Maryland free press., 1866-11-22
THE REJECTED BANK NOTE.

"what is the price of this dressing gown,
sir2'' asked sweet faced girl, entering the ele-
giant store of Huatey & Warner, in a-city, and
a street Of a city which shall be nameless.
II was cloudy day. The clerks lounged over
the counter and yawued The man to whom
Alice Loke addressed herself was jauuty and
middie-aged. He was head clerk of the extern
sivc establishment of 9untley & Warner, and ex-
trcmely consequential-in manner. .
"This dressing gown we value at six dollars
you shall have it at fve, as trade is dull to-day"
"Five dollars' Alice locked at the dressing
gown, longingly, and the clerk looked at her,
He saw that her clothes though made and
worn genteely, lwere commen enough in texture,
and tina. her face was very much out Of the COM
mon line. How it changed! now shaded, now
lighted, by the varied play of her emotions. The
clerk could almost have sworn that she had no
more than that sum, five dollars, in her posses
| sion. r. H' ' b..
The gown was very good one for the price.
1t was of common shade, a tolerable merino, and
lined with the same material. ....,
III thnk'-she hesitated a mement think
I'll take it, she said; then seeing in the face be-
fore her expression she did not like, she blnsh-
up his mind to take.
"Jennis,' cried Torrent, the head clerk, in a
quick, pompous tone, pass up the bank note de-
tector. -... p'"
| Up ran the tow headed boy with the detecter,
and down ran the clerks eye from column to COL
umn. Then he looked over with sharp glance
and exclaimed:
"That's counterfeit bill, Miss"
Counterfeit Oh, mott cannot be! The
you must be mistaken sir.'
! "I am not mistaken; I'm never mistaken, Miss.
This bill is a counterfeit. / must presume Of
course, that you did not know it. although so
much bad money has been offered US of late that
we intend to secure such persons as pass it. Who
did you say sent it?' ....H
"Mr. G.. sir, of New Ysrk He could
not send me bad money" said the trembling,
frightened girl. rr
Humphl said the clerk. "Wsll there is no
doubt about this; you can look for yourself
Now don't let me see you here again until You
can bring good money, for we always suspect
such persons as you that come on dark days with
well made story a 90 '.."s D.. ,.
"But SIR" villa. "a ui r...
| "You need make no ordinations. Miss, said
the man insultiagy. Take your bill, and next
time you want to buy dressing gown, don't try
to pass your counterfeit money" and as he hand
ed 1T, the bill fell from his hands. r-1I
Alice caught it from the floor and hurried in
| to the street. ,...n ..........r
Such shock the girl had never received. She
hurried to banking establishment, found her
way in, and presented the note to noble look
ing man with gray hair, mltcring out is this bill
a bad, one sir? . ~. s-.., ..as..
The cashier and his son happened to be the on
ly persons present. Both noticed her extreme
youth, be auty, and agitation. ~ '
The cashier looked closely and handed it pack
as with polite bow and somewhat prolonged
look, he said: ,r .-.r-
'Its good bil young lady" ...
knew it was, cried Alice with a quivering
lip-f'and he dared .t tf '..'
She could 60 no farther, but entirely over
come she bent her head, and the not tears had
their way. .-......... ...f.- r. ..r-,
~ beg pardos have you had any trouble with
it?'' asked the cashier.
'Oh, sir, you will excuse me for giving way to
my f6elings-but you spoke so kindly, and felt
so sure that it was good. And think sir, such
men as one of the clerks in Huntley & Warner
should be removed. He told me it was counter
felt, and added something that am glad my
father did not hear. knew the publisher would
not send me bad money! .r'
.."Who is your father, young lady2'' asked the
cashier, becoming iutereste cd. ... -
t'Mr. Ben jamin Lock- SIR"
t'Benjamn-Ben. Lock e-was he ever . clerk
in the Navy Department ut Washington. .i'
Yes sir, We removed from there, replied Alice
"Snce then''-she hesitsted-he has Hot sbeen
well-and we are somewhat reducsd. Oh. why
do tell these things sir?
s'Ben Locke, reduccdl" nurmured the cash.
Ter; ''the man who was the making of mel Give
me his number and street my child. Your f,th-
er was one of the best perhaps the only friend /
had. / have not forgotten him. No. 4 Liberty
me have The bili-let me see-1'I give you an
other. Since come to look, I havn't got five
here's ten, we II make it all right. ro.l..i.
That evening tbs inmates of shabby genteel
/ house received the cashier of the M---Bank,
Mr.. Locke, map of grey hair, rose from his
arm chair, and much affected greeted the amil-
lar face The son of the cashier accompanied
him, and while the elders talked together, Alice
and the young man grew. quite chatty. f,f
eyes sir, have been unfortunate" said Mr..
Locke in low tone. have just recovered as
you see, from rheumatic fever, caused by undue
exsrtion--snd had it not been for that sweet girl
of mine, know not what L should have done.
She, By giving lessons in music and French, and
by writing for periodicals; have kept me, SO far
above want"
You shall not want, my old friend, said the
cashier. 'tIt was kind Providence that sent
YOUR daughter to me. Theresa place in the
bank just made vacant By death of valuable
clerk, and it is at your disposal. 1t is my gift
and valued at twelve hund -ad a year.
Pen cannot describe the joy with which this
| kind oaer WAS accepted. i.. ....r.i 4..,