace
for two thou and doilars,' replied, poking
my hand over papers. and appearing SUI
rreHsely Indifferent.
Paid itr said he as short as pie crust.
Have you said I, looking him in the
eye as sharp as Iscould possibly tring nv
optics to bear upon him.
The rascal Guailed-I saw he was a
william.
/ have
Nevertheless if within one hour. you
de not ray me The two thousand dollars
and one hundred dollars for the trouble
yeo have caused my Glen pledge YOU
my word and honor that, at the end Of the
next hour. yeu shall be lodged in jail to
to criminal charge
He turned raie and his lips quivered.
What do You mean sirs'
mean what ! say. Pay. ortake the
conse lue lees. 'ia -