The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-02-01
The Cipher Dispatch.
RY snLAS c. DICKINSON.

afterward servant made his appear
ance at the door Of. my private apart
ment, and announced that a visitor
wished TO see me.
who is it, Thomas asked.
al don't know as who it is, replied
the servant. STRESSED fashionable
and didn't say his name, sir, and is a
young chap. think as may be it's a
young Teller for the clerkship as you
wanted. Hows' ever he didn't say,
sir"
VERY we'll, Thomas" said |. "iou
may show him into the parlor, and |
will be down presently.
The servant accordingly withdrew,
md soon afterward | descended into the
s;ting-room, where sat a fine-looking
young man, aged % or Whereabouts, who
Immediately arose upon my entrance
AID stood by his chair in an attitude OF
the most profound respect.
Good morning, sir" said !. you
wished to see me, | believe.
"Yes sir" said he, becoming seated
again as | took chair; Il owe an
apology for the inconvenience to which
| have subjected you by 50 early an in
trusion"
THE inconvenience is so slight as not
to require an apology" said I. Pray
proceed.
81 saw your advertisement for a
bookkeeper, and wishing to engage my
self in that capacity, called to see about
it" he said II can give uneXceptiona-
bic reference as to my ability, and with
me large salary is not so much deslr-
ed as good straightforward situation.
1t came over me as he sat there with
his eyes rowing all'over the room, talk
ing in the same even, unchanging voice
As he did, that this man hal learned his
speech by heart, and was delivering
himself of certain prescribed form
without any idea what it meant while
his mind was busy with an inspection
of the contents Of the apartment-or
that he was like some wooden talking
machine with no feeling in what he
said, and he himself entirely disconect-
ed from it.
who are your references asked.
Lindsay, Weed, Storms Il Co., he
said, giving his handkerchief another
turn IL was their assistant bookkeeper
for six months, and during that time
fulfilled the position with ability and TO
the credit Of all concerned.
Very well, said |, rising; YOU may
call around to my office at nine o clock,
and perhaps we may effect some ar
rangement.
With a parting glance all over the
room, which included everything but
myself, he bowed himself backward
out of the door and vanished.
That morning, on my way to my place
of business, | called on the importing
establishment of Lindsay, Weed,
Storms q Co., and ascertained that
what the young man had said in refer
ence to himself was strictly true; there
fore, when he made his appearance at
my office promptly at nine o clock, en-
gagged him Immediately and he entered
upon his duties forthwith. $3.50
He was, confess the best penman
| had ever seen, and being thoroughly
acquainted with the art of double-entry
bookkeeping, filed the position for
which | had employed him with entire
satisfaction to myself Aside from his
work, there was something about the
Young man | did not exactly like-a
peculiar, reserved way with him that,
during his stay with me, | never under
stood, and ! suppose | might always
have remained in ignorance concerning
its meaning had not the circumstance
am about to relate thrown some light
upon his true charscter.
One forenoon about two weeks after
the engagement Of my new clerk l had
occasion, while he was absent, to go TO
his desk and saw, lying on the floor,
| Justly beneath it, a half sheet of fools
cap paper on which were inscribed, in
my bookkeepers handwriting, the fol-
lowing characters, which appeared to
constitute key to some secret record or
correspondence;
II - , IL Il ; 7 Is l9
q s . 20 e a 3 : p . . 10
y y II 10 % y Is
"a ' w x V n
! On what slight incidents are great
events often based carelessly put the
piece OF paper into my pocket, where IT
Law for months, forgotten by myself, TO
be brought forth at least as1he lnstru'
ment wherewith two great Williams were
brought to justice, and as the means by
which | was saved the loss Of large
sum of money. ~.
One day, after the banks had closed,
| was paid the sum Of three thousand
dollars which placed within drawer
in my small office safe, intending. 1t
should remain there over night, and the
next day I would put it on deposit.
Gamnet (my new clerk was present
and appeared very observant Of what
was doing-following my every mo-
ton with an eager, nervous, excited
glance, which, although it attracted my
attention at the time, did not impress
me as matter Of much Importance. and
was soon out of my mind though after
ward had cause to remember it very
distinctly.
"Gamnett,' said I, as swung to the
safe door, locked it carefully, and put
the KEY in my pocket. (Bv the way I
NAV as well state here that l was the
only one who had key "Gamnett,
YOU know, OF course, about the money,
and to insure its safety | wish Won
would do me favor.
II am ready to oblige at any moment
the present none the less. said he,
"Weil, them said I, II would like
to have Won sleep in the office all night