The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-08-22


We will gain o ,'home at last"
=, [Ne,o' '0seedns Sunday Times
AN INGENIOUS ,DEFENcE.
: Mr.. Sergeant Vaughan, as a barrister,
occasionally performed some generous
actions Several years ago, while on his
way TO Chelmsford assizes, he met with
an intelligent fellow-traveler on the
coach. The Sergeant, who was on such
occasions very fond of what he used to
call little agreeable chat with any talka-
tive persons he chanced to meet, soon
drew his travelling companion into live
ly conversation with him. Having al
ways had sparkling of Yankee curiosity,
he generally contrived to worm out, by
process imperceptible to the party him
self, what he wished to learn regarding
him. On the occasion alluded to, Mr..
from his companion that he was also
going to Chelmsford assizes, which were
to be held on the following day.
Gas q juryman, no doubt ?" said Mr..
Vaughan, on learning the fact itself.
''No, sir, not as a juryman," said the
other.
ooh! as witness, I should have
said"
''Not as witness either; wish it was
as pleasant as that"
''Oh I see how it is. you are the
prosecutor in some case which is painful
to your feelings. However, such things
will happen, there is no help for them. {"
''You are still wrong in your conjec-
ture, sir; am going to put away money
for o relative who has q case in the as
Sizes" faf
Gay that's it. Very unpleasant, GER
tainly, to pay money" observed the
learned Sergeant.
''It is, indeed, for those who have lit
tie to spare" observed the other.
"Well;; but I hope it is not any serious
"Why, the magnitude of the sun, you
know, depends upon the resources of the
party who has to make the payment"
Every true; certainly very true," said
Sergeant Vaughan.
'"The sum is e1O0, which, to person
Of my limited means, is very large in
deed"
"Ohl but perhaps you expect to be
repaid in some way or other again ?"
''That's very uncertain It depends
entirely on whether my relative, who
has Just taken house there, succeeds in
business or not"
'Well, it is certainly hard case" OBJ
served Mr.. Sergeant Vaughan, with q
serious and emphatic air.
"Aye, you would say 80 if you only
knew it ALL" :.
"Indeedl Are there any peculiar cir
cumstances in the case ?"
"There are, indeed" answered the
other, with something between q sigh
and groan.
"Is the matter secret ?" inquired Mr..
Sergeant Vaughan, curiosity being now
wound up to more than ordinary pitch.
"Not in the least, said the other. II
will tell you the story, if you do not
think it tiresome," he added.
81 am all anxiety to hear it," said the
learned man.
"'Well, then,' said the other, about
six weeks since respectable corn dealer
in London, when on his way to Chelms-
ford, met on the coach with two persons
who were perfect strangers to him.
The strangers soon entered into CONVEX
sation with him, and having learned the
object of his visit to Chelmsford, said
that they were also going there on pre-
cisely similar errand-namely, to make
some purchases of coin. After further
conversation together, it was suggested
by one of the parties that it would be
mucn DeCUer ZOE uu Cnree III Cney could
come to an understanding together. as to
what amount of purchases they should
make, and under what peculiar circum-
stances these purchases should be made;
for if they went into the market slap
dash, the result would be that in so small
place as Chelmsford they would raise
the prices, whereas, by operating slowly
and in concert. that would be avoided
"The second party pretended to ap-
prove highly of the suggestion, and fur
ther proposed, in order to show that
neither had the start of each other, that
they should deposit the same sum oi
money in the hands of the respectable
landlord of the principal inn; taking
care that they did it in the presence Of
witnesses, and that special instruction
should be given to the landlord not tc