The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-03-14

tanning fifteen in in cash. and and
lady's diamond ring Of tho value Of fifty gauihh-
eass4rsnot a bad'morningswork for a gentleman
in reduced circumstances. yIn such Ia.icase,
however all the surmisipgg in the world was of
no avail., No one had seen him take the purse,
and 50 long as he kept his own. counsel, he was
safe from detection. The grand point was To-
ascertain whethcrihe really had the ring or oGr a
pawnbroker's duplicate for it about his person!
Bpst.how to do this sis &, ar., III edi
This was the problem that !, kept turning
over and oyer in my mind as cautiously fol-
lowed Up my man when he went on his way
from the jewellers shop At the top of the
lane he seemed to hesitate for half q minute
then he turned to the right, and went up Long
Acre, still following cautiously about dozen
yards in the rear, .n
Il will put you to simple test, my friend"
thought +; ''and as you come out Of it, so will
I adiudge you innocent or guilty" 'i7 t''n
Hurrying up behind him, I tapped him
lightly on the arm. 81 beg you'll rpardon,Y
said, Shut did you drop this pcncil-casc just
now ?" .,, .,,,
He started as 1 touched him, aud seemed
for few seconds as if he could not take in the
meaning of my question. He looked at me
with eyes full of suspicion Whether lie re-
cognized me as one Of his fell6w-passengers by
tue mornings bus, I could mot determine
We had halted opposite large shop, and the;
light from the window shonc full on my silver
peneil-casc, on which, at length, when he was was
apparently satisfied with his scrutiny of my
face, hisiglancc fastened grcedily ii,rllr "i+a
"Plickcd Plic it up. did you say'?' he asked, as
he began to tumble with thumb and 6nger, in
his waistcoat pocket. s..i
"Just behind your answered 'sBut if
it's'not yours, I shan't- boosher any more about
it, but pocket it myself" :''l'a.I $50 ~ ''2S
"!:But it is minc," ciput in eagerly. 's:How
stupid Of nc to lose til put the pencil
case in his hands without hcsitation-'sI am
really much obliged to you," he went on, "for
your Kindness in rcturuingit. AS you l',r grow
older, young gentleman, you will sf:,d that hoohhe
,esty5 is thetexception.,:n tlisworld, and not the
,sauia.,,, l 7ap h ,t.ilr :s,s q
l. q
sad, with laugh. You seem to value the
ease 81
81 do value 10, young gentleman" answered
the old hypocritc LESS, perhaps, frem its
intrinsic worth, than from tue fact ahnb it is
the sole relic now left rne of 4 very dear friend j
Friendship ever let us cherish a truly noble
sentiment 20
''Thon if you value it SO highly" said
"you can hardly object to stand half go Of
brandy for its recovery" -oia y. "a
"lIalf a so of brandy :" he said, in horri-
lied tone. "Young man, Young man, I'm worry
much afraid ...s /.
I had taken out my watch, valuable gold
lever. AS his eye fell on it, his intended re-
monstrancc came to an abrupt conclusion.
e "Wcll-ah-yes' you are quite right, he re-
sumed, und l shall be happy to treat you to
go Of brandy. TO what place shall we ad-
journ p
ssTo the nearest house, please want to get
home to my dinner"
So VIC went to the nearest tavern, where my
new acquaintance ordered glass of brandy
for me, and half Il pint of stout for himself.
Not to be behind hand, l ordered a couple of
cigars.
''Bccn in London long?" asked my compan
ion, as was lighting my weed.
"No, only few months. Fresh from the
country"
"At the risk of being thought impcrtincnt,
may just inquire to what particular line OF
business your talents are dcvotod?"
'To no line at all, just at present. The
fact is" added, lowering my voice to the
proper confidential tone, II had little money
left me about year ago, and / am up in Lon
don looking out tor sound business invest
mcut But I've met with pothinng to nv lik-
ing, SO far; in fact, I'm getting tired Of town,
::.1 :"a Lave half mind to go back home and
take my money with me-"
could SEQ the old scamps eyes brighten as
he drank in my words eagerly r'- Y
"My dear young friend, if you will allow me
to call you so, he began i'll blandly persuasive
accents, 'lct me counsel you to do nothing
rashy. There arc thousands of excellent in
vcstmcuts in London. But what .you want is
1 4. III y,