Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-06-01

Just then a customer entered, and while
Mr.. Randall was trading with him, Wilton
Cunningham came in. The latter was
not over twenty-one, and though appear
ances are deceitful it would be hard work
to make physiognomist believe that he
could be capable of theft. The young
clerk went Immediately to his desk, and as
soon as MIR Randall was at liberty he
joined him. 11elt
You need not open your books this
morning, sir, said the, trader.
The young man looked around with sur
drise.
"Mr. Cunningham continued Ran
dal, II have discovered who it is that has
been for so long a time robbing my mo-
ney drawer"
"Ah!"
eyes sir. 1 have trapped him. and
you may judge of my surprise upon
finding it to be no other than Wilton Cum
ingham.,
DO you mean me, sir?" uttered the
young man stepping down from his stool
and boldly facing his accuser.
"Ofcourse l do, and l have proof OF
what say
mo man. Mr.. Randall, can produce a
proof of dishonesty in me-"
"Not quite so fast, sir. Did you not
pay Mr. Wiley the rent for the house
your mother occupies?"
"I did. sir"
"And did you not give him this dollar?'
asked Mr.. Randall, producing the dollar he
had crossed.
'I might have done it. sir, for paid
him several silver dollars.''
"Ay, returned the old man with sort
of triumphant look, .'and that dollar
was stolen from my drawer last Wednes-
day night, and you paid it away on the
same night. Now how did you come by
il 2"
eff l paid it to Mr.. Wiley"
But you did pay it to him. He can
swear to that"
" Then, sir, know not where l got it.
| had several of them. Some my mother
has taken for butter and cheese, and some
l have laid away"
Yes, some you have laid away. That
dollar sir, you took from my drawer last
Wednesday night. You stole it."
Mr.. Randall said Wilton, in tone
of calm indignity. Il hardly know how to
meet your charge To deny it would be
only to contradict you, but l do deny it,
and call on God to witness that never
to my knowledge wronged man to the
amount of cent. shall see Mr.. Will
ley, SIR
:" Do so. will so with you at once"
Accordingly Mr. Randall and his clerk
set off, They found MIR, Wiley, and that
gentleman. though he felt much friend
Ship for the young man. could not but de-
clare that the crossed dollar had been re-
ceived from him. Wilton could not deny
it; he had not noticed any particular mark
upon the money he had paid, and he could
only reiterate the assertion that he had
not taken it from his employers drawer.
He felt grieved to see that a shade of sus-
picion rested upon the face of Mr.. Will
lev, and he then saw how strong was the
evidence against him. He turned away
to hide tear that was starting from his
eve, and his heart swelled with painful
emotion.
els Squire Bullard at home?" asked Mr.
Randall, after the facts in the case had been
sufficiently discussed.
..No. He's gone down to Portland, but
he'll be at home to night" returned Mr.
Wiley.
.'Good heavens Mr.. Randall. you dc
not mean to make legal investigation oI
this case?" cried Wilton, turning pale and
trembling like an aspen.
st Most assuredly do" calmly return
ed the trader. If you are innocent you
will have nothing to fear
And suppose l cannot prove that in
nocence?"
THAT'S Just what I'm afraid Of" hall
ironically returned Randall.
80 Godp' calculated the youth, clasp
ing his hands together in tortured ago
nv. .sWhat have done that should come
to this?'
Mr.. Wiley began to show evident signs
of repentance. that he had been instru-
mental in bringing this about, and as Ran
dali noticed it, he made haste 10 cut the
meeting short.
You need not go back to the store
with me- he said to the clerk, 'but shall
see you this evening.
Wilton Cunningham turned his steps
-homeward, but his walk was slow and
sad. He knew the disposition of Mr. Ran
dali, that he was hard-hearted, grasplng,
avaricious, and capable OF doing anything
that might answer his own ends. but ne
knew not all the ends the trader had IN
view-ends which will be easily under
stood by slight conversation at the ira
der's store"
"Lymau." said Mr.. Randall. after he
had returned from Mr.. Willey's; l've got
young Cunningham hard and fast. The
av;Jsnca is. clear and if Bullard gets
home before. dark I'll have him examined
and bound over for trial this very eve
ming" r.,
.:But you don't really mean to try Will
ton for theft, do you?' asked Lyman with