The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-08-24

be thought of. The interview Was adjourn
ed. Ouoin went out to hunt up the money,
much to the annoyance of Mallet, who
could not conceal his apprehensions that
Ouoin was about to refuse to sell. When
Mallet had made up his mind to buy he
wanted to buy and end the matter, If
Quoin would go on to New York with him
he would pay all expenses; but he would
not pay for the cuts till he had them,> and
with GOOD title. And here he Aourished
his wallet.
This was talking business to purpose, and
accelerated Quoin's movements. He raised
the money. That night Quoin and Mallet
took passage together on the steamer, and
next morning found them at the Astor
House. Mallet had proved excellent conf
pany. He eat and drank and told good sto-
ries, and was as chatty and confidential with
Quoin us if they had been school boys to-
gethcr. But with all this Malet showed a
most unaccouptable fear that Quoin would
somehow or other disappoint him he was
evidently afraid that Quoin would give him
the slip. Quoin had to be very decided to
prevent Mallet from accompanying him
when he went to see Bodkin. He only
wanted to make sure it was all right. For
obvious reasons Quoin was bound that Malet
should not see the interview, and shook him
off resolutely.
II shall count the minutes while [
wait in this room till you come back" said
the aggreved and wistful Mallet, as he cast
himself upon the sofa. -,
II vii! surely be back in half an hour"
said the triumphantQuoin.
1t was with exceeding hautcur that Quoin
strobe iato the Office Of Bodkin. His face
was harl, his eyes severe. Itwas. the grim
ness of and officer Of Justice on duty, and
the elevation of man conscious Of right
"Mr. Bodkin, I have called to pay your. bill
Of course you did not expect it. Nor 90
you desire it. Your conduct in dunning
me is shameful-perfectly shameful [
should feel justified in refusing it altogether;
But produce your bill, sir" And
he tugged at his moustaches, and looked de-
family. Ithuriel himself was not more
grand in consciousness of virtue
The surprised and somewhat crestfallen
Bodkin fuunbled in his drawers for the bill
and at length produced it. A spasm of dis
gust fitted over Quoin's face as he saw the
hideous total, with two years interest and
legal expenses. But he had up his mind to
make an impression, and he did it. How it
wrenched him nobody but Quoin can imag.
inc. He told down the money in full and
secured his receipt with great deliberation.
"Now, Mr.. Bodkin. oblige me By packing
up those wood-cuts and delivering them to
tie porter
"Surely,M Quoin, you will not remove
those cuts 50 precipitately?" said the peni-
tent Bodkin.s
Up went Quoin's cane most menaclngly.
'Not an hour, sir-not an hour. l want
those cuts now, sir, now.
There was no resisting this impetuosity.
The cuts were produced, examined and
checked. Quoin sailed out Of lSodkin's Of
flee gloriously, with his porter tuggng at
the bundle, Ike u.an-ofwar protecting q
merchantmen.
1t was but few minutes TO Get BAG, to
the Astor Honse Here was vexation. I he
door of the room in (which he had left NAL
let was locked. Down to the clerks Office
few the irate, inpatient Quoin.
"Wherc's my friend and roommate, NAL
let, of room 360?"
''51allet ?-yes, yes, Mallet is it? Nal
let paid for his room and left hall an hour
ago"
"What !"
"Just so. Paid for his room half an hour
AGO, took coach and went to the Erie Rail
road depot.
"What
H No mistake. Went by the Erie Rail-
road"
Not even then, was Quoin convinced that
his polite friend Mallet was delusion and a
snare. But he had the prescntiment. All
day long he traverscd from hotel to depot in
an agonizcd frame of mind Nor did he
fail to call on the chief of police to make
sure that his friend had not had fit and
been sent to the hospital. Nor is ii worth
while to recount his visits to booksellers and
his enquiries touching the publisher Mallet,
of Buffalo, who was unknown to them ALL
AS night settled on the city, he felt able to
express decided opinion concerning Nal
let. He was "an unvcraciy and an inapti-
tude, phantasm and nd-bag." AS for
Bodkin-words could not do him justice.
But he never saw ei:her one Of them again.
That day Bodkin closed the ledger ac-
count of Quoin. That day Bodkin and
Mallet went out riding on the Coney Island
road. And the riders of that frequented
thoroughfarc were astonised at the vivacity
and righteousness Of the specialized elderly
gentleman and his young friend.
They were evieently at ease and at peace
with the wide world: So Mrs. Bodkin
thought. For Bodkin's temper was sweet
for a month, state Of mind unknown be-
fore or since
One Of the most terrible of the appalling
calamites that have lately occurred in those
quarters of the globe which are subject tc
great convulsions of nature is reported from
the Batavia papers by the cable. A. small
island in the Malay archipelago, known a.
| rr ,roe s,,yant hu xu,vo of Govt,