The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-11-10

and cast glance over his shoulder He
was holding the cheque In his hand at the
time, and after giving me an argry side
stare, thrust it iato his drawer. | took
the rebuff quietly, as | knew deserved it,
and returned to my seat.
\ few days had passed, when one even
ing, just as We were about TO close the
Office, we were electrified by passionate
outburst from cid Penny packer directed
against j John Barrett. Fof some minutes
none Of US understood the matter but at
last, through the invectiyes Of Ephram
and the explanations of gentleman who
had entered with him, it came out that
John had paid forged cheque for eight
thousand dollars, bearing the name OF
Abendroth & Co., one of our largest de-
positors. The forgery had beeu discov-
cred on the monthly return of cheques TO
that house, and the spurious paper now
lay on Johns desk, apparently striking
him speechlcss. When he could find
tongue, it was to tell that this was the
cheque presented by the lady some days
before and as it was drawn to the order
Of Mes>rs. Abendroth & Co., and endorsed
in their usual manner, he had felt no doubt
about the propriety Of paying it. The
forgery had been neatly executed there
could be no doubt of that. In those days,
even some very large houses-that OF Aben
droth 4 Co. among others-did not have
cheques printed especially for their own
use, but avaIled themselves OF such as were
TO be found at the stations. | shall never
forget the rage Of old Pennypacker lie
showed 1t in every way short of using his
fists upon the unfortunate eulprlt. lie
had just method enough in his madness
not 20 do that.
This affair upset the equanimity of the
establishment for a week. John was
haniShed to an inferior position, and un-
der hrca; Of having his whole salary cut
off for a hundred ears-foT nothing less
than that could have made good the loss
was kept close prisoner at the desk, ex-
cCpt when summoned (as was also fre
quently my own case) before all inqusitor>
lal board consisting OF Pennypacker and a
corps OF detectives On such occasions we
were called upon to repeat the descrip-
tions we had 80 often given of the woman
who had presented the cheque In these de.
scriptious John aud did not agree but
as it was supposed that he had enjoyed a
better opportunity of seeing her, ana had
more interest IN her detection than |, his
account seemed to carry the most weight.
However, no clue was found, and in a few
months John was restored to his former
position, for well old rennypacker knew
that be could get no one Of equal ability
at the same salary. The forged chcque was
fled away in the archives Of the establish
ment, and the affair ceased to be discussed.
Now cones the second event IN my
story. | have spoken Of Lydia Penny
packer. but have not mentioned that
always knew that John Barrett was very
fond OF her, and took every opportunity to
show 1t when her father was out 0! the
way. In fact, it was about the only sub
inct upon which John was not taciturn,
and upon that he would talk with me for
hours il gave him chance which did
not often do, for | liked Lydia myself,
though not in the way John did, but
rather in brothCriy manner. | could not
say that Lydia liked him on the contrary,
| thought she repused him at every OPP
por unity Sc much so sometimes as to
excite his deepest ire, and draw forth, in
The solitude of our chamber, threats did
not like to hear, but feared to resent. Then
considered that John was fine young
man, ana likely to rise IN the wcrld be
lug steady and industrious, and | could
noi like him, unless the fact that | had
seen her many times IN the street esre-
cia.ly on tie way homc from church, with
handsome young Scotchman, an engineer,
named Alexander Graham, had some>
one evening, and the blush and faint laugh
which we're her only reply went a good
way TO confirm M suspicious. As the
!, r.
auent, IL dia's dislike to John and her
disgust with home were more plainly ex-
pressed. Trouble was raising, and
one night it eliminated in a conten
tion between father aud daughter
heard all through the house, and end
lug in the sound OF blows. | stood
trembling at the loot OF the stairs, and in
a few moments down rushed the girl,
with hair, r,,dj,hovelcd and dress torn, making
straight for the street door. 1t was but
iit;lc after clark, and was the only one Of
the clerks left IN the house. | caught her
in my arms, but she tore herself fiercely
away, eZciaiming:
Let me go! The last blow is struck
that II ever bear
"N here are you gOlng?
''Anyxhere! anyv here so that l get
away from this accurSed place.
still struggled to hold her, and after
few moments she seemed to relent; sud
denly bursting into tears, she caught my
hand and said:
''Oh no was wrong to speak so, for
you have always been kind to me, but |
must go.
I drew her to me. trembling al, the
whilc-nOt with passion, but from fear Of
old Ephraim coming upon us-and tried
every persuasion to make her torego her
purpose. | pictured the perilS of young
girl going forth into the world penniless
and with no means to earn her bread
For time she vas resolute, and no words
could dissuade her. even though, as she
owned she was going to certain ruin. God
help me! what could do for her with my
teggallv two hundred year? just enough
to provide NE with sclothes and such ne
ces>aries as old Ephraim did not comprise
in his stingy tariff At last | exacted a
promise from her that she would go to her
room and put off her intention till morn
ing, when We mis.' consider the situation
more calmly. So parted from her, dry
ing her tears with my handkerchief, and
kissing her as she went away. That night
| loved Lydia PenDypacker we'll enough to
have made her my wlfe-an act of pure
madness, for | was then only