Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-07-25

| DOu
The Rejected Bank Note.
"What is the price of this dressing gown,
sir?" asked sweet-faced girl, entering the
store of Huntley & Warner, in city and
street which shall be nameless. It was a
cloudy day.
The clerks lounged over the counters and
yawned. The man to whom Alice Lake ad-
dressed herself was jaunty and middle
aged. He was the head clerk, and extremely
consequential in manner
"This dressing gown VIC value at six dol
lars-you shall have it at five as trade is dull
to-day" Five dollars" Alice looked at
the gown longingly, and the clerk looked at
her. He saw that her clothes were made
and worn genteely, were common enough,
and that her face was out of the ordinary
line. How it changed NOW shaded, now
lighted up by the varied play of her emotion.
The clerk could almost have sworn that she
| had not more than the requisite five dollars
in hel possession. The gown was very
good one for the price.
81 think, . hesitating moment, al
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 not to
take.
Jennis," cried Torrent, the head clerk,
in pompous, quick tone, "pass up that
bank-note detector."
Up ran the tow-headed boy with the de-
column to column. Then he looked over
with sharp glance and exclaimed:
"Thats counterfeit bill, Miss"
Counterfeit! Oh, no, it cannot be! The
man who sent it could not have been so care
less you must be mistaken, sir"
IL am not mistaken; am never mistaken,
Miss. This bill is counterfeit. | must pre-
sumo, of course, that you did not know it,
although SO much bad money has boon of
tered us of late, that we intend to secure
| sucb persons as use it. Who did you say
sent it?"
"NIr. C, sir, of New York. He
could not send me bad money" said the
trembling, frightened girl.
"Humph /" exclaimed the clerk. Well,
there's no doubt about this; you can sec fol
Yourself Now don't let me see you here
again until you can bring good money, fol
we always suspect such persons as you thai
come on dark days with well-made III
story"
"But, sir,-"
uYou need make no more explanations
Miss" said the clerk, insultingly. "Tak'
your bill, and the next time you want to bu,
a dressing gown, don't try to pass your coun
, terleit money and as he handed it back
the bill fell from his hands.
Alice caught it from the floor and hurrie
into the street.
!, Such a shock the girl had never received
She hastened to banking establishment
d and, pressing her way in, presented the not
6 to noble-looking man with gray hair, Ia
d tering out "Is this good bill, sir?"
y The president and his son happened
l. be the only officers of the bank present.
,e Both noticed her extreme beauty and agit'
II ton.
a "It is good bill, young lady,"
'r "I knew it was" cried Alice, with qui
IN ering lip, "and he dared"
She could go no further, but, entire
is overcome, she bent her head, and the h
tears had their wey.
81 beg your pardon, but have you h
to any trouble with it? said the president.
to "You will excuse me, sir, for giving W
u to my feelings, but you spoke SO kind
raj and | was so certain the bill was good. A
Ia think, sir, such men as one OF the clerks
ar Huntlcy & Warmers should be removed
ne He told me it was counterfeit, and ado
'c- something am glad my father did not he
is- l knew the publisher would not send
'ca bad money"
icy "Who is your father?" asked the pr
ius dent, becoming interested.
benjamin Locke, sir.
ald BENJAMIN Locke--Ben Locke-was
her ever a clerk in the Navy department
Is Washington?
$ a Yes, sir, he removed from there,
plied Alice, ''and since then has been
leir we'll and n-she hcsitated-" we are SO
, of what reduced Oh, why do l tell IL
'eT, things?"
she "Ben Locke rcduced!" murmured
her president; '.the man was the maxim
ngc me! Give me his number and street,
ON, child Your father was the best, perl
lied the only true friend had. have not
I'd it gotten him. No. 4. Liberty street. I'll
day this evening Meantime let me have
or a bill--lct me see, I'll give you another.
N OF have come to look, haven't got any
here's ten; well make it all right.
| off. That evening the inmates of sh
1t lie gcnteel house received the president o
pay III Bank. Mr.. Locke, man
shall dark hair, tho numbering about fifty y
rose from his arm chair, and, much affe
Tom erected the familiar face, The presto
18th son accompanied him, and while the
nto a talked together, Alice and the young
lblin, grew quite chatty.
,dale. eyes, sir, have been unfortunate,
t the Mr.. Locke, in low tone. 81 have, a
quite see, Just recovered from rheumatic
pride, caused by undue exertion, and, had
nth n been for that girl of mine, know not