Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-10-23
THE LEFT-HANDED THIEF.

and perhaps ruined by false suspicion ~ re-
marked my mercantile friend, as We were con-
versng on the sspanic," few evenings since.
Suspicion is like an assassin in the dark. 1t
Stabs its victim, and he knows not from whence
the blow comes. Or it may be like the keen
frost which seizes upon the ears, the cheeks,
or the nose, freezing the flesh or driving back
the life blood, and yet the poor man is totally
ignorant of his situation till he comes in con-
tact with heat, and begins to feel the stirring
pain. But believe l never told you of the
only time that suspicion of evil was ever fas-
tened on me. 1t has nothing particular to do
with the subject under consideration, though
1t serves to show how merchants sometimes
lose money.
When mere youth l was placed in the
store of Jacob Wharton, merchant doing
good business. l was frugal industrious and
faithful, and at the age of twenty lone was ad-
vanced to the post OF book-keeper, with
good salary. l had charge of the books and
the safe, and all the money left over after
banking hours was also in my care. l tried
to do my duty faithfully and think | sue
ceeded. Mr.. Wharton was a close, methodi-
cal man with quick eye and ready under
standing of business, and l fancied he felt
satisfied, 1 felt much pleased.
had been book-keeper for year when l
thought my employers manner towards me be-
gan to change. He began to treat me more
coolly, and finally l was sure he watched my
movements with distrustful glances. | be-
came nervous and uneasy, for | feared had
offended him. But the thing came to head
at length.
One evening when was alone in the store,
engaged in making up my cash account, Mr..
Wharton came to me with troubled look and
spoke. His voice was tremulous, and could
see that he was deeply affected.
sGeorge," said he, 81 am sorry for the con-
victon that has been forced VI on me fear
managed in spite of my asto olishment to
ask what he meant.
81 fear you are not honest!'' was the reply.
Not Honest And there had been for ma
ny years making it my chief aim and study
how TO serve him most faithfully. l do not
remember what said frSt-I only know the
tears came into my eyes-that my lips trem-
bled--and that my utterance was almost choked.
How long had he held these suspicious? l
asked him, and he told me for more than two
months.
"You have suspected me thus and still left
me in the dark After serving you 50 along
after giving to your interests all my euer-
gies-after striving for faith and honor, that
l might win your love and esteem-to suspect
me in secret-to look upon me .hef, and
yet not tell me Oh, l would not have be-
lieved it 20
s.Let us talk the matter over calmly" said
the merchant, his old kind tone coming back.
i
see that he was wavering.
felt, at first, like telling him that he should
have done this before, but as he seemed ready
to reason now, | found no fault.
ssYou have spent considerable money CT
late.''
ssHow 20 l asked.
ssHave you not built house 20
eyes, sill. and paid for it too, and have thus
given my mother comfortable home.
''Mr. Wharton was staggered for a moment
by my frank and feeling reply, but pretty
soon he asked.
"What did the house cost you?'
"Just fifteen hundred dollars. My mother
owned the land. And l suppose you would
know where got the money. You, sir learn
ed me how to save it. l have been with you
six years. The first year you paid me fifty
dollars, abe laid up twenty-five of it. The
second and third years you gave me a hum
dred dollars, and l laid up sixty year. The
fourth year you made me clerk, and gave me
five hundred. Ny mother was able to feed
me as our little cot answered for the time. |
got along that year upon expense of seven
ty-fve dollars. The next year you paid me
six hundred dollars on condition that l kept
your books. | saved five hundred of that.
This last year you paid me one thousand, and
l spent only the interest of what l previously
invested SO that the thousand was not touched.
Of course mother has worked, but she wished
to do it. l have paid fifteen hundred dollars
for my house, and have five hundred dollars
in the savings bank. That is a PLAIN statement
of my atfairs.''
My employer seemed more puzzled than be-
fore.
ssNow," said I, ssI have given you an hon.
est statement, and will you be equally frank,
and tell ME all that has happened to excite this
suspicion"
81 will,'' he replied, taking a seat near me.
s'Wfthin the last year 1 have lost more than
two thousand dollars 1t must have been taken
from the store. l know this for l know the
amount of goods which have been sold, and
know how much cash have received. l be-
gan to be watchful four months since.
Two months ago man paid me in the after
noon, five hundred dollars. put it IN the
drawer, and on the next morning, before you
CAME in, looked at your cash account, and
found only two hundred OF that set down.
From that time have been very watchful,
and have detected dozen similar cases.
have noticed every dollar that came in after
the bank account was made up, and have also
taken note of the amount entered upon the
book, and during that time there has been
leaking of over seven hundred dollars Now
who has access to the drawer and the safe 2"
was astonished. / could only assure my
employer that knew nothing OF it; and 1 saw
that he wanted TO believe me. l asked him if
he had spoken of this to any one else. Not
living soul but me, he replied. pondered
few moments and then said
ssMr. Wharton, could / be made to believe
that even ignorantly had wronged you to the
value of dollar, should not feel the perfect
consciousness of honor l now feel. There
must be thief somewhere. Some oil the
clerks may find access to the money. But
are you willing to let the matter rest for a few
days7 will strain every nerve to detect the
evil doer.''
Ia Iv nfa6 fc Lot fry " "a