The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-06-13
What Came of Calling a . Genuine Bill
Counterfeit.

What is the price of this dressing
gown. sir?' asked a sweet faced young
girl entering the elegant store of Huntly
Il Warner, in city. and the street of a
city which shall be nsmeless,
1t was cloudy day. The clerks
lounged over the counters, read papers and
yawned. The man to whom Alice Locke
addressed hersat, was jaunty and middle
aged He was head clerk Of the extern
sive establishment of Huntly q Warner
and extremely consequential in his man
ner. .. ..I.t..
This dressing gowh--we value it at
SIX dollars-you shall have 1t for five,. as
trade is dull .si.-.
Five dollars? Alice looked at the dros-
sing gown longingly, and the clerk looked
! at her, Hesa~ that her clothes though
made and worn genteely, were common
lenough in texture, and that her face was
very much Of the common line. How it
changed!now shaded, how lighted by the
varied play Of bef emotions, The clerk
could almost have sworn that she had no
more than that sum Eve dollars, in her
purse or pocket ,isg IN. '.,i 'a. '9s g. e.-,-a
The gown was avery good one for the
price. 1t was Of common shade. toler-
able mcrino, and lined with the same ma.
lterial. s.g..,.g t..rl...-..-y-.-
Il think-she hesitated moment 4
think, I'll take it, she said; then sesing
in the face before her an expression which
she did not like, she bIushed as she hand :
cd out thsIbill, the clerk had made up bis
mind to take. -a,sfa s.-. l.....
Jeunings,' cried Torrent, the head
clerk in a quick pompous tone, pass up
The bank detector. ..s., ..r.
Up went the tow headed boy with the
detector, and up aud down ran the
.rlerk's eyes from column TO column,
when he looked over with sharp glance
and then exclaimt ned
That's counterfeit bill, Miss
Oh how pale the sweet face grew!
Counterfeit Oh, not cannot be!
| The man who sent it could not have been
SO careless, you must be mistaken sir
Pm not mistaken, Mise. The bill lisa
counterfeit. must presume Of course
that you did not know 'it,1Nthough SO
much bad money has been ofared2us of
late that we intend to secure such per-
sons as pass it,. Who did you say sent
! it. aaf. ~
'Mr c. ---,; sir, Of New York
He could not send me bad money said
the trembling. frightened girl.
'Humph. said the clerk. well, there's
no doubt about Ills; you can !, OK Fer
yourself. Now don't let me see you here
tagain unuryuu can Urrng good money
for we always suspect such persons as you
that come on dark day with well
made story
But, sir
you neod make no explanations, Miss
said the man iusutingly.-
Take your bill, and the next time you
want to buy dressing gown, don't in
tend TO pass counterfeit money. and as
he handed it. the bill fell from his hands.
/ Alice caught it from the floor and
hurried into the street.
Such shock TIE grlhad never received
in all her life before. 1t was the fist in
suit she had ever known, and it burned
her cheek and pan5d her heart.
Straightway, indignant and grieved,
she hurried 10 banking establishment,
found her way in, and presented the note
to noble looking man with gray hair,
falrering out, is this bill bad on sir?'
The cashier and his son happened to be
tie only persons present. Both noticed
her extreme youth, beauty and agitation
The cashier looked closely and handed
back, as with polite bow and somewhat
prolonged look he said: w.,
It's good bin young lady,
4 knew it was,' cried Alice with 9
quivering lip-and he dared
She could go no further; but entirely
overcome, she bent her lead, and Che ho
tears had their way.
81 beg pardon, have you had trouble
/ with it?' asked the cashier.
ooh, sir. you will excuse me for Civ
en- way to my feelings, but you spok'
SO kindly and felt SO sure it was good
And | think sir, such meu as those clerk
in Hdnter & Warmers should be.removed
He told me that it was counterfeit, auC
added something that 1 am glad my faith
er did not hear. ] knew tie publshs
would not send me bad money
. who is your father young lady,? asket
the cashier, becomi ng Interested
., 'Mr. Bcnjamne Locke, sir.
'Benjanin-Btn Locke was he eve
clerk in the Navy Departments at Wash
ington.' ---
, Yes. sir, We removed from there. re
3. pied Alice. Since then--she besita led
. he has not been well-and, we are soma
what reduced. Oh, why do | tell 20
these things, sir?' -
10 Ben Locke-reducedP murmured tn
Of cashier; the man that was the making c
me! Give me his number and street m
: child Your father was one Of the be:
perhaps the only friend l had | hav
n not forgotten hia, No. q. Liberty street,
I will call this evening. Meantime let m
: have the bill. Jet me see. I'll give yo
&c another, Come TO look. havnt got
re FIVE, here is ten, we'll make it all right
C That evening the inmates OF a, shabby
y gouteel house receive, the cashier Of III
: M~---~-Bank. Mr.. Locke, a man ofgrs
2 hair though numbering but fifty years