lar friends, and he has often stayed with George until
nine or ten o'clock in the evening. Besides these there were several of
our leading planters who would come in as late as eight o'clock to
deposit funds, or to obtain cash for use early the next day."

"Did young Gordon have the keys to the vault?" I asked.

"Oh! yes," replied Mr. McGregor; "I was often called away on business
for several days, and he used to act as cashier in my absence. He was in
the habit of carrying the keys with him at all times; but his uncle
advised him not to do so, as they might be taken from him by a gang of
desperate characters, and the bank robbed. He had, therefore, given up
the practice of taking the keys home with him after night-fall. Just
about the time of the murder, we had one of the busiest seasons ever
known; the cotton crop had been enormous, and sales had been very rapid,
so that our deposits were unusually large. One morning I found that I
must go to Greenville for several days, on business of great importance.
Before going, I gave George full instructions upon all matters which
might need attention during my absence; yet I felt, while on my way to
the depot, that there was something which I had forgotten. I could not
define what it was, but I hurried back to ask whether he could think of
any thing further upon which he might wish my advice. I found him
chatting with his friend, Mr. Drysdale. Calling him to one side, I said:

"'George, is there anything more upon which I can advise you?'

"'No, I guess not,' he replied; 'you will be back so soon that if there
should anything new turn up, it can wait until you return.'

"'Well, be very careful,' I continued, 'and don't allow any one to come
in here after dark. It may be an unnecessary precaution, but I should
feel easier if I knew no one was admitted to the bank during my
absence.'

"'Very well,' he replied, 'I shall allow only one or two of my personal
friends to come in. There will be no harm in admitting them, for they
will be an additional protection in case of any attempt on the bank.'

"I could offer no objection, and so we parted. I was gone about a week,
when, having settled my business in Greenville, I returned here. The
first news I received was, that George Gordon had been found murdered in
the bank that morning, the crime having been committed the night before.
I will now let Mr. Peter Gordon, George's uncle, tell the circumstances,
so far as he knows them."