Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-11-23
+ THE REJECTED BANK NOTE.

{" What is the price of this dressing gown,
sir?' asked sweet-faced girl, entering the
elegant store Of Huntley 4 Warner, in a
city, and street Of a city which shall be
nameless. aGGt
1t was a cloudy day. The clerks lounged
over the counter and yawned. The man to
whom Alice Locke addressed herself was
jaunty and niddle-aged. He was head clerk of
the extensive establishment of Huntley &
Warner, and extremely consequential
manner
''This dressing gown we value at six dol
lars-you shall have it at five, as trade is dull
to day
g Five dollars" Alice looked at the dress
ing gown longingly, and the clerk looked at
her. He saw that her clothes though made
and worn genteelly, were common enoughin
texture, and that her face was very much out
Of the common 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 possession.
The gown was very good one for the
price 1t was Of common shade, a tolerable
merino, and lined with the same material.
II think she hesitated moment, Il
think I'll take it," she said then seeing in
the face before her an expression she did not
like, she blushed 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 detector."
Up ran the tow headed boy with the detec-
tor, and down ran the clerks eye from col
umn to column. Then he looked over with
sharp glance, 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"
II am not mistaken Pm never mistaken,
Miss. This bill is counterfeit. | must
presume, of course, that you did not know
it, although so much bad money has been Of
fered us Of late that we intend to secure such
persons as pass it. Who did you say sent
it?"
"Mr. c., sir, of New York He
could not send me bad money" said the trem-
bling, frighted girl.
"Hump p said the clerk |Well, there's
no doubt about this; you can look for your
self Now don't let me see you here again
until you can bring good money, for we al
ways suspect such persons as you that come
on dark days with well made story"
but, sir"
"You need make no EXPLANATIONS, Miss,
said the man insultingly. !" Take your bill,
and next time you want to buy dressing
gown, dom try to pass your counterfeit mon
ey," and he handed it, the bill fell from his
hands
Alice caught it from the floor and hurried
into the street.
Such shock the girl had never received
She hurried to a banking establishment
found her way in, and presented the note te
noble looking man with gray hair, falterine
OUT ''is this bill bad one, sir p
The cashier and his son happened to be
the only persons present. Both noticed hel
extreme youth, beauty, and agitation.
The cashier looked closely and handed il
back, as with polite bow and somewha
prolonged look, be said: o
Its good bill, young lady"
81 knew it was" cried Alice, with aquiv
ering lip and he dared
She could go no farther, but entirely over
come, she bent her head, and the hot tear
had their way.
/ II beg your pardon, have you had an,
trouble With it? asked the cashier.