The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-29
A MIDNIGHT
TRAGEDY;
Fle Crime Of The
Brokers Office,
w. r. MOTT.
w. F.. MOTT.
CHAPTER I.

rem c0S WQlcQ are TO DC herein leSuluco,
the Office of Jason Garrison, a broker OF
New York, was situated in rather un-
pretending structure on Wall street
The broker rented the entire building,
but he sublet the second and third
stories, occupying only the first story
for business purposes.
The building was very old and It's in
ternal arrangement was rather obsolete,
for to enter the brokers' office you first
passed into a hall which extended
through the building, and thence through
side door. From the hall just inside
the street door flight of stairs led up
ward
At the rear end of the passage Sec
ond fight, much more narrow than the
first also reached the second story,
while at their foot door opened upon
IN alley in the rear.
At this date it CHANGED that the third
story OYER the brokers' Office was unoc-
,cupied, but the second story was ten
anted as it had been for many years by
John Oakburn, the cd cashier, who had
been employed by Jason Garrison since
he first began business in Wall street
years ago.
John Oakburn was a man sixty-odd
years of age and widoweT, but he was
not childlesS. One daughter, Marion by
name, remained to cheer and brighten
his home with the sunlight of her pres
ence, and the aged cashiers little family
consisted only OF himself, his daughter
and Judith Kredge, a female domestic
of uncertain age, who was the sister OF
the Office jantor.
IL or nnrh tnn
spacious for the needs of the cashiers
family, and furnished apartments were
consequently let to such OF Mr.. Garrl-
sons clerks as desired them, provided
always they were approved by the old
cashier.
On the night Of the 23d Of March,
IS, but one of John Oakburn's fur
hished apartments was occupied The
room was directly over the main Office,
and its tenant was Stuart Harland, one
Of the brokers' clerks
The street door was massive one, as
was also the door Of the Office proper.
At night both were always securely
locked and bolted. The keys Of the
office as we'll as the street door were
always in the possession OF John Oak
burn, who was implicitly trusted by the
broker IN every way.
For twenty years John Oakburn had
been celebrated for hk rigid integrity
and unvarying, scrupulous honesty, and
son the street." where one desired to
vouch in the most positive terms for the
character of another, he would say, HE
Is as honest as old John Oakburn.
Perhaps no man more perfectly de-
perved the title which he had won,
which was far more honorable than any
patent of nobility-the title ian honest
man"
On day at noon a few days previous
to the night of which we are about to
write, while John Oakburn was alone in
the Office, having been detained by some
important account, an incident occurred
which will serve to illustrate the mans
character perfectly.
Mr.. Pratt of the firm Of Pratt &
Weeks, entered and approached the old
cashier in cunning way in order to
sound him with view to inducing him
to become director Of one OF those
soap bubble" stock companies which
are originated every year, initiate them
selves with the money OF the uHwary
and collapse when such consummation
will result to the profit Of the 4promo-
ters" without bringing themselves with
In the reach Of the laws arms.
John Oakburn listened to the specious
arguments of the smooth-tongued bandit
Of Wall street in passive silence, wholly
unmoved by the temptation Of sudden
wealth held out to him as glittering
bait.
When Pratt concluded, John Oakburn
turned his back upon him, saying in q
scathing tone:
.No more OF this value my honor,
sirl"
"And yet you are poor man." re-
torted Pratt with covert sneer in his
voice.
~In gold, yes; but not in principle"
aYour sentiments are quite romantic
and poetical, but this is a practical age
of money values"
~True, but were to listen to you
should become as poor in character as I
Rm in pocket"
"Our scheme would be secret No
one would ever know it"
II should know it. No, sir, your
scheme is villainous. Seek your con-
federate elsewhere!"
Such was the maa the story Of whose
fate we place before our readers.
1t was the night of the ed March,
1s-.
Stuart Hariand, the young clerk who
occupied the apartment directly over
the brokers' Office in John Oakburn' s
fat, had fallen asleep on his bed with
out removing his clothing.
Suddenly he leaped up, wlue awake,
and exc aimed:
aWhat! Have l oversight" and
Rlancing at an alarm clock set to ring
at one o'clock, he added, mo, the clock
has not struck; it is now only twenty
minutes of one"
Stuart Harland rubbed his eyes ant
looked perpleXed.
sWhat awakened me? Certainly i
was some unusual sound. have con
fused recollection OF hearing lone
voice" he thought ami seated upon tilt
sSdo OF the bed he listened for mo-
ment
No sound broke the absolute QuietaGe
of the night within the dwelling.
From without the signing wind watt
cd to his cars tho uaacccuntao e nose
of tho streets Of the streets OF grca
city which arc never hushed ts siienc'
tho livelong night.
-strangc, this. Cou'd l have bee1
dreaming? Well, it matters not, al
awake in onue: that is the imEorian
point" the young nan reflected
Then he begas to p ace few thing
n y light rrave' '~s-hag. and as ne d!d s.
me qulue unconsclousIy gave expression
to the thoughts which were in his mind
II must not miss the O'Clock train o.
I.