The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-12-05

neck, giving u1m uCiS tA0 oPPosA esAAeo
of a sailor than of landsman. He had,
in fact, since our school days passed
most of his time upon the sea-at least,
so gathered from his conversation
for many night we had sat together
over the fire in these chambers while he
recounted to me the shipw 'ecks and
other perils and dangers he had expert.
enced
He had a quick, bright eye; red
beard, which he had habit Of some
times stroking with his small, nervous
hand when he talked His hair, thick
and curly, always looked to me as if de
tying a brush and comb, and his coat
had invariably that dusty appearance SO.
suggestive Of the wearer having tramped
over country roads. Why I had resumed
my acquaintance with this man-hav-
ing met him accidentally in the streets
some two or three years ago-and why
T at once became as intimate with him
as had been in our school days is a
mystery in human nature which will
not attempt to solve.
3, He was amusing, which may account
fora good deal, and had known him
at school to belong to good family,
though I remember his education had
beer much neglected It was of little
consequence to me that he was peculiar
in his dress and manner, for we never
met, except on rare occasions. in any
other place than my chambers.
s.Now, Bowser, y said I when had
mixed glass of whisky for Scroggie
and had resumed my seat by the fire,
.snow, Bowser, put that bag of gold
into your pocket and. listen to me- lam
going to explain your scheme to Scrog-
gle and show him how very unsatisfac-
tory I consider your conduct Now,
Bowser, for goodness sake, sit down."
Bowser bestowed upon me a half
amused, half impatient glance, and CIV
ing his bag a parting toss dropped it
into his pocket and sat down away from
the fire, in the shade, beyond the read
ing lamp, and with his arms folded on
the table. He was large, powerful
man, and remember thinking how gi-
pantic his shoulders looked in that semi
darkness as he leaned forward to listen
!. ssThe facts Of the case, /" said I "the
facts Of the case are somewhat as fol-
lows: Ny learned friend has fallen IN
love, if I am not mistaken
Bowser nodded.
elias fallen in love with a young
lady named Darell''-- Thought Scrog-
gle had spoken. He had started and
muttered something beyond doubt when
I mentioned the name of Darrell.
.sNothing," said scroggie, returning
with quick glance the inquiring look
which I gave him
ssAnd, moreover, I then resumed,
eff I am not mistaken, my learned
friend and Miss Darrell are engaged. -
Again Bowser nodded
ssBut. Il said-shut there is clause
in the engagement. Miss Darrell has lost
her father, who met his death under
circumstances of a very painful nature.
I'm a word, Miss Darell's father was
murdered. !"
At this moment happened to be
looking straight atScroggie, and dark
shadow seemed to gather over his face.
The expression startled me and van
ished.
'sstayv' said Bowser as I was about
to continue. .'Let me tell the story as
I heard it from Alice Darrell -
said, 'By all means, - and leaning
back in my chair I waited for Bowser
to proceed
s.Miss Darell's father, - said Frank
Bowser, sswas chief cashier at bank in
a large market town in the north Of
England. He lived on the premises, and
his daughter Alice lived with him. His
position was an arduous one. He was
frequently engaged over the cash or in
examining the ledgers until late into
the night, especially on evenings pre-
ceding market days,
cit was part Of his duty to weigh or
count over and check off in the bullion
book the various bags of gold, large and
small, before they were handed over or
distributed among the cashiers And so,
night after night, the clink Of gold
might be heard in the iron room beyond
the back parlor, for night after night
Mr.. Darrell sat there weighing the gold
in the scales, or counting it, or shovel
ing it into the bags-clink, clink, clink!'
Here Bowser paused, and taking his
own bag Of gold OUT of his pocket placed
it on the table before him.
Scroggie was sitting in an attentive
attitude, but his eyes were never raised
from the fire, and g worn look, which I
had not observed at first, had settled
upon his face. Bowser moved nearer to-
ward us, coming within the circle of
light under the lamp, and emptying out
of his bag quantity Of bright soyereigns
he continued in az impressive voice:
cone night, he told us-"one night,
between = and 12 o'clock, the cashier
is seated in the iron room under ashad-
ed lamp-as I a,n seated now-weigh-
ing the gold as usual ard filing the
bags enc after another, entering them
in the bullion book, tying them up and
casting them aside
He is deeply engrossed in his occupa-