The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-14
cHRtsTMAsA BANK.
|CONTINUED.I |

ICoNTINUED.
We rented only the ground and
first floors Of the house. The rest
was let out in offices, except the
topmost story, in which lived o
house-keeper. The ground floor only
was used as the public part Of the
bank. 1t was ono long room, tenn
porarily fitted with counters and
partitions, one Of which last cut off
a portion of the space, and formed
q room for tho partners. Tho por-
tion thus cut off must have been
originally a courtyard, or perhaps
IN clubhouse, projecting beyond the
main body of the house. It did not
reach higher than the ground floor,
and was almost entirely covered by o
sky-light. Besides the front entrance
to the bank, (that in the lane,) there
was second one from the court, and
this latter was always used after the
putting up of the shutters, which, in
fact, were SO disposed that once up
all communication with the lane was
cut off, There were two doors to
this entrance-an outer one, leading
from the court to the staircase,
which gave access to the offices above;
and q second inner one, opening
from this stair into the bank.
The safe was, of course, kept in the
division of the bank set apart for the
principals. These explanations are
tedious enough, L know; but could
not without them tell my story so as
to be und nrstood.
From the nature of the building,
and the fact that no one belonging to
us lived on the premises, it was
thought unsafe that the bank should
ever be left unguarded, and some
time before we moved into the new
place, an extra messenger had been
engaged, whose duty it was to watch
the premises all night, from the clos
ing to the re-opening of the bank,
his wakefulness being tested by a
''tell-tale." Some little while after
we had moved in, he complained, as
well he might, of having to be on
duty from Saturday evening to Mon
day morning; and it was then az
ranged that some of the clerks should
take it in turns to guard the bank on
Sundays.
L own that L was not very well
pleased to find myself Oh the list Of
those who were to be mewed up in
the closed bank periodically for some
seven or eight hours; but there was
no help for it. Our staff (never very
large) had short while before been
reduced by the discharge of u clerk
Immediately above mo in the bank,
for dishonesty, which had been
mainly instrumental in exposing.
Unwillingly enough; for, though for
some time past there had been be-
tween Langston and myself q cool
ness, the result of his own courses,
which were such that I was more
shocked than surprised on accident
ally discovering his frauds, yet I could
not forget that we had been friends,
and that as my senior he had smooth
ed down several difficulties in my first
years at the bank. So much did
feel this, that I refused the promo
tion which was the result of his dis
missal; nor did [ give way, save at
the request of the principals, who,
on their side, ut my prayer, agreed to
abandon Langston's prosecution
This concession was granted only at
the last hour. Langston was already
IN custody, and was on the point OF
being brought before the magistrate,
when hastened to tell him that the
firm would not appear against him.
LATHE as L had expected in the way of
thanks, L was inexpressibly shocked
by his rage on seeing me. Argument
would have been in vain. L left him
with the sad conviction that the Gle
mency of the firm had been thrown
away, and with the knowledge that
one whom | had called my friend had
become bitter enemy.
THIS had taken place at the begin
ming OF November, and lust after
our move. The reduction in our
numbers caused by Langston's dis
mlssal had not been made up; and
although L was promoted to a post
which would otherwise have exempt.
ed mo from the duties of ''house
keeper" my advance was too recent
for me to be greatly hurt when tho
head clerk requested me to take mI
share In the new arrangements.
was, however, annoyed to find tba,
my first turn would fall on Christina,
day, which was to rank in this re-
spect with the Sundays.
"What shamel" said Julia, when