The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-14

ago dnfed his Sunday coat, and that
he:was sitting, with "church-war-
den" in his mouth-it sounds very
like cannibalism- slipping, everynow.
and then, something very hot and
very strong, as q corrective to the
sucking-pig. The wind had risen,
and was driving the snow-aakes
thickly against the window. came
back to my fire, Lit candle, and tried
to read; but l kept thinking of Julia
and her pretty face, and thenI dozed
and nodded, and dozed again, and
got SO sleepy-to tell truth, it was q
bottle of very good wine the Kings
Head had sent me-that / hunted up
q lot of money-bags for pillow, and
stretched myself Mt full length before
the fire. -Four, struck the solemn
old clocks all around, so lazily that
don't think the last had sounded
when dropped off asleep.
awoke with n start, reused by q
noise which had mingled with my
dreams in some strange way. I felt
qu te cold, and no wonder, for the
fire showed only last glimmer; the
candle had burned quite out. Won
dering how long I had slept, I seized
the poker, and was just going to stir
the fire, when fancied 1 heard re-
petition of the sound which 1 had
taken for part of my dream. 1t
was Just like the noise glacier would
make in removing q pane of glass,
and seemed to come from the sky-
light in the inner room. This room.
as have said, was divided from the
rest of the bank by n partition which
extended to the ceiling. 1t was of
wood, with the exception of two
glazed doors, curtained to the height
OF about seven feet. Almost doubt
ing whether was really awake, 1 sat
Tor q moment listening intcntly.
Yes; there could be no mistake; tho
two doors were shut, but in the ST.
lencc, unbrollen by any sound except
of the ticking of the clock, heard a
pane of glass quietly removed; then,
IN quick succession, second and q
third. At this moment, 1 heard the
chimes of neighboring clock, and
waited impatiently for the hour to
strike. Z! Two hours past the time
at which L ought to have been re-
lieved by the watchman. The truth
flashed across me; he must have been
got out of the way.
hesitated to stay where J. was. or
to run the risk of trying to leave the
bank i'll order to give the alarm. The
danger to myself of either course
seemed about equal; for to leave the
bank, I should have to ;inbar the
door, and the noise should ncces-
sarily make would draw Oh me the
attention of the burglars. My hcsi-
tation lasted for few seconds only.
but [ was already too late; the sound
in the next room convinced me that
some one had just descended.
My only plan now was to wait and
keep quiet Just then L heard on
the shutters which closed the bank to
the lane, a tapping, evidently sig
nal from confcdcratcs outside. Ii
WAS a little too early, for it must
have been quite inaudible in the room
beyond. where were those for whom
it WAS intended; but L knew that
few seconds later must be discover
ed. The plan OF signaling had, no
doubt, been arranged, and the first
step taken by the burglar who had
just descended would be towards the
front of the bank, to exchange sig.
nails with those outside. L hurried
mentally over the means of defence
at hand; how L longed for q pair of
the horse pistols that in the old bank
had formed circle on the wall be-
hind the counter. Unluckily, in the
confusion of moving, they had been
slowed away-where, it mattered not,
If L could not Mt that instant lay my
hand on them. The poker was still
III my hand; for want of better
weapon, [ graspcd it tightly, anu
noiselessly raised it from the fender.
The taps from the outside were re-
peated; L could not be too quick. +
listened for second in the direction
of the room beyond, and distinctly
heard a whispering. There were
then two men. was puzzled. Why
should the one who ha already de-
scended not open the door to those
who were signaling outside? 1t was
no time to make conjecturcs; care
fully placing the poker on the hearth
rug, l rapidly pulled Off my boots. [
had on pair OF thick worsted stock
ings; they would enable me to get
noiselessly behind The door, and then
as the burglars passed, L should get
the first blow, at al ev nts. But be-
hind which door, COR there were
two? Luckily, 1 recollected that.