The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-10

VI am very glad 70 hear it, sir" re-
piled the ex-deteotive, sand you'll
excuse me, .sir)-but I think as I've
every. likely said T.; laughing,
''your experience has doubtless led
you across my path"
cay, I thought as much, SIR" said
the guard; "I see you when Mr.. -
offered me the post I have. I re-
member you was comm in as I left
the bank."' -
81 dare say you did, for my father
sees o; great many people ut the
bank" said I.
"Is your father Mr.. George Sen
erville, as lives near H when he's
at home, sir?"
Eyes" said I; "I have just been Of
my uncle's house, now, and am on my
way to London, where my father is
at present.
'''Well, that is curious, SIR" said
the guard, touching his cap, Gas I
should see you here this evening, and
I'm proud to have met you, sir.''
! replied, and the guard running
to the door, exclaimed, "Here's the
mail, sir; if you'll show mo your
things I'll see that they are all right"
And once moro touching his cap, he
withdrew. The mail soon drew up,
and having been comfortably be-
slowed by the guard, rs we '.spun"
over the distance that lay between
s. and the metropolis. L ponder
ed on this singular story I had
heard, until 1 fell into q doze, from
which I was notthoroughly awakened
until the train stopped to take tho
tickets.
We were soon afterward run into
the station, and as 1 stepped out of
the carriage, I found the guard ready
to assist me. He soon extricated nv
portmantcau from the heap ut tho
end of the platform, and insisted
upon carrying it to the entrance of
the station, for, strange as it may
appear, there were no cabs in attend
ance that morning. AS we emerged
into the street, hanson drew up
close to the "departure'' entrance,
and the guard hailing Jehu, we wait.
cd until the fare had alighted. What
was my astonishment, to find that the
gentleman who was about to take
his departure thus early from Lon
don, was no other man than nv
fathers confidential clerk, respecting
whom my father had already com.
municated his suspicious in the letter
| had received the morning before.
1 started involuntarily at the sudden
appearance of the very person whose
affairs I had come to London to in
vestigate, and followed his retreating
figure with 80 earnest gaze that the
guard, who had been observing me
closely, said
"Beg pardon, sir; do you know that
gentleman?"
Certainly I do" I replied; "I've
come on his account; MIR. Barton is
my fathers confidential clerk; but
I'm afraid all is not quite right" I
added, thoughtfully, and in an under
tone.
81 suspect there's little game,
said the guard; "the man as is gone
in there was called Byles three years
ago."
L was struck with astonishment at
this remark, and asked my compa-
Mon if he were certain that the sol
distant Barton was in reality Byles,
alias Chatham.
cas- certainly as 1 stand here" re-
piled the guard; "and take nv word
tor 1T, sir, he's after no good. If you
don't think mo presumin', should
like to hear what's up"
Well" said I, "the matter is
confidential one; but L may tell You
that we have reason to suspect that
MIR. Byles' accounts are in n most
unsatisfactory state. Can wo not
intercept him, for 1 think he intends
to 'bolt?'"
eve shall soon SEQ that, SIR" re-
pliod the guard, his detective nature
cIrnyuIn0 for =, a. I