The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-06-04
THE BOOK.KEEPER'S FRAUD.

1, William Wilder, was in ecstacies.
1 danced and jumped as if L was lu.
natic; and well might, for l had been
out of employment for over year, and
now | had received position as collect.
or for Dobson & Co., wholesale grocers
and commission merchants, which would
pay me a salary of fifty dollars month.
AS l had nobody but myself to look
after, could manage to scrape through
the month and have few dollars foI
pocket money.
Ny desk stood in the front part of the
store, and when my pen was not gallop-
ing along the lines of my paper, OF
flashing up formidable columns OF
figures, which told the story of profits
for Dobson d Co., had a very fine view
of that portion of the street fronting the
store. One rainy day had nothing to
do-collectors never do on rainy days
/ had scribbled my name on scraps of
paper lying loosely around, and my desk
cleaned with "William Wilder" "W.
Wilder" William Wilder, Esq, "Mr.
Wilder" in every style of penmanship.
l had just plunged my pen into the ink
to write civilian" with scientific
employer calling me from his private
Office. l was surprised at this, as he had
never done this before; could it be that
l was about to be dischrgedl What he
had to say was said quickly. 1 was ele-
vated to higher position and salary. /
could not find words to express my graf
itude, but 1 muttered something, and
went back to my desk. L sat there for
some time building castles, and my mind
was soon confused.
"Lannigan & Co.! Three cases
hams ~ was suddenly bawled remorse-
lessly into my ears, and my brain worked
itself back to business.
At intervals, however, and through the
day, was conscious of disturbed con-
dition of my local atmosphere. L was
book-keeper. l certainly never would
be elevated to that position, as 1 did not
know the first thing in that branch.
Could 1 not study itl The thought gave
me courage, and determined to enter a
business college and learn the art. ]
told my plans to the book-keeper; he
had retained the position for years-had
been with them from an early day, and
had charge of all the Office business and
finances of the concern. / had never
fancied him much. There was certain
reserve in his manner which had often
chilled me, and he was extremely
"puffed up" with his lofty position,
rarely deigning to notice me or any OF
the other clerks. 1 often assisted him
in making calculations, or adding up the
columns of figures which he gave me,
and for such service he would reward me
with bunch of cigarettes; but even then
he seldom said word to me.
Through my occasional sojourns In his
Office L became somewhat familiar with
his studies, and learned that he had full
power of attorney for the house, signed
the firms name to bank checks and other
important documents. The two part
ners, Messrs. Dobson & Morrisey, were
men entirely unacquainted with the mys
teries of bookkeeping. They had start
ed in business on a small scale, with 6
small capital, keeping no books. But
their business, in few years, increased
TO such great extent that they found il
impossible to dispense with a book
keeper, so they secured the services OF
Mr.. Baker, who came to them well rec
commended, and, finding things rather
confused, he proceeded to make a thor
ough reconstruction. In few months
he presented to the well-pleased eyes o.
Dobson & Co. splendid set of books
kept in the most approved style Of single