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


But forgery belongs to the fine
arta, and Old Crab nam Sgas & sad. biufs
derer, being only. q novice in the ae-
Iinexperience that betrayed him
perhaps Murdon discovered the trne
nature of the case from subsequent
duplication fer soheyJs made by
| Wylde. AT all events, the wretched
old man was soon found out, and the
cashiers sharp questioning wrung
the truth out of him. The know
ledge Murdon kept for his own use.-
Affecting to discredit the story of the
accidental discovery of the note, he
persisted in regarding Graham thief
as well as forger. Thus playing on
his terror and misery, and intensity
ing the self-reproaches of the old
clerk with the cruelest sarcasm, he
brought him into state of abjectness
which left the miserable man an easy
prey in his hands. Then Mprdon
struck keen and very bitter bargain.
He would keep the defalcation Sc
cret from the firm on one condition.
The condition was the possession of
Kate.
How soon the bargain was ratified
by the unhappy girl herself, had to
supply out of my own knowledge, for
here her story broke down in utter
grief; but I knew her gentle. winning
ways, her absorbing love for her
father, and her self-sacrifces on all
occasions where he was concerned.
! could understand the sharpness of
the struggle before she yielded. Not
until her father had told her how full
ly he was compromised did she con-
sent to part with her own happiness,
in order to save him from q felon's
doom. Then she gave up all hope in
fair future, and accepted the man
she hated, her fathers enemy and
tyrant, as her promised husband.
Here her pitiful tale ended. How
was [ to comfort her? I could not
tell her that the note was not destroy
ed, as her father thought; that held
it, though by what means it had es-
capped, or what had been burnt in its
place, [ failed to guess. For though
the money itself was safe, the receipt
yet remained in Murdon's hands, and
any attempt at an advertisement
would only bring down detection on
her fathers head. could only mur-
mursome places of ofsympathy
and consolation, assure her that 1
hoped yet to foil Murdon, and re-es-
tablish her fathers peace of mind.
And so left her.
That evening I again sought out
Wylde, and found him at his usual
haunt, and in his usual state. Diplo-
matically, and with much circumlo-
cution, worked the conversation
round to the subject of money, and
my gentleman's claims upon his
father-in-law. Mr.. Wylde's present
mood was less violent than ordinary.
but more bitterly Respondent.
"What's the use of trusting to that
old buffer?" he asked, dejectedly.
II was once led to believe that he
would come down with round sum
if I applied to his lawyers. I went,
and saw yellow-faced scoundrel-a
loathsome hound with paunch. He
threatened to set the bailiffs on me,
the menial, if came again. Inever
troubled his degraded sight again.
"When was that?"
''That was-let me see, thirteen
months ago, on the first of this
month. Ha! no matter. He knew
my weak point, Madison be on his
caitiff soul. L was in difficulties at
that time; am in difficulties now.
II you had half a crown upon you
81 have much more than half d
crown upon me, and you shall have
1t, If you give me an acknowledge
ment," returned.
"I'll give you," said Mr.. Wylde,
gracefully, ''my solemn I o U on any
sum above n sovereign. A gentle
mans l o q. I presume, is as sacred
as his bond"
Exactly SO. But I must have a
receipt in full"
"Iou may have, DIR. Dunning, my
acceptance, if you like, at three, six
or nine months, presupposipg that
the sum is at least fiver."
The magnificent air of probity with
which he delivered his condition
tickled me.
Suppose I could accommodate you
with ten fivers," answered, would
you ante-date the receipt"
! 81 would do anything, sir, honora-
BILE and accommodating. wonld