The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-03
Written for the n. Sunday creseenLl
THE 81 DRY OF THE CHURCH TOWFI
CHATTER FIRST.


settled down IN the quiet seaport town of M,
where he bad embarked in business as junior
member Of the forwarding and commission firm of
Travis Co., and had leisurely devoted Jself
was then occupying bachelors rooms on High
street. Joe lived at home with his mother and
sisters, but visited me regularly. was not there
fore particularly surprised when, on the morning
in question, he came rushing up stairs two steps
at time, and, without knocking, entered and
shut the door with slam behind him.
was taking breakfast at the time. My matron-
ly landlady but few moments before bad depos-
tied on the table the waiter with its snow-white
napkin, its bot coffee, rolls and boiled eggs. all
scfupulously arranged In their customary corners.
AS Joe entered, remember held in each hand
bali an egg-sheli reversed over the glass, into
which tbs contents had fallen. His sudden entry
did not cause me 10 desist from my occupation
with any inordinate haste.
Morning, Joe; draw up chair. I said, look
ing up.
AsI aid SO, saw in his face an expression of
unusual anxiety.
why, what's the matter ," I added.
A sum of money has been stolen" he an.
sweredj looking at me in sort of bewildered
manner.
"CoTle. my good friend, keep cool,v said I.
:" Sit down and tell me what is really the matter.'
Gore, sir, gone 5000 and overt" he re-
Piled.
put;dowu the egg shells. rose and walked TO
where De stood. "Joe,v said /, puttsg my hands
upon his two broad shoulders. - sit down.
Mech sDically he sank into chair. drew ND
another. facing bin. 4" Are you coOllr said [.
He nosded. q Then let's hear the whole story"
"Vefy WELL" he began but first strict
secrecy must enjoin. No one bat myself kno rs
what bas happened. went down 10 the Off e
this morning, as usually do on Mondays, little
earlier than usual unlocked the door, went 10,
opened the shutters, aud waited the arrival of the
boy wsO sweeps out the place every morning.
IL so bappeDed be was little late to-day. was
walking up and down from corner to corner
whistlItg the moments away, when | suddenly
spied upon the floor, near the sofa what appeared
to be part OF a bank check. STOPPING TO pick il
up, fund that il was what supposed. took
u to the window, where | could see more
distinctly. sford was all I could read
upon 4, written in O bold hand. Impatiently
sprsng to the safe and picked up another frag.
ment from the floor. Upon this found part of
stamp, with the letter written on it by the
eaneelor. 10 moment it flashed over me,
/" Weataersford." On Saturday evening. alter
banking hours, Allan Weaihersford VINO does
businefs opposite, had given Us his check for two
hundrel and fifty dollars or thereabou in paw
ment a our interest 10 consignment OF mer-
chandte, and this check was certain I had de-
posted in the cash box and locked up inside the
safe. To try the door Of the latter was my next
thought II wss fast; there was no sign of its
having been touched since locked il and put the
keys 70 my pocket last Saturday evening. To IN.
lock The iron door and peep in was the work OF
another moment. The cash Boa ,cds gomez
fop are perfectly certain Of it?H | said in
quirintly.
" Perfectly certainn
:" Ard the keys of the "a e have not been ont OF
your possession since Saturday evening 20
" Ncsa moment
I" How much money was there in the box?''
" There was Weathersfo,c's check, say $780,
Two five hundred dollar bills that / was To have
paid Captain A., who sails for New York at this
morning. A package of fifty twen,ies. Three
hundred dollars in gold that the mate Of the Good
Hope had deposited late Saturday afternoon, his
vessel having just arrived from the Medterra.
mean; aud then, let me see, some smaller amounts.
know figured It all up on my way here. Il
must amount to at least three thousand doIlsrs.p
| walled up and down the room two or three
times, thinking the matter all over. Joe - said
|, ''caB sou get duplicate check from Weathers-
ford.-
" POs.ibIy,r said he.
Do Z, then. What time does NJ. Travis get
iowngs
Never before 10 O'clock
Coed, (" answered. "snd Weathersford ?"
never knew him 10 be later than 7, old as he |
"wen, then. listen. Wen catch this sly thief;
'ut eyfrythng depends upon secrecy. How |
much ready money have you got outside of your
)usneesg'
Not over q thousand
81 Then intend to lend you some"
Nohst nse, George. won't have it"
But bear me. | am willing to invest the /
mount OF two thousand with Travis 4 Co. | |
ave saved that much aud more during the past
hIee years"
az Won't hear of it.r
Not word. You will when Won fad what
m up To. Now go you siraightway 10 your Office
ay not word to q soul. Keep your safe locked.
cave your keys here, you'd better. 80 you
an postpone opening the safe for an hour or two |
10 over to old Weathersford. II necessary let
i'm into our plsO bat ct all events get the dupli-
ate check. 1t is aow half past seven. Not a
lomfnt to lose, IL you mean TO pay Capt A.
.avessr
Joe went down stairs in a hurry, as had bid.
en- BIN. ! saw him around the corner, and was
ut myself. Three or four squares away had
assng. Thither I hurried The boy was lust
'king down the shutters. " Is your master in ~
asked burriedly. "At breakfast he answered.
Wen then, call hira." In rushed the boy, and
1t ru.hed the broker, napkin in hand. He was
'rid faced, stout, elderly man, OF short stature
nd Sailing countenance. "Well, sir - said he.
" Ia: can do for you so early this morning p;
How Is goidi' | asked, hurriedy. Thirty
I e ara three lights last evening, he answered.
hsNs you hVe hundred Of t!' Just that |
ucb he answered, in very busness-like man
Is sered /.
In ten minutes more was laboring along with
70 heavy bags one In each hand toward the
70 adjustment Of Travis & Co. Ia my pocket. too.
IRE two i've hundred dollar notes, which the
oker had given me in exchange for smaller ones. |
turned TIE corner nearest my destination q | :
a-iaring looking man went brushing by I'D the /
eet, grumbling something about leaving KEYS b
home, no way to do business" / laughed in s
sleeve. ii
Joe was standing in the door. No one but the /,
eep had yet arrived. 1.-THE mate of the Good | Il
re has Just been in, he said "snd grumbles like
, deuce about that gold OF his. told him TO a
me back In an hour and I'd have the safe open.
wanted 10 take the O'Clock train" /,
. He can do It,, l said. Z" Boy, run as fast az p
can up street and tell that man with the pea Il
set and fur hat TO come back. The KEYS have II
ne.n ~
The boy was off like fash. a,
Now Joe, old fellow, here's the gold Not a :,
rd-it's counted all right-saw it counted nv. n
!. Let the man have IL when he comes.n =
'urlng and out Of breath returned the bow and
pea jacket. Came, did they?" said the
Yes, " said with laugh, there's the money! ~
MOI my money he said. eyeing the bags. I
rive hundred in gold III swear to IT," said l. n,
All right, gentlemen Travis & Co.'s words e.
% FOR a thousand bags Ike these. Now IN be he
N hurry TO catch that train. Good morninr.v
"a ass disposed 9; Of anyhOw,t said how
Hasn't got down yet. This morning. of all ~
ers, he's behind time. There he comes now.'' =
Of ha - |