Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-11-15
The Left-Hauded Thief

"How mauy young man has been injured
aud perhaps ruined by false suspicion" re-.
marked my mercantile friend, al We were con.
vsrsing upon the subject Of the panic, few
evenings since. Suspicion is ike the assas-
sin in the dark. 1t stabs its victim, and hs
knows not whence the blow comes. Or it
may be more like the keen frost which seizes
upon the ears, cheeks or nose. freezing the
flesh or driving back the life.blood and yet
the poor man il totally ignorant Of his situa.
tion till he comes in contact with the heat and
begins to feel the singing pain. But be.
levc never told you Of the only instance of
suspicion Of evil being fastened upon me-"
When a mere youth was placed in the
store Of Jacob Wharton. a merchant doing a
good business. was frugal, industrious and
faithful. and at the age Of twenty-one was
advanced to the post Of book keeper. with a
good salary. tried to do my duty faithfully,
and think succeeded. Mr.. w. was a close,
methodical man, with quick eye and a ready
unders anding of business. and as fancied lie
was satisfied tclt much pleased.
l had been book-keeper for year. when
thought my employers manner towards ME
began 10 change. Hc begun to treat me more
coolly, and finally I 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.
Ono evening when l was alone in the store,
engaged in making up my cash account, Mr..
Wharton came to me with q troubled look,
and spoke. His voice was tremulous, and
could see that he was deeply affected.
"Grorge." said he. :" l am sorry for the
conviction which has been forced upon me
l fear that you have not been treating me as
you should"
managed. in spite Of my astonishment, to
ask what he meant.
IL fear that you are not honest I" was his
reply.
Had thunderbolt fallen at my feet could
not have been more startled.
No, honest! And there l had been for
years making it my chief aim and study how
to serve him most faithfully. do not know
what said tirst-I only know that tears came
to my eyes-,hat my lips trembled-that my
uttrrance was almost checked.
How long had he held such suspicious
asked him aud he said for two months.
"IIeavensw Ycu have suspected me thus
and still left me in the dark After serving
you so long-after giving your interest allmy
energies-after striving for faith and honor
that l might win your esteen-to suspect me
III secret ito look upon mo as Q thief, aud
yet not to tell me! oh, I would not have
believed it !"
"Let us talk this matter over calmly" said
the merchant, his kind old tone coming back.
lie was touched by my agony. aud could
See he was wavering.
l felt at first like telling him that he should
have done this before; but he seemed ready
to reason now, and could find no fault.
"You have spent considerable money Of
late" he began.
"How I" l asked.
"Have you not built house r.
"Yes. sir. and paid for it. too. and thus
given my mother comfortable home.''
Mr.. Wharton was staggered for moment
by my frank and feeling reply, but pretty
soon he asked:
"What did the house cost r.
"Just fifteen hundred dollars. Ny mother
owned the land. And l suppose you would
know where ! got the money. You. sir.
learned mo how to save it. have been with
you six years. The first year you paid me
fifty dollars. and laid up twenty-five Of it.
The second and third years you gave me
hundred dollars and of that / laid up sixty
dollars year. The fourth year you made
me clerk. and gave me five hundred. Ny
mother was able to board me. and a. our little
colt answered for the time. I got along upon
seventy.fve dollars. The next year you paid
me six hundred, on condition that ! would
help keep your books. saved Eve hundred
dollars 81 that. This last year you paid me
ono thousand dollars. and have only spont
the interest Of what had previously invested.
90 that tho thousand was not touched. Of
course my mother has worked, but sue
wished to do it. have paid fifteen hundred
dollars for my house and have Eve hundred
in the savings bank. That Is plain state.
mint Of affairs"
My employer seemed more puszlsd than
before.
"Now," said I. e I have given you an hon
est statement, and you will be equally frank
and tell me all that has happened to excite
this suspicion?"
Il WILL" he replied taking seat near me.
"Withim the last year have lost two
thousand dollars! It must have been taken
from the store. ! know this, for know the
amount Of goods that have been cold. and /
know how much cash have received. ] BE-
gan 10 be watchful about four months since.
Two months ago man paid to me in the At.
ternoon $500. l put it in the drawer and on
the next morning befor~ you came in. l looked
At your cash account and found only 5000 Of
that SGT down. From that time have been
very watchfnl and have detected dosen sim
liar cases. l have noticed every dollar that
came in after the bank account was made up.
and haxa also taken nota of The amount en-.