The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-05-04
NUMBER 33.
Il III II T. q s 8 FL ID ID . l. l. A Is,
TIE COUNTRY DEALER AND HIS
CLERK

o. where ever article Of produce is brought fror
Of the farmer round about, and where ever
), kind ofgoods is usually needed in the country
- IS kept lie was SHARP featured, shrewd look
y, ing man, sfnewhat turned Of fiiy, and as har
20 as "a diamond at a trade lie could buy tn
re best OF produce ut the lowest rates. and he cou
r sell his auction bought goods at alarmingly hiol
e price. In short he never failed TO make
round profit at both ends Of the bargain
N oId not hesitate TO oyerstep the bounds Of hon
v esty, when he had fair chance, though he al
ways did it in such a manner hat his old adage
n "a bargain Is a bargain, woald safely shielt
him.
II Lyman, said he TO his son one day, a Young
i man some twenty years old, and almost The
counterpart Of his father, gave that he showct
more reckessness OF disposition, "did you make
: a trade With farmer Jones: -
: "Yes"
'What did you charge him for that sugar and
tea ?"
'.Ninepence for the sugar, and half dollar
you see."
, "rhats right. And what did you charge
I him for the coffee 7
"Ah, there had him +! | made the old man
, believe twas extra old Java-charged him ff-
teen cents. +"
"Pretty good my son, only you might have
, put on the hall cent. You you can make a
great point out of that. When you come the
half cents over them they think You are sha wing
Lyman. Now what did you allow Jones for
his beans?"
"Nine and sixpence.'
80, you shouldn't have done that A dollar
or dollar and ninepence would have been
enough"
"But they were nice ones, father, carefully
picked and clean &"4
"You should have made him believe they
were poorer"
"But how?" 81 - a..t t-a
why, when you found the old man had
beans to exchange for goods, you should have
taken handful of poorer ones from one Of our
barrels and watched your opportunity 10 scatter
them over the top of his. Don't you UNDER
stand - -----s--
"Yes, see now, father"
| "That $ right We must live and thrive you
see, and he who makes the most comes out the
best in the end Always take advantage of a
the bright side out. .''--~----
This was the way the father taught his son,
and how his son profitted by it the sequel will
| show.
sBy the way, LYMAN continued the old
man, 81 have discovered who it is that has been
robbing my money drawer"
"Ah!" uttered the son, turning at that mo-
ment TO arrange piece OF calico, which didn't
need any fixing at all, s'and who is it -
"Wilton Cunningham.
81 shouldn't wonder in the least | never
liked the fellow, and | have often wondered
what made you keep him.
81 wouldn't have kept him, only that he is
such remarkable smart book keeper, and such
a beautiful writer, too. He amt fit to trade"
"No, you can never make him believe it's
right to drive snug trade. Bnt how did you
manage to detect him.
81 III tell you" returned the old man Last
! week took particular notice OF some silver dol
| lars that were in the money drawer, and deter.
mined to set trap for the thief, took out four
of the pieces and crossed them very carefully
and in such manner that one not acquainted
with the secret would not be likely to notice it,
then put them back into the drawer. Next
morning one of them was gone, and all our
trade the day before had been barter or credit,
| knew that it could not been given in change.
Of course my suspicious fell upon Wilton,
and | at once began to look about to see where
| he had spent the money, and found that he
had paid Mr.. Wiley, for his mothers rent |
went to Mr.. Wiley, and asked to see the mon
ey Wilton had paid him, and found my cross-
cd dotiar. It's as plain as daylight !"
| "Certalnly 1t Is, said Lyman.
''There can be no doubt of it, added the old
man, in confident tone, and then with q sar-
castle sneer, he said: ellis seeming honesty is
all the result of fear. He dare no, to make
bold trade, but he steal in the dark,
though
| Just then customer entered, and while Mr..
Randall was trading with him, Wilton Gun
CHAM came in. The latter was not over one
and twenty, snd though appearances deceit.
ful, yet it would be hard work to make physi-
ognomist believe that he could be thief. The
young clerk went Immediately to his desk, and
as soon as Mr.. Randall was ut liberty, he Joined
! him.
"You need not open your books this morning,
sir, said the trader.
prise.
"Mr Cunningham continued Randall, 81
have discovered who il is that has been for so
long time robbing my money drawer =
"Ah!'
eyes, sir. have trapped him, and you may
judge of my surprise upon finding it to be none
but Wilton Cunningham"
ado you mean me, Sir ?" uttered the young
man, stepping down from his stool and boldly
facing his accuser.
"Of course do, and have proof Of what
say"
"No man, Mr.. Randall, can produce any
proof of dishonesty in me-
''Not SO fast sir. Did you not pay Mr. Will
ley the money for your mothers rent %
81 did, sir
"I might have dore it sir, for paid several
silver dollars
cay" returned the old man, with sort of a
triumphant look, "and that dollar was stolen
from my drawer on last Wednesday night, and
you paid it away on the same night. Now, how
came you by it,?
elf paid it to Mr.. Witey-''
/ "But you did pay it to hun. He can swear
to that
"Then sir, know not where got it had
several Of them. Some my mother had taken
for butter and cheese, and some | had laid
away"
ayes, some you laid away. Tha, dollar, sir
you took from my drawer on Wednesday even
ing. You stole it "
.Mr. Randall" said Wilton in a tone oil
calm indignity. 81 hardly know how to mee
}your charge. To dens it would be only To con
q tradict you but l da deny it, and | call or
God TO witness that | never, to my knowledge
: wronged man to the amount of cent. shall
!. see Mr.. Wiley, sir.
It "Do so. will go with you sir, immediate
ly."
Accordingly Mr. Randall and the clerk Sc
~ off. They found Mr.. Wiley, and that gentle
man, though he felt much friendship for th
~ young man could but declare that the crosse'
dollar had been received Of him Wilton cou
not deny it; he had not noticed any partcula
marks on the money he had paid, and he coul
only reitera,r The assertion that lie had not tax
IN it from his employers drawer. He fel
grieved that shade of suspicion rested upo
the face Of Mr.. Wiley, and then he saw no,
OF strong was the evidence against him. He turn
ed away to hide the tear that sarted from hi
eye, and his heart swelled with painful emo
=. tions.
"ls Squire Ballard at hnm" :" asked M
or Randall, after the facts in the had bee
in sufficiently discussed.
,h mo! He's gone down 10 Portland, but he
or be home 10 night, returned MIR. Wiley.
Good heavens! Mr.. Randali you do n
mean to make legal investigation of the case
r criedWilton, turning pale and trembling like a
= aspen.
..Most assuredly do calmly returned ii
-. trader. off you are innocent you have nothin
. to fear"
Sand suppose cannot prove that inne
cence -
he ''Taat's jus, what I'm afraid Of half iron