The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-01-07


Felt that / could restore this money
and that nobody would ever know.
Then, suddenly, it was gone. Do you
wonder that went crazy:'
"Nho took it?'' I demanded.
''I only know what Donald says" re-
Piled Bum. "But I don't see how there
could be better evidence than his. BE
knows everything. he has told me the
inmost thoughts Of my heart. BE says
that Archer took the money from my
hiding place"
well, there can't be much doubt
about it." said 7.
zone day in your Office at noon Arch
er accused me Of being the thief" con-
dnued Bum. ''That was just after
Gillespie came here as Professor Sew
ern. He was in Archer's pay as a de-
tective. I suppose that he found the
money. When Archer accused me, I
did not know that it was not still in the
letter file. You can understand what I
felt when this charge was brought
against me. It meant-it meant just
what he said two minutes ago; that I'd
die in q cage like rat Yet when he
told me what he wanted me to co; that
I must redeem my stock from you and
vote it against you at this meeting, l
declared to him that I would take my
punishment before would do such a
thing. I said that I would return what
was left Of the money and raise the
balance somehow to make al! square
with you.
".All right said he, but do it now,
or I'll expose you
"You, Mr.. Harrington, were standing
outside the Office at thaC moment. l
made my choice and went to get the
money. 1t was gone. accused Archer
Of taking it, but he denied the charge
in such q way as to convince me that
he hadn't done it. believed that some
thief had found it. suspected Tim
Healy-everybody. Archer promised to
help me recover it. He had me in his
power, for what could do without the
money?
More and more this man got me IN
der his thumb until half agreed that
if the money could be found I would
allow it to be thrust upon Donaldson.
1 had known all along that Archer was
plotting against him. Carl used to
walk the floor in your Office at noon
and say over and over again: Donald
son, Donaldson. I'll have him under
nv foot. He used to do this even be-
fore my crime. I overheard him once
as long ago as the early spring. I had
opened the door suddenly when bis
back was toward it"
"Why didn't you tell me, Jim:" said l.
'Tell you:' be echoed. would you
have believed it,"
was silent. Therein had lain the
weakness Of the case both for Bum
and for Donald. They knew that !
would not be convinced Of Carl's real
character.
"Archer told me that Kelvin would
| furnish any amount Of money that
might be required" continued Bum
'kelvin was to kLow nothing about
any robbery. 1t was merely that the
money was needed. Now, what was
| to do, Mr.. Harrington? I never would
agree to vote my stock against you
Not even the threat Of prison could
make me do that. But did at last
agree to absent myself from the meet
Ing. II you want to know just what
really meant to d." he cried, rising
and seizing me by the shoulder, 81
meant to 90 to New York and kill my
self in a hotel there, where no one
would know me. But had theil
pledge that the money which l hat
taken from you should be refunded"
considering that they had S93,OO(
Of it already" said Donaldson, III
wasn't much Of a price to pay for tho
control Of the branch road, with M
disgrace and ruin thrown into the bar
gain. They probably relied on Giles
pie to manage that
Il will tell you how they relied OF
| hin, a" soid 7 "and how they failed II