The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-20
TIREAcHERY sMLF.PUN1sHED

0k "Only boy"
TREACHERY sELF.PUNIsHED.
s..There have been good many bur
glaries of late, Thomas" said Mr.. Thorn
ton, AS he was about leaving the bank
forthe day, s'and have been thinking it
might be well if you remained here OF
nights for the present--especially as one
of the entrance keys is missing, and may
have gotten into wrong hands,.
sI have been thinking that same my
SELF sir, Thomas answered. 81 can lie
on the lounge there. you see, in the back
Office, quite comfortable like"
ai'sAnd sleep through dozen safe ex-
plosions, most likely, and never lose n
snore." s5...
'Never fear, sir; the stirring of q
mouse wakes me-"
SWELL, take this revolver, then; sup
pose you know how to use it?"
Thomas hoped he did; hoped he hadn't t
been four. years in the army without
learning that much.
Aud 80 Thomas was left on guard, and
the rich banker, who had out-stayed all
his clerks this evening, took his de-
parture.
Mr.. Thornton was widower, having
on only SOD, whom he had set his heart
on marrying to ward Of his, q young
heiress, whose fortune had lost nothing
under his management, the fruits of
which he would have been 10th to see
reaped by stranger.
But Mary Burton had will, as we'll as
heart of her own, and naturally felt
that the former was entitled to some
share in the disposal of the latter. She
esteemed Edward Thornton, but she
both loDed and esteemed Lawrence Ridge
ly, and that made mighty difference.
AS for the young men, they were both
her adorers, though Edward knew his
suit was hopeless, and had long ceased
TO press it. There was even warm
friendship between himself and his rival
They had been classmates and COM
panions in the days when Lawrence
Ridgeley's father was q prosperous mer-
chant. whose son was little likely ever to
be under the necessity of earning his
bread. as he was now doing, in the po-
eition of hard-worked clerk in the
banking house of Abel Thornton.
That gentleman, we have said, had set
his heart on the marriage of his son to
his ward, and he was not slow in Disco
yering that Lawrence Ridgeiy was Sc
rious impediment to his plans-an i'm
pediment which he would have gladly
removed without being over-scrupulous
as to the means, for he was hard and
cruel man TO those whom he conceived
to stand in his way.
Before Lawrence Ridgely left the bank
on the evening in question, he received
directions from Mr.. Thornton to meet
the latter in his library, after tea. to as
sist in the preparation OF some foreign
correspondence to go out by next days
steamer.
The young clerk was on hand at the
appointed time. He wrote, at his en-
ployer's dictation, till late hour, when
it became necessary to the further pro-
gress OF their work, to consult some
papers, which Mr.. Thornton remember
ed he had left on the desk in his private O
room at the bank.
AS there was no getting on without
the absent papers. Ridgeley offered to
go and bring them. Mr. Thornton ap-
peared pleased with his promptness, and
apologized with unusual ciyility for ac-
cepting the offer.
Lawrence at once set out on his er-
rand. He was waiting at crossing for
the next street-car, when Edward Thorn
ton accosted him:
(which way 80 late?"
II am going to the bank" said Law
renee, ''for o package of papers
which your father wishes to consult to-
night"
''Ahl that reminds me-I will cave
you the trip, with your permission. I
forgot parcel there this afternoon which
will need in the morning; go, if you
will tell me where the papers are to be
found, will do your errand and mine
at the same time"
'sBut could bring your parcel"
''You would never be able to find it,
or to know it If You did; I'm the worst
possible hand at descriptions and direc-
tions.. So give me the door-key, and tell
mo wherc the papers are."
..lhey Ase on your fathers desk, " said