Maryland free press., 1866-11-22
NUMBER 80
THE REJECTED BANK NOTE.


"what is the price of this dressing gown,
sir2' asked a sweet faced girl, entering the ele-
giant store of Huutley & Warner, in aeity, and
a street of a city; which shall be nameless.
1t was cloudy day. The clerks lounged over
the counter and yawued. The man to whom
Alice Loke addressed herself was jaunty and
middle-aged. He was head clerk of the extern
sivc establishment of 9unley & Warner, and e1-
tremely consequential-in manner.
"Ths dressing gown we value at six dollars
you shall have it at five, as trade is dull to-day"
olive dollarsl" 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. 81 ~ .'
The gown was very good one for the price.
1t was of common shade, a tolerable merino, and
lined with the same material. ....tf
'T think"-she hesitated msment, think
IL nhe DIV eniuI tuSh SeeihS III tlc iaCe ue-
fore her expression she did not like, she blnsh
ed as she handed out the bill the clerk had made
up his mind to take. ..-
"Jennis," cried Torrent, the head clerk, in a
quick, pompous tone, pass up the bank note de.
tector. ''
Up ran the tow headed boy with the detecter,
and down ran the clerks eye from column to col
hoI rod MA sl,o ella
and exclaimed
''That's counterfeit bill, Miss"
Counterfeit Oh, not cannot be! The
man who sent it could not have been so careless
you must be mistaken SIR" .
81 am not mistaken; I'm never mistaken, Miss.
This bill is q counterfeit. l 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?P ........f
"Mr. G.. sir, of New York. He could
not send me bad money" said the trembling,
frightened girl. 1907 t
Humph! said the clerk. "Well 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" o., '.7"H~ B. 81
"But sir-' rl... d. rir..s
"You need make no ordinations. Miss said
the man insutingly. .'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.a'l
Alice caught it from the floor and hurried in.
to the street. .....l, ....-t.....r -... rI
Such a shock the girl had never received. She
hurried to a banking establishment, found her
way in, and presented the note to a noble look
ing man with gray hair, mltcring out, is this bill
bad one sir? -r ~ .-..a asr.. .
The cashier and his son happened to be the on
| ly persons present. Both noticed her extreme
youth, be auty, and agitation. J. ."
The cashier looked closely and handed il pack
as with polite bow and somewhat prolonged
look, he said: ..f...,..r-
'It's good bill, young lady" -.. ,.
| knew it was, cried Alice, with quiverine
| lp-'tand he dared" '.A y '.'
She could 60 no farther, but entirely over
come, she bent her head, and the not tears had
their way. ... t.-.'., ..,s.
'T beg pardon; have you had any trouble with
it?'' asked the cashier.
| "Oh, sir, you will excuse me for giving way t.
my fcelings-but YOU spoke SO kindly, and fel
so sure that it was good. And think sir, sucl
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 woult
not send me bad money" .a ID
| .t"Who is your father, young lady2' asked th'
cashier, becoming interested. .... .,...' 4
"Mr. Benjamin Lock, SIR"
N'Benjamin-Ben Lock e-was he ever . clerl
in the Navy Department at Washington. tae''
Yes sir, we removed from there, replied Alice
"Since then'-she hesitsted-he has not Sbeen
well-and we are somewhat reduced. Oh, VIII,
do tell these things sir?
oBen Locke, reducedl" murmured the cash
ier; .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. 1 have not forgotten him. No. Liberty
street. Twill call this evening. Meantime lei
me have The bill-let me seeA1ll give you an
other. Since come to look, I havn't got fivs
here's ten, We'll make it all right. nos
That evening tbs inmates of a shabby gentee
house received the cashier of the M---Bank
Mr.. Locke, a map of grey hair, rose from his
arm chair, and much affected, greeted the famil-
lar face. The son of the cashier accompanied
him, and while the elders talked together, Alice
and the young man grew quite chatty. ~
eyes sir, have been unfortunate" said Mr
Locke in low tone. have just recovered al
you see, from rheumatic fever, caused by undu,
exertion--abd 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. 'It was o kind Providence that sent
your daughter to me. Theresa place in th'
bank just made vacant By death offs valuabl,
clerk, and it is at your disposal. 1t is my gif
and valued at twelve hund 'ad a year.
Pen cannot describe the joy with which this
kind offer was accepted. hos r',.a.'g-F ta