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About News & planters' gazette. (Washington, Wilkes County [sic], Ga.) 1840-1844 | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1843)
NEWS & PLANTERS’ GAZETTE. D.. COTTIMWj Editor. No. 28—NEW SERIES.] NEWS A PLANTERS’ CAIEiTE. terms: Published woekly at. Three DollMs per annum if paid at the time of subscribing; or Three Dollars and Fifty Cents, if not paid t ill the expi ration of six months. No paper to be discontinued, unless at the option of tho Editor, without the settlement of all arrearages. ID* Letters, on business, must be post} aid, to insure attention. No communication shall be published, unless we are made acquainted with the name of the author. TO ADVERTISERS. Advertisements, not exceeding one square, first insertion, Seventy-five Cents; and for each sub sequent insertion, Fifty Cents. A reduction will be made of twenty-five per cent, to these who advertise by the year. Advertisements not limited when handed in, will be inserted till for bid, and charged accordingly. Bales of Land and Negroes by Executors, Ad ministrators and Guardians, are required by law, to be advertised, in a public Gazette, sixty days previous to the day of sale. The sales of Personal Property must be adver tised in like manner, forty days. Notice to Debtors and Creditors of an Estate must be published forty days. Notice that application will be made to the Court of Ordinary, for leave to soil Laud or Ne groes, must be published for four months. — notice that application will be made for letters of Administration, must be published thirty days; and Letters of Dismission, six months. Mail Arrangement®. POST OFFICE, > Washington, Ga., January, 1843. $ AUGUSTA MAIL. ARRIVES. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 5, A. M. CLOSES. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at 12, M. MILLEDGEVILLE MAIL. ARRIVES. Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 8, A. M. CLOSES. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 11, A. M. CAROLINA MAIL. ARRIVES. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 11, A. M. CLOSES. Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, at 6, A. M. LEXINGTON MAIL. ARRIVES. Tuesday and Saturday, at 2, P. M. CLOSES. Monday and Friday, at 9, A. M. ELBERTON MAIL. ARRIVES. CLOSES. Thursday, at 8, P. M. j Thursday, ai 8, P. M. LINCOLNTON MAIL. ARRIVES. CLOSES. Friday, at 12, M. | Friday, at 12, M. LAWNOTICE. xashbs a.ssrxaat*. ATTORNEY AT LAW. Btr Office in Mr. Barnett's new building, North west corner of the Public Square. Washington, Wilkes.county, Ga., I December 22, 1842. 5 17 COTTING & BUTLER, ATTORNIES, HAVE taken an OFFICE in the rear of Willis & Hester's Store. January, 1843. 29 To Rent. THE STABLE situated in the rear of the Printing-Office. Apply to M. J. KAPPEL. Ffib-oary 9,1843. 24 arlf fMim tha IfAVE removed to the tenement next to the XI Store formerly,occupied by H. S. Belcher, on tho West side of the Public Square, where they will be at all times happy to see their friends and customers. March 2,1843. 8t 27 For Safe* A GOOD supply of CANDLES, of excel lent quality. If on trial, they are not found to suit the purchaser, they may be returned. R. H. VICKERS. March 2,1843. 27 Saddle Found* A SADDLE was taken off a Sorrel Horse, found loose in the Streets during Court, and deposited in my Stable. The owner can have the same by paying for this advertisement, and ’ Replying to me. R. H. VICKERS. * March 2,1843. 27 Notice to Debtors and Creditors. A LL persons indebted to the Estate of Thom as J. Ellington, late of Wilkes county, de ceased, are requested to make immediate pay ment, and those having demands, will please present the same, duly attested, for payment. WILLIAM B. ELLINGTON, Ex’r. February 9, 1843. 6t 24 HWKNKB* ALL persons indebted to the Estate of Mary Hughes, deceased, late of Wilkes county, are hereby notified to make immediate payment to the undersigned, and those having demands a gainst the same will present them in terms of the law. BARNARD H. HUGHES, Adm’r. January 5,1843. 6t 19 JWotfce* ALL persons having demands against the Es tate of Larkin Clark, late of Elbert coun'y, deceased, will present them as the law requires; ” jand those indebted to said estate will please make ’ 1 immediate payment to - ROBERT McMILLAN, Executor, j ETherton, January 4,1943, 2D The Subscriber , \\T ISHING to close business, offers at Rcriu * * ced Prices, his present STOCK, consist ing in part, of the following : trjn Ladies’ Kid and Calf walking Vj Shoes, just received. Misses Calf and Seal do. do. . Children’s Shoes,of various kinds Boy’s Calf and Kip, sew ed and peg’d. Shoes, Men’s Shoes, sewed and peg’d. a variety, Women’s sewed and peg’d. Kips, Women’s fine Leather Bootees, Gentlemen’s fine Calf Boots, Coarse Brogans, men’s and boys, best quality, Do. do. extra size, Men’s Leather Slippers, Men’s Calf and Seal Pumps. ALSO, Ladies’ Kid Buskin Ties, and a case of Gentle men’s sewed Shoes, soon to arrive. Also, Factory Oznaburgs, at 9 cents per yard, and woolen Linseys, nearly a yard wide, at 28 to 30 cents, which article was sent, invoiced at 45 cents, and cannot be bought at the Factory now at much lees than 40 cts. by the quantity. ET Persons wishing any of the above articles, will do well to call at the SHOE STORE of A. L. LEWIS. N. B.—Persons indebted on account will please call and settle at the earliest possible date. January 12, 1843. A. L. L. Cabinet THE Subscriber will continue the CABI NET BUSINESS at the old stand for merly occupied by Mr. Joseph Moseley, where ho will despatch all kinds of work in his lino at prices corresponding with the hard times. Persons wishing- to purchase any articles in his line will do well to call before buying else where. He would also inform the public that he is prepared loexei e'e TURNING, which he will do low and on terms to su.t his eus*omcra. Do not l-e okv urd in coming forward. JOSEPH GARDNER. February 23,1843. 4t 20 Removal* THE Subscriber informs the public that he has removed from Tyrone to Crawford ville, where he has permanently located himself, and will carry on the business <4 in;u alacturing COTTON-GINS, and wT deliver Gm* v- ..> part of Georgia cr Souk Carolina, to or. r Persons wishing any cor:■■■ pendence wiff*. Subscriber, will please direct to Craw fore.'. Taliaferro county, Ga., viaire ai: orders miv line of business will be thankfully received and will be promptly attended to by tha .vriber. 1 return iny thanks to Old Wilkes for her pat ronage, and yet hope not to be torgotten by her, believing as I uo that ! can do as well by the Planters in furnish es thorn with Cotton-Gins as any man in the Southern Stales. S. It. CRENSHAW. January 5,1843. 19 mwA% Tailoring Establishment Removed over H. S. Belcher’s Store. •’I4HE Subscriber begs leave to inform the pub *- lie and his former customers, that in conse quence of the present Hard Times, he will make up Work in a Superior Style of Fashion, at a reduced price for Cash. Cotton, Hog-meat, Lard, Meal, Flour, or Irish Potatoes. Persons wishing to patronize a TAILOR that is willing to comply with the Times, can do so by applying to the Subscriber. WILLIAM F. SOU AN. October 13, 1842. 7 Georgia, Elbert county. Superior Court, September Term, 1842. William Pulliam, Admin-’ ißtrator of Jacob Higginbotham, De ceased, vs. IN EQUITY. James Higginbotham, Jacob Higginbotham, John Higginbotham, William Higginbotham, Francis Higginbotham, Riley Higginbotham, Joseph Higginbotham, Benjamin Higginbotham, Elizabeth Higginbotham, William Maxwell and Jane his wife, and Stephen Rowrey and Hannah his wife. Evidence liaving been submitted to the Court that three of the Defendants, to-wit: Jo seph Higginbotham, James Higginbotham and Jacob Higginbotham, had renounced ali further claims upon the estate of their deceased father, in consideration of advancements made to them by their father in his life-time. It is Ordered by the Court, that the said three Distributees iur nish testimony on or before die first day of the next Term of this Court, s o rebut said proof, at i which time a final distribution of the Assets will be made in terms of the interlocutory Decree already rendered. It is Ordered, that a copy of this Rule be published monthly, until the next Court. True copy from ‘he Minutes of said Court, this 2(3;h day of September, 1842. IRA CHRISTIAN, Cierk. October 6. mo;n 8 Lincoln Superior i mrt,, October Term, 1842. Rebecca Fleetwood, 1 Libel for Divorce, vs. >l.i Lincoln Sup’r. Court, John Fleetwood. ) returnable April Term. TT appearing to the Court, that tho defendant in the above stated Libel for Divorce, has not been serven, ~and he removed out of the cemr; of Lincoln, . parts unknown. It is there fore Ordered, lire, said defendant do appear at, the next Term of this Court and answer to said Li bel, or in default thereof that the Court will pro ceed as to justice shall appertain. It is further Ordered, that a copy of this Rule be served upon the deiendant by publishing the same once a month for four months in the Washington News and Planters’ Gazette. True extract from the Minutes, HENRY MURRAY, Clerk. December 15,1842. in4m 16 mm EXECUTED AT THIS © F IF 0 © E . PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING. WASHIVGTOV, (WILKES COUNTY, GA„ ABARCIB J), IH4S. From Colburn’s London Monthly Magazine. THE DEFAULTER; AN OWRE TRUE TALE. BV THOMAS HOOD. CHAPTER I. Give him needful note, For I mine eyes will rivet to his face ; And after we will both our judgments join In censure of his seeming. Hamlet. ‘ What is the matter with Mr. I’ryme ?’ The speaker was a tall, dark man, with grizzled hair, black eyes, a long nose, a wide mouth, and the commercial feature of a pen behind his right ear. He had sever al times asked himself the same question, hut without any satisfactory solution, and now’fiddressed it to a little sandy-haired man, who was standing with his back to the office fire. Both were clerks in a govern ment office, as well as the party whose health or deportment was involved in the inquiry. ‘ What is the matter with Mr. Pryrne V ‘ Heaven knows,’ said the sandy Mr. Phipps, at the same time lifting up his eye brows towards the organs of wonder, and shrugging his shoulders. 1 You have observed how nervous and fidgety he is V ‘To be sure. Look at the fire-place; he has done nothing all the morning hut put on coals and rake them out again. * Yes, 1 have been watching him and kept count,'’ interposed Mr. Trent, a junior offi eial ; ‘he has poked the fire nineteen times, besides looking five times out of the win dow, and twice taking cjown his hat and hanging it up again.’ ‘ I got him to change me a sovereign,’ said the dark Mr. Grimble, ‘and lie first gave me nineteen, and then twenty-one shil lings for it. But look here at his entries,’ and he pointed to an open ledger on the desk, ‘he has dipped promiscuously into the black ink and red.’ The three clerks took a look a-piece at the hook, an<l then a still longer look at .a: h oihf None of them spoke, but each rhade a fa l ", one pursing up his lips, as if to Mow .in imaginary flageolet, another frowning, as with a distracting headache, and the third drawing down the corners of f mouth, as if fie hud just taken, or was about to take, physic. ‘ Whal can it he ?’ said Mr. Phipps. ‘ Let ■ usl. him,’ suggested Mr. Trent. • li. ue- iot,’ said Grimble, ‘You know how hoi ar.d fouchy he is. I once ventur ed to cm a joke on him, and he has never thoroughly forgiven it to this day.’ ‘ What was it about ?’ enquired the ju nior. ‘ Why he has been married above a doz en years without having any children, and it was the usual thing with us, when he came of a morning, to ask after the little Prynies ; but the joke has caused so many rows and quarrels, that we have given it up.’ ‘ Where is he ?’ asked Mr. Phipps, with a glance round the office. ‘ln the Secretary's private room. But hush ! here he comes.’ The three clerks hastily retreated to their several desks, and began writing with great apparent diligence, yet vigilantly watching every movement of the nervous and fidgety Mr. Pryrne, who entered the room, with an uneven step, looking rather flushed and ex cited, and vigorously rubbing his bald head with his silk handkerchief. Perhaps he noticed that he was observed, for he looked uneasily and suspiciously from one clerk to the other ; but each face preserved a de mure gravity, and the little, stout, bald, flo rid gentleman repaired to his own place. The Morning Post, damp and still unfolded, was lying on his desk ; he took it up, dried it at the fire, and began to read ; but the next minute he laid down the paper, and seizing the poker, made several plunges at the coals, as often against the bars as be tween them, till the metal rang again. Then he resumed the Post; but quickly relinquished it; quite unable to fix his at tention on the type ; an incompetence per fectly astounding to the other clerks, who considered reading the newspaper as a reg ular and important part of the official du ties. ‘ By Jove,’ whispered Mr. Phipps to Mr. Grimble, whom he had approached under the pretence of delivering a document, ‘he cannot Post the news any more than his ledger.’ Mr. Grimble acquiesced with a grave nod and a grimace ; and Mr. Phipps re turning to his desk, a silence ensued so pro found that the scratching of the pens at work on the paper, was distinctly audible. The little bald cashier himself had begun to write, and for some minutes was occupi ed so quietly that curiosity gave way to business, and the three clerks were absorb ed in their calculations, when a sudden noise caused them to look up. Mr. Pryrne had jumped from his high stool, and was in the act of taking down his hat from its peg. He held it for a while in his hand, as if in Ho p deliberation, then suddenly clapped it on his head, but as hastily took it off again; thrust the Morning Post into the crown, and restored the beaver to its place on the wall. The next moment he encountered the eyes of Phipps ; a suspicion that he was watched seemed to come across him, and his uneasi ness increased. He immediately returned to his desk, & began to turn over the leaves of an account book ; but with unnatural haste, and it was evident that, although his eyes were iixed on the volume, his thoughts | were elsewhere, for by degrees he went off ! into a reverv, only rousing now and then to take huge pinches of snuff. At last, sud denly waking up, he pulled out his watch ; pored at it; held it up to his ear ; replaced in his fob, and with a glance at his hat, be gan drawing on his gloves. Perhaps he would have gone off, if Mr. Grimble had not crossed over from his desk, and placed an open book before him, with a request for his signature. The little, bald, florid man, without removing his glove, attempted to write his name, but bis hand trembled so that he could hardly guide the pen. How. ever, he tried to carry oft’ the matter as a joke; but his laugh was forced, and his voice had the quivering huskiness of inter nal agitation. ‘Ha! ha ! rather shaky; too much wine iast night—eh, Mr. Grimble?’ The latter made no reply, but as he walk ed off with the book under his arm, and his back towards Mr. Pryrne, he bestowed a deliberate wink on each of his associates, and significantly imitated with his own hand the aspenlike motion he had just ob served. The other responded with a look of intelligence, and resumed their labors : bnt the tall, dark man fell into a fit of pro found abstraction, during which he uncon sciously scribbled on his blotting-paper, in at least a score of places, the word EM BEZZLEMENT. CHAPTER 11. The little bald, florid man, in the mean time, continued his nervous and fidgety ev olutions ; worrying the fire, trying on his hat and gloves, snuffing vehemently, cough ing huskily, and winking perpetually ; now scurrying through folios ; then drumming the devil’s tattoo on his desk, and moreo ver, under pretence of mending his pens, had slashed half-a-dozen of them to pieces; when he received a fresh summons to the Secretary’s room. The moment the door closed behind him, the two clerks, Phipps and Trent, darted a cross to Mr. Grimble, who silently exhibit ed to them the shaky autograph of the agi tated cashier. They then adjourned to the fire where a pause of profound cogitation ensued ; the Junior intensely surveying his bright hoots ; -Mr. Phipps industriously nibbling the top of his pen ; while Mr. Grimble kept assiduously breaking the bi tuminous bubbles, which exuded from the burning coals, with the point of the poker. ‘lt is very extraordinary !’ at last mut tered Mr. Phipps. ‘ Very,’chimed in the Junior Clerk. Mr. Grimble silently turned Ins back on the fire, and fixed his gaze on the ceiling, with his mouth firmly compressed, as if meaning to signify, that whatever he might think, he would say nothing ; in case ofa ny thing happening to Mr. Pryrne, he was the next, in point of seniority for the vacant place, and delicacy forbade his being the first to proclaim his suspicions. ‘ You don’t think lie is going off, do you?’ inquired Mr. Phipps. Mr. Grinible turned his gaze intently on the querist as though he would look him through—hemmed—but said nothing. ‘ I mean off his head.’ ‘ Oh—l thought you meant off to Ameri ca.’ It was now Mr. Phipps’s turn to look in tently at Mr. Grimble, whose every feature he scrutinized with the studious interest of a Lavater. ‘ Why you surely don’t mean to say— ’ ‘ I do.’ ‘ What, that he has— ’ ‘ Yes.’ ‘ Is it possible !’ Mr. Grimble gave three distinct and de liberate nods, in reply to which, Mr. Phipps whistled a long phe-e-e-e-e-ew ! All this time the Junior had been eager. !y listening to the mysterious conference, anxiously looking from one speaker to the other, till the hidden meaning suddenly re vealed itself to his mind, and with the usual indiscretion of youth he immediately gave it utterance. ‘ Why then, Grimble, old Pryrne will be transported, and you will walk into his shoes.’ Mr. Grimble frowned severely, and laid one forefinger on his lips, while the other he pointed to the door. But Mr. Pry me was still distant in the Secretary’s private room. ‘ Well, I should never have thought it!’ exclaimed Mr. Phipps. ‘He was so regu lar in his habits, and I should say very mo derate in his expenses. He was never giv en to dress (the young clerk laughed at the idea,) and certainly never talked like a gay man with the other sex (the Junior laughed again.) I don’t think he gambled, or had any connexion with the turf? To be sure he may have dabbed a little in the Alley ; or perhaps in the Discounting line.’ To each of these interrogative specula tions, Mr. Grimble responded with a nega tive shake of the head or a doubtful shrug of the shoulders, till tho catalogue was ex hausted, and then, with his eyes cast up ward, uttered an emphatic ‘Heaven knows!’ ‘ But have you any proof of it ?’ asked Mr. Phipps. ‘ None whatever—not a particle. Only what I may call a strong —a very strong presentiment-’ And as if to illustrate its strength, Mr. Grinible struck a blew with the poker that smashed a large Staffordshire coal into shivers. ‘ Then there may be nothing wrong after all !’ suggested the good-natured Mr. Phipps. ‘And really Mr. Pryrne has al ways seemed so respectable, so regular, and so correct in business— ’ ‘So did Fauntjeroy, and the rest of them,’ muttered Mr. Grimble, ‘or they would never have been trusted. However its u comfort to think that he has no children, and that the capital punishment for such offences has been abolished.’ ‘ I can hardly believe it!’ ejaculated Mr Phipps. ‘ My dear fellow,’ said the young clerk, ‘ there is no mistake about it. I was watch ing him when the messenger came to fetch him to the secretary, and he started and shook as if he had expected a policeman.’ Mr Phipps said no more, but retreated to his place, and with his elbows on his desk, and his head between his hands, be gan sorrowfully to ruminate on the ruin and misery impending over the unfortunate cashier. He could well appreciate the nervous alarm and anxiety of the wretched man, liable at any moment to detection, with the consequent disgrace, and a punish mem scarcely preferable to death itself. His memory reminded him that Mr. Pryrne had done him various services, while his imagination pictured his benefactor in his most distressing situations—in the station house, at Bow. street, in Newgate, at the bar of the Old Baily, in a hulk, in a convict ship, with the common herd of the ruffianly and the depraved—and finally toiling in life-long labor in a distant land And as lie dwelt on these dreadful and dreary scenes, the kind-hearted Phipps himself be came quite unhinged ; his own nerves be gan to quiver, whilst his muscles sympa thising with the mental excitement, prompt ed him to such restless activity, that he was soon almost as fidgety and perturbed as the object of his commiseration. Oh! that, that guilty man. forewarned of danger by some providential inspiration, might have left the office never to return ! But the hope was futile ; the door opt n and, the doomed Mr. Pi vine hastily entered— went to his own desk, unbuttoned his waist coat, and clutching his bewildered bald head with one fevered hand, began with the other to turn over the leaves of a journal, without perceiving that the book was upside down. ‘ Was there ever,’ thought Phipps, ‘such an infatuation ! Ho has evidently cause for alarm, and yet lingers about tiie fatal spot.’ How he yearned to give him a hint that his secret was known ; to say to him. • Go ! Fly ! ere it be too late ! Seek sonic other country where you may live in freedom and repent.’ But, alas! the eyes of Grimble and Trent were upon him, and above all the stern fig ure of inexorable Duty rose up before him, and melting the wax of Silence at the fla ming sword of Justice, imposed a seal upon his lips. CHAPTER 111. But Mr. Pryrne ? That little bald, florid, fidgety personage was still sitting on his high stool at his desk snuffing, coughing, winking, and pretend ing to examine a topsy-turvy account-book, sometimes, by way of variation, hashing up anew pen, or drumming a fresh march with his fingers— Mr Grimble was making some, private calculations, which had reference to his fu ture income-tax on a slip of office-paper— Mr. Trent was dreaming over an imagi nary trial, in which he was a witness, at the Old Bailey— And Mr. Phipps was fretting over the pre-destined capture of the infatuated Cash, ier, when all at once there was a noise that startled the clerkly trio from their seats. The nervous Mr. Piyrne, by one of his involuntary motions, had upset his leaden ink-stand—in trying to save the inkstand he knocked down liis rule—in catching at the rule he had let fall the great journal ; and in scrambling after the journal he had overturned his high stool. The clatter was prodigious, and acting on a nature already overwrought sufficed to discompose the last atom of its equanimity. For a moment the bewildered author of the work stood and trembled as if shot— then snatching his hat, and clapping it “kovv.wow any how,” on his le ad, rushed desperately out of the office. ‘Thank God!’ ejaculated Mr. Phipps, drawing a long breath, like a swimmer af ter a dive. I say. Grimble,’ exclaimed the Junior Clerk ; “it’s a true bill !’ But Mr. Grimble was already outside the door, and running down the stone-stairs into the halt, seized on the first office-mes senger that offered. ‘Here —Warren ?-quick !-Run after Mr. Pryme-don’t let him out of your sight; but watch where he goes ; and let me know.’ CHAPTER IV. Messrs. Grimble, Phipps, and Trent, first held a consultation, and then proceed ed in a body to the Secretary, to whom they described the singular behaviour of Mr. Prvme. ‘Very singular, indeed, said the Secreta ry I observed it myself, and inquired if he was in good health. No—yes—no.— And Mrs. Pryme? Yes—no—yes. In short, he did not seem to know what he was say ing,’ ‘Or doing,’put in Mr. Trent. ‘He threw a shovel of coals into the iron safe,’ ‘Withother acts,’ added Mr. Grimble, ‘the reverse of official.’ ‘Tell him at once, 7 whispered Mr. Trent. ‘ln short, sir,’said Mr. Grimble, with a most sepulchral tone, and the face of an un dertaker,’ I am sorry, deeply sorry and TI. J. ItiITKL, Printer. concerned to say, that Mr. Pry me lias sud denly departed.’ ‘lndeed ! But lie was just the sort of a man to do it.’ The three clerks started at each other, for they had all thought exactly the reverse of the little, bald, florid, ex-cashier. ‘Short-necked, sanguine, and of a full habit, you know,’ continued the Secretary. ‘Poor-fellow !’ ‘I am sorry, deeply sorrv arid concerned to say,’ repeated Mr. Grinible, ‘that l mean he has absconded.’ ‘The devil he has !’exclaimed the Secre tary, at once jumping to his feet, and in stinctively buttoning up hi pockets—‘but no—it’s impossible !’and be looked towards Trent and Phipps for confirmation. ‘lt’s a true bill, sir,’ said the first, ‘he has bolted sure enough.’ The other only shook his head. It’s incredible!’ said •: S c ret ary.— * •Why, he was as steady as a quak. r. and as correct as clock-work ! Mr. Grinible, have you inspected his books ?’ ‘I have, sir.’ ‘Well, sir?’ ‘At present, sir, all appears correct.— But as the accounts are kept in this office it is easier to embezzle than detect any de falcation ’ ‘Humph! Ido not think we are worse in that respect than other public officers! Then, il l understand you, there is no dis tinct evidence of fraud ?’ ‘None whae ‘or, sir,’ replied Phipps. ‘Except his absconding,’ added Mr. Grinible. ‘Well, gentlemen, we will wait till ton o’clock to morrow morning, and then if Mr. Prvme does not make his appearance we shall know how to act.’ The three clerks made three bows and retir ‘d, severally pleased, displeased, and ‘indifferent at the result of their audience. ‘We may wait for him,’ grumbled Mr Grimble. ‘till ten o’clock on doom’s day. At this moment the door re-opened, and the Secretary put out his head. ‘Gentlemen, I need not recommend you to confine this matter, for the present, to your own bosoms !’ But the caution was in vain. Warren, the messenger, had given a hint of the af fair to a porter, who had told it to another, and another, and another, till the secret was as well buzzed and blown as if it had been confided to a swarm of blue bottles.— In fact, the (light of Mr. Pryrne was known throughout the several offices, where, ac cording to English custom, the event be came a subject for betting, and a consider able sum was laid out at 6 to 4, and after wards at 7 to 2, against the appearance of the cashier. CHAPTER V. ‘Well, Warren V ‘Well, Mr. Grimble, sir ?’ The three clerks on returning to their office, had found the messenger at the door, and took him with them into the room. ‘Well 1 followed up Mr. Prvme, sir, and the first thing he did were to hail a cab.’ ‘And where did he drive to V ‘Tonowheres at a!!—cox why, afore the cab could pull round oil’ the stand, away he goes—that’s Mr. Pryrne—walking at the rate of live miles an hour; more or less, so as not easy to be kept up with, strait home to his own house number 9, where instead of doubt I nocking at the door, he ring’d to be let in at the hairy hell. ‘Very odd!’ remarked Mr. Grimble, ‘Well, he staid in the house a goodish while, as long as it might take him, like, to collect his porterble property and vallybles when all at once out he comes, like a mail with his head turned, and liis hat stuck on hind part afore, for you know he’d wore it up at the back like a curricle one.’ ‘A clerical one—go on.’ ‘Why then, away he cuts down the street, as hard as he can split without bursting, and me arter him, but being stiffii'di with the rheinatiz, whereby 1 soon found 1 was getting nowheres at all in tbe race, and in consekense pulled up ‘Arid which wav did he run?’ ‘Why then, he seemed to me to he a ma king for the bridge.’ ‘Alt, to get on board a steamer,’ said Mr. Grimble. ‘Or into the river,’ suggested Mr. Trent. M Phipps groaned and w rung his hads. •You’re right, you are, Mr. Trent, sir,’ aid the Messenger with a determined nod and at the junior clerk. Tie-re was a gemman throwed himself over last Friday, and they did say it was be cos he had made away w ith ten thousand Long Annuitants.’ ‘The poor, wretched, misguided crea ture !’ ‘Yes he did, Mr. Phipps, sir-—right over the senter harch ? And w hat’s wus, not leaving a rap behind him except his widder and five small children, and the youngest on era’s a suckin baby.’ ‘Thank Heaven.!’exclaimed Mr. Phipps “that Mr. Prvme is not a family man.’ Poor Mr. Phipps ! As soon as the office w as closed he walk ed home to his lodgings in Westminister, hut at a slower pace than usual, and w ith a heavy heart, for his mind w as full of sor row and misgiving at the too probable fate of the unfortunate Defaulter. The figure of Mr. Prvme followed him wherever he went: it seemed to glance ov, rhis shoulder in the looking-glass ; and \vhen he went to wash his hands,the pale drowned face oftho cashier, shone up through the water, in stead of the pattern atjho bottom of the btv sin. [VOLUME XXYIIL
