The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-11-13

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prepared on one of the firms loose
forms, and the ioaflk-notes Number
l..o7, 482. The latter Mr. yFylde eyed
suspicio iously, questioning It's genuine
ness. But upon my showing him
that the receipt was merely for
his note, with the number specified.
and that unless the note was good
the acknowledgment would be value
Hess, he abated his distrust, merely
remarking that he should never be-
lieve his luck until he had "cashed
the himsy." ti, t.-tls
But he affixed his signature without
further protest. And on my express
ing desire to have the names of a.
couple of witnesses to the document,
Mr.. Wylde, relieved at the demand
as corroborative of the genuineness
of the note, summoned the landlord
and waiter, who added their names
with cheerful alaority, pleased at
being called on to witness so tremen-
dous q transaction.
'And now," said Mr.. Wylde, when
it was concluded, ''I shall quit an un-
grateful country, and seek to plant
the standard of art in the far West.
When 1 have acquired the colossal
fortune which awaits tho true artist
in that more enterprising cline, !
shall punctually discharge this debt,
Mr.. Dunning, which I persist in re-
garding as q mere temporary obliga-
ticn."
The possession of the true receipt
was an important step gained; the
next and more difficult one was to
obtain and destroy the forged ac-
acknowledgement. Toward that attain
ment I now directed my energies.
I knew it could be concealed in no
drawer or desk accessible to the
firm; it was too valuable to be allow
ed to slip out of Murdon's private
keeping. It was likely enough kept
under lock and key in his own desk.
Watching my own opportunity, ab-
stracted his bunch of keys one day
when he was engaged in the private
room of the firm, having left them in
one of his drawers. There was no
tipe then to rummage in his desk,
but [ rapidly took an impression of
all his keys-only five in number-in
wax which I had kept prepared for
that purpose. The mould I took to
q locksmith, the son of my landlady,
man on whom I could rely. Trump
ing up some story about fellow
clerk whose honesty suspected, and
whose drawers wished to search,
got him to mako mo set of keys ac-
cording to the pattern. The lock-
smith was not o man burdened with
conscientious scruples; besides, he
knew me we'll enough not to discredit
my motives in ordering the job. He
made the keys readily and deftly.
Armed with these, one evening, when
the clerks were gone. I opened the
cashiers desk, and subjected its con-
tents to thorough examination.
Not paper, not memorandum
could L find having reference to the
Wylde business; not document relat-
ing to Number OF, ,492. There were
only two out of the five keys which
fitted locks in the office-one the
desk, another private drawer. The
others apparently belonged to draw
ers or chests at Murdon's private re-
sidence; and there, in all probability,
the receipt lay.
The next day I sent an excuse for
non-attendance at the office, pleading
illness, and set about elaborately
counterfeiting the hand writing of
Murdon, authorizing his landlady
to allow me to visit his rooms for the
purpose of finding q deed which he
had left at home. This forged letter
procured me ready admission into
his rooms. the landlady contenting
herself with suffering me to go up
stairs unaccompanied. The coast
was clear, for Murdon was down at
the Office, and I had all the morning
and afternoon before me. ] left no
corner or crevice unexplored. ran
sacked his clothes, books and papers.
l turned every pocket inside out, I
peered behind the mirror on the
mantle-piece, emptied his dressing
case, tobacco-box, peered even into
the cruet-stand, prodded the stuffing
of the chairs and sofa, and turned up
the corners of the carpet. All to no
purpose. My search brought to light
other keys, which sufficed to open
every closed respectable in the place.
But not vestige of the receipt or