Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-13

our family reputation, sir !"
"In the eyes of Mr.. BuJJmgtoa 1 suppose"
quietly remarked Mr. Walpart, with an unusual
degree of sarcasm.
Mr.. Babbington is q gentleman, sir, and I
would thank you not to treat his name with dis
respect" retorted Mrs. Walpart with look and
action of offended dignity. "He has sincere
regard for Julia, and yet hope that both you
and she will come to sense Of your own inter
ests"
$50 we probably shall" replied the merchant;
"but you must excuse me now, for l have some
business to attend to-"
As Mr.. Walpart spoke he drew his chair up
to table, and taking from his pocket small
bundle of papers, he began to look them over.
His wife knew that further attempt at an express
sion of her thoughts would be utterly useless, and
after remaining for a few moments silent spec
tator of her husbands movements, she arose
from her seat and left the room.
On the thext morning, ere Mr.. Walpart ar
rived at his store, young man called to see him.
and ON giving his name to one of the clerks as
James Albee, he was requested to step into the
counting-roon, and await the merchants coming.
James Albee had just entered upon the stage of
manhood, and single look upon his open, kind
ly smiling countenance would at once dsarm
the uuprejudiced mind of all suspicion, and yet
he rested under the charge Of forgery! A check
for five thousand dollars, purporting to have been
signed by'his employers, Messrs. Folt & Babrook,
had been presented at the bank and cashed over
a month previous, but, as Albee had the princi-
pal management of the business, the firm had
not, until within week, discovered the fraud.
As soon as Mr.. Folt saw the check he knew it to
be spurious, and after serious consultations with
his partner, suspicion was fastened upon James
Albee. No palpable circumstances showed that
he had made any use of the money, and an ex-
animation was made Of his trunks; this proved
nothing, however, and while yet the firm were in
doubt upon the subject, they learned that young
Albee had lately loaned to friend who was
about commencing business, four thousand dol
lars. This, together with the tellers evidence
that Albee himself had presented the forged
check, was deemed a conclusive evidence, and
the young man was accordingly arrested. A
bill was found against him, and he was held in
heavy bonds for trial, Mr.. Wapart, as the reader
already knows, having recognized himselftor the
required amount. There seemed no possible
way to clear himself of the fatal charge, and as
he sat-now in the merchants counting-room
there was deep shadow of sorrow upon his
manly features, and his heart lay heavy and sad
in his bosom.
At length Mr. Walpart arrived. lie greeted
young Albce kindly, and having consulted his
watch he called upon one of his clerks, and Civ
ing him two letters, he bade him leave one of
them at the Canal Bank, and the other at the
store of Folt 4, Babrook.
"Chccr up, James," said Mr.. Wapart, shortly
after his clerk had left. "lf am not greatly
mistaken, all will vet come right"
"Have YOU clue, then, to the solution Of the
mvsteryg' asked James, as he started forward
and laid his hand ncrvously upon the merchants
arm, while his eyes danced in flood Of hopeful
light.
81 think | have but we must wait for short
time, and may then be enabled to give YOU
definite answer"
The merchant went about arranging some OF
his papers, while the youth took up paper and
began to run over the mornings news. At the
end of half an hour the clerk returned, accom-
panied bv Messls. Folt d. Babrook and one of
their statesmen, together with the teller Of the
Canal Bank.
'Gentlemen," said Mr.. Walpart, as soon as
the mornings salutations had been passed. 81
have requested your attendance here in order to
ascertain if we may not clear MIR. Albee from the
charge that rests against him"
"indced, sir" said Mr.. Folt, with real frank
ness, mo one would be more happy at such
result than myself; butyet Imust say that things
look dark against him."
"Perhaps they do" returned Mr.. Walpart,
"but nevertheless we may be able to throw some
light upon them In the first place, gentlemen,
the circumstance of his having money is clear.
For eight long years he has been saving each
quarter portion of his salary, and this he has
had invested in various ways, as can testify,
and even at the present moment | hold some two
thousand dollards of his money. Now, SIR he
continued, turning to the bank teller, ION what
day did YOU pay that five thousand dollars upon
the forged check!'
"On the fifteenth of last month"
"IIave YOU examined the book-keepers ac-
counts for that day, as l requested
ayes sir"
,'And what is the result!"
81 have examined the book-keeper's journal,
and l fear that may have given in my evidence
at Mr.. Albee's examination, with too much re-
lance upon my own memory" returned the tel
ler: "for upon examination, find that shortly
after the bank was opened, / paid to the checks
of Folt & Babrook eight thousand dollars; then
before that check of five thousand dollars was
paid, there are thirty-four entrances upon the
:,,,n al ca +h.f tho lattnr must have been some