The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-11-14
The Merchant's Test.


Dick, / am afraid the old man has
taken il into his head 10 send you
adriit. ~
h Why, what can you mean, Philip
Only that he was talking very
earnestly with Mr.. Oglethorpi as i
went into his room just now, and they
ceased very discreetly on my entrance.
} L took tho liberty of waiting outside
the door until the conversation was
resumed, aud L heard, enough to salts
fly me that Oglethorp has nephew
who is about to take your place. ~
What did you overhear2 AsJ +
Merely sentence from each. Ogle-
thorp said So you think my nephew
will have no difficulty in filling the
place OF your head clerk; and Beale
replied. None whatever, and the
other clerk, Philip Warden, has been
in my establishment long time, and
he can give him little insight into
our business affairs, if need be. ! did
not wait TO hear moro. but that is
enough, | should think.
SO it would seem, was the reply, in
tone OF deep dependency.
IL is mean in the old man TO dis
charge you, and equally strange; if it
were me, now, / should not think il
so odd, but he has all along seemed TO
think SO much of you But il IL Just
like him, always doing something out
Of the way. 8di8' .TtHpa ssr1sni d
Richard Wilkins was too sick at
heart to reply. He turned to the
desk and cndcavored to concentrate
his wandering thoughts upon his
work, but in vain. The pen dropped
from his fingers, and leaning his head
on his hand he gave full scope TO his
sorrowful and indignant feelings,
When the gentlemen emerged from
Mr.. Beale's private room, he started
like one guilty Of secret crime, and.
snatohing the pen, he appeared To b.
all absorbed in his duties. v His fur
ried manner so different from bis
usual quiet cOmposure, was noticed by
his employer, who drew his own cons
illusions therefrom. Mr.. r 0glethorp
was returning to his home in Baltf-
more. His friend accompanied him
to the steamboat, and on returning
closely observed his two clerks as he
sauntered back and forth through bis
store. Philips appearance indicated
nothing unusual; but Richard, though
he had partially regained his custom
airy composure, could not prevent q
slight hesitancy and constraint when
replying to Mr.. Beale's remarks.
Several days after, Mr.. Beale
brought Richard a letter to seal and
deposit in the Post Office as he went
70 dinner. At the same time he sent
fhllip to a neighboring store on bust
ness, which would detain him some
niue ume-he then returned TO his
private room. Left to himself. Rich
ara ga7ed on the superscription of the
ietter long and earnestly. I'D. Ogle-
tnrop' ESQ, Baltimore -the words
seemed burned into his brain. What
would ne not give to know the con
tents OF, that lettey2 Doubtless Il i.
lated to the nephew that was 20 s, -
plant him. Richard hesitated turned op
| the letter over and over WIN rn nI
he not glance into it? Il wo so unt
sealed--he would Betraync, cont;da,, ~
BY doing so--most of the business let
ters were given to him to answer ~ 4
certainly TO no oneliving would he re-.
veal the contents, whatever, thew
might be, These reflections overcame
his strong repugnance to the act, and
with trembling hand he opened the
letter and read: 500