Litchfield enquirer., 1879-09-18

line Of railway. .- 4... Mir. Burton returned his best thanks to the Captain for his invitation but his nerve and energy had now returned, and he resolved not to lose one minute in his enterprise. So he declined the invitation; and leaving directions for his luggage to be sent to certain hotel he knew Pelham well enough, having lived there once--he quilted the ship, afterthe hearti- est possible farewell from Captain. officers engineers and crew-went straight to the rail- way depot and took his ticket but just as he asked for 1t, the station-master entered and saidito the clerk: ''The mail is in: she is sig naled." s.,4,, - .....'-.... ..
 The packet, then, was inside the Heads! She was not three hours behind them! It was now past five o'clock; all business was over for, the day. the letters would be sent on at once the Pelham branch of the great Gulf Bank would not take down it's shutters in the morning, and he was a ruined man. Yet there was just one chance, one bare possibility, and slight as itwas, he determined to try it,
 ''If they don't telegraph" he thought, as the train slackened speed at the end of it's brief run-''and I don't see why they should-I may yet get my money out of the fire. 1t is worth trial, and win or lose I'll try it." He of course knew that he was some hours ahead of even the earliest intelligence which could be sent from the mail-boat, and his scheme would succeed or Tall In that Glme
 Without moments hesitation he went straight to the bank, which had long been closed for that day by the time he arrived j; but his old acquaintance MT. Fred Rockman, the manager, lived on the premises, and was delighted to see him. ''I thought you had settled down in England, he exclaimed; II had no idea you were in the colony"
 ssI dare say not" returned Burton, who was on thorns during the greeting and inquiries natural to such meeting '1 have come to see you as soon as I could"-which was strict ly true-''and want you to do me favor. l want you to save me great deal of time and trouble"
 ''Indeed! And what is it, Burton?" was the very natural response.
 Il want my money out tonight, said Mr. Burton bluntly.
 "What All ?" excaimed the manager.
 ''Yes, all," returned the other.
 ''Oh it's impossible; quite out of the ques- tion," said the banker. Business is entirely oyer for the day, as you must very well know"
 "I do know it, said Mr. Burton ''I know that all ordinary business is over; but know very we'll that you have often paid depositors later than this and that you can i've it to me if you like. Admit Fred-you can if you please"
 w eA. Saiu tile iLidliaSer ueSlIaClnSly, l can if choose, own, but we don't care about doing things out of the usual course."
 '1 suppose it was in the usual course, ,then," retorted Burton, 'that your Directors asked me as personal favor not to remove my mon- ey, when had a good offer? You know, Fred, that it was voluntarily promised at that time that should have my deposit on the in- stant whenever chose to ask for it." |. "Yes, that's very true," said the manager; ''I we'll remember the understanding, and if it's of importance to you"
 ''lt is of the utmost importance, 1 assure you" interrupted Burton. 'I don't want to bore you with particulars, but I wish to change my investment, and if don't get the money will be lost Will you or will you not do it ? That is all."
 ''1 suppose 1 must let you have it, as yon money is only on deposit" said the manager slowly; ''but it is really very unusual. How ever, say no more; you shall have.it. We will drink a bottle of wine in honor of old times, and then"
 Excuse my abruptness," said Burton, who was half way toward brain fever with ner- vous excitement, and who was every moment hearing galloping horses and hurried steps where all was silence ''Let me have the money first, and I will stand as many bottles l the colony. But must be back at my hotel in half an hour from this time, or it is all of no use."
 . ''Your people are confoundedly sharp deal ers then," grumbled the manager, as he rose deliberately from bis chair. ''They ought to know you are solvent party, and that your word is as good for the money-ay, as our own"
 "Well, never mind that, Fred" said Bur ton 'Let me have the money, and 1 can get my business done In an hour; and then"
 "Ah! it's of no use making an appointment later on in the evening"" interrupted the man. ager '1 have an engagement for tonight, so we can't have chat after your business is completed. We will leave it till tomorrow. J With this he quilted the room, summoned the watchman, who was already on duty, and af- ter an interval, which might really have been ten minutes, but which seemed to the mer- chant as though it would never end, the slow step of MT. Rockman, who was corpulent and heavy in build was heard returning. He bore small leathern case whose dlstended sides showed it was crammed with sowething and a guess aI it's contents made MT. Burton's heart leap.
 Little divinlng the condition of his visitor, the manager quietly sat down, drew toward him sloping desk, on which were wriLing materials, and after adjusting his spectacles with more care and accuracy than, It appear ed to Burton, any mans specLacles could pos- sibly require, proceeded to write out receipt for the money. Burton execrated the slow and formal style in which his friend had been taught to write, as he watched the carefully finished up-and-down stroke of every letter The manager had got about half way in his task when, struck by sudden thought, he smiled, laid hown his pen, and then shaking his head, as man ooes when he half regret fully recalls the memory of some past enjoy ment, said i: Tor bless me you were running in my mind nearly all day on Saturday last What do you think !? Why, Iniet poor old Davy Lobbins-" . a.s
 "Oh! confound-Did you though ?" ex- claimed Burton. ''Well. let us get this busi- ness out of hand, and we will have a talk about the old fellow'' . t"" .-
 'sPoor old chap!" unused MT. Rockman; 1; ''he seems very much broken. Quite differ ent man from what" ........... .. ...... .-... .. ton, ''you forget how precious my time is Do go on there's good fellow" ao >.
 Thus abjured, the manager resumed his writing as slowly as before, but it was done at last. ''Sign that, my boy," said he, pushing the document toward his visitor. You will find that correct, l think" s,s.tt .,.
 Burton signed it instantly without reading a line, and tossed it back. ....,
 "You always were cool hand" said the manager half-reprovingly and half f-admiring- ly; "but 1 think 1 should look at what sigued when it concerned respectable number of thousands" nj 1J 2I tfHh l-at- -htf1t
 Burton smiled feebly the situation was too painfully interesting for him to do more The manager carefully placed the receipt Tn draw CT of the table, opened the case, and taking, out huge bundle of notes, commenced to count them. "You don't mind Jacobs and Levys draft on Rothschild for three thousand, do you p he said. ''If you won't take that, can't do it until" s-. .,.....r. .......-,, .'.s.
 'Oh, never mind!" interrupted Burton ;; anything will do. Cut away there's good fellow" to~ -" .. .-i e #H
 ''Our gold and our own notes are locked up in the inner safe; but here is Colonial Bank pape", which may, perhaps. serve as well, un- less" '" .. -.. , r.
 'Quite satisfactory, interrupted the relieved merchant, as he eyed the welcome notes: 'quite good enough, Fred. Pray proceed P
 Mr. Rockman stared impressively at him for