Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-31
abe 9aig Spy d01urs, a0l0nesOag 8urimg sup 3d. 1879.

came in here just as was turning the corner.
do not know what brings him back. | saw
him enter with man. Now wish to sec what
he is doing. | will open the door softly, and
we will 90 back and listen"
We entered noiselessly. All was dark and
gloomy, save a single gaslight in the book
keepers Office. We approached the office; the
door was partly open, and we heard the follow
ing conversation:
81 must have money, Baker; you promised
i to me the first. If it is not paid will see the
firm"
Cant you wait till the first of next month";"
''No, will not
''Weh, l will give you the money; here's
check for four hundred dollars. Here-receipt
your bill, and make yourself scarce.
The man went out, followed by Baker, WHO
unlocked and locked the doors. He returned
again to the office, lit another burner, and wrote
for some minutes. He soon got through, thrust
a paper in a spindle, and put the books in the
safe, slamming il with a deafening noise.
81 am through with him, anyhow; must figure
sharp; too many of these things on file"
We heard him say these words 10 himself, In
another minute the gas was turned off and he
went out.
We waited few moments, to make sure that
he would not return, then entered the office, lit
the gas, and were soon ready for work. Mr..
Dobson had duplicate keys of the safe, so he
soon had the books out. | suggested to him to
check the bills with the check book He
opened the book, and CHANGING at the stubs,
said:
"What does this mean? Here's a stub for
S4OO-iuSt the check he gave that man, and
charged TO Stephens & Co. the same amount
their bill for fifty barrels of -four. This is i'm
possible; | didn't buy barrel of -four from
them this month, and | am certain Mr. Morris
sey has not"
/ had been looking for the bill book, and
having found it, nv hand touched a bill of
-four from Stephens & Co., dated the first of the
month
Here's the BILL" 1 said, regularly re-
ceipted."
'Let us see if there are any more of Them"
said Mr.. Dobson.
We soon discovered several bills of that firm,
and entries in the check book to correspond.
"These bills are Frauds" said Mr.. Dobson.
"To morrow shall see Stephens 4 Co., and I'M
earth this deyiltry. Why, it never struck me
that the thing could be worked in this style.
The fellow has been stealing thousands from us.
Had it not been for our evesdropptng, there is
no doubt but we would never have discovered
these frauds as he has managed everything
with reference to external scrutiny"
The next day the bills were taken to Stephens
& Co., by Mr.. Dobson, who Immediately pro-
nounced them forgeries. The writing was
exactly like their bill clerks, and the bill
heads were theirs
Mr.. Dobson's partner was fully advised of the
discovery; he was terribly enraged. Now TO
ensnare Baker was the next thing.
A few days after, Baker was presented with
statement from Stephens Co., with request
to examine it.
THAT has been paid long ago." he said.
81 want to see the account" said Mr.. Dobson.
IL am going to look more into these matters
than have been doing. Mr.. Wilder will help
you"
expressed my willingness. Baker ran over
the leaves of hisiedger till be came to Stephens
& Co.'S page and then said;
Examine the accounts for yourself"
1t was all right. The accounts were checked
up to a nicely; and Baker said
care YOU through. MIR. Dobson, | do not
need any assistance from this young man."
"H0w do you account for this stub in your
check-book, Mr. Bakerp said Mr. Dobson, land
this-and this--Stephens 4 Co., over and over
again, bills for flour we never got, which they
themselves pronounced as forgerieS? Since
you cannot explain these figures, | pronounce
you scoundrel and swndler."
Baker turned pale as death, and leaned heavi-
ly on his desk, and then looked at Mr. Dobson
with terrible eye. He sprang to the safe and
graSped knife which lay there, and looked at
me kissing between his teeth
"YOu cursed imp, you told it! Take thati"
He made plnnge at me with knife, but |
stepped aside with such quicknesS that it did no
damage. Mr.. Dobson leaped upon him. he then
turned the knife upon himself and plunged it
intOhis heart. 1t was a sickening sight 1 hid
my face from it.
"That winds up the affair."" said Mr.. Dobson,
as he looked upon the PROSTATE form.
The whole establishment had thronged to the
scene, and business being disarranged for the
day, the store was closed.
Before left the store the two partners took
me aside and told me, i'll thought was capable,
could take Bakers place.
of we see that YOU are capable of conducting
the business, we will give you yearly salary of
two thousand dollars. We wish you to keep
every thing in order, so that we may easily ex-
anime your books for reference, when neces-
sary."
| thanked them and said would use my best
endeavorS to keep the books in order.
entered upon my duties the next day. and
succeeded in pleasing my employers. To-day
run the entire business, and my employers have
promised to take me into partnership next
year.
This, reader, is my simple story, which is no
romance, but true tale, though the incidents
were kept secret, none ever knowing why Mr..
Baker committed suicide.