Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-01-31

| eye IIOul column TO cOluMn. l0e0
be looked up with sharp glance,
/ and exclaimed: z
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; I'm never
mistaken. Miss. This bill is coun-
terfeit. must presume, of course,
that you did not know it, although
50 much bad money has been offered
to us of late that we intend to secure
such persons as pass it. Who did
you say sent it"
MIR. B, sir, of New York.
He could not send me bad money"
said the trembling girl.
"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 me good money, for we always
suspect such persons as come on
dark days with a we'll made story"
"But sir
"You need make no explanations,
Miss" said the man insultingly.
"Take your bill, and the next time
you want a dressing gown, don't try
to pass your counterfeit money" and
as he handed it, the bill fell from
| his hands.
Alice caught it from the aoor and
hurried into the street. qa
} Such a shock the girl had never
received. She hurried to banking
establishment, found her way in,
and presented the note to noble.
looking man with gray hair, faltering
out, sis this bill bad one, sir p
The cashier and his son happened
to be the only persons present. Both
noticed her extreme youth, beauty
and agitation.
The cashier looked closely and
handed il back, as with polite bow
and somewhat prolonged look, he
said:
"It's good bill. young lady"
Il knew it was" cried Alice, with
quivering lip-"and he dared"
She could go no further, but en-
tirely overcome, she bent her head,
and the hot tears had their way.
Il beg pardon, have you had any
trouble with it ?" asked the cashier
"Oh, sir, you will excuse me for
giving way to my feelings-but you
spoke SO kindly and l felt sure that
it was good. And l think, sir, such
men as one Of the clerks in Huntley
& Warmers should be removed. He
told me it was counterfeit, and added
something that am glad my father
did not hear. / knew the publisher
would not send me bad money"
"Who is your father, young lady Z"
asked the cashier, becoming inter-
ested.
"Mr. Benjamin Locke, sir"
"Benjamin-Ben. Locke-was be
ever a clerk in the Navy Depart
ment at Washington 2"
"Yes, sir, we removed from there"
replied Alice. "Since them she
hesitated-"he has not been we'll
and we are somewhat reduced. Oh,
why do tell these things, sir Z"
ben. Locke reduced =! MUIR
INJURED the cashier; "the man who
was the making Of me 4! Give me his
number and street, my child. Your
father was one of the best, perhaps
the only friend I had I have not
forgotten him. No. 4 Liberty street.
| will call this evening. Meantime
let me have the bill--let me see
III give you another. Since 1 have
come to look, / havn't got five
here's ten; we'll make it all right"
That evening the inmates of a
shabby genteel house received the
cashier Of the NJ Bank. Mr.. |
Locke, a man of gray hair, though |
numbering but fifty years, rose from
his armchair and, much affected, |
greeted the familiar face. The son
of the cashier accompanied him, and
while the elders talked together,
Alice and the young man grew quite
chatty.
Eyes, sir. I have been unfortu-
nate" said Mr.. Locke, in low tone.
81 have just vered, as you see,
from rheumatic fever, caused by un-
due exertion; and 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 periodi-
Gals, has kept me, so far, above
want"