The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-12-16
Change for a Bank Note.

evening. He was paying his last visit Il
Marion Gilbert, who was to become Mar
ion Norton tomorrow.
As the two sat together in the twi'
light, murmuripg delicious words Of JOY
and hope, they were interrupted by the
entrance Of a servant with the announce
ment that two gentlemen wished to sec
Mr.. Norton Immediately.
"Tell them they must wait till an
other time" said Archie "that l am
particularly engaged at present"
"But l was to say, sir, IL you please
that the business was very pressing, and
they must SEQ you"
With an impatient gesture Archie fol-
lowed the servant into the passage
where be found himself confronted by
two rough looking men,
"Mr. Norton, suppose 2" one ol
them accosted him.
Archie bowed assent, adding with q
a touch of haughtiness, a request to be
informed of the object of their visit.
"Its along o. that missing money
replied the man, curtly.
1t is necessary to explain that pack.
ct of bank notes, brought by depositor
a few days before to the bank in which
Archie Norton was clerk, had disap.
peared mysteriously from the receiving
teller's desk, and though the most
thorough search had been made, no trace
was found of the lost money.
Suspicion pointed naturally to some
of the employees, but fastened upon mo
particular one. All that could be done
under the circumstances was to procure
complete description of the notes from
the depositor, who, fortunately, had
preserved q memorandum of their de-.
nominations and numbers, and to keep
strict watch through all available ohan-
nels, with q view to discovering by
whom any Of them might be put in cir.
eulation.
The missing money!" exclaimed
Archie "has any clue been gained Of
it7"
There has," the man answered, "and
you're wanted right away"
Archie had been among the most &C.
tive in efforts to solve the mystery, and
expressed his readiness to accompany
his visitors at once and render all the
aid in his power, asking them to wait
till he could step in and excuse his ab-
sence.
"Quite impossible" said the spokes.
man Of the two, in low dogged tone,
at the same time placing his hand on
Archie's arm and leading him out Of
earshot. Cant suffer you out Of our
sight you see."
"Can't suffer me out of you're sight y
"No ; scein as you're our prisoner"
"Your--your prisoner the young
man gasped, stupefed with amazement.
"Yes; and unless you want to make
a scene," rejoined the other, "the best
thing you can do is to come along quiet.
ly."
but What is the charger" asked
Archie "surely l am not suspected"-
! I'VE don't suspect nothin ;" inter.
rupted the officer, (which that aren''
our business, which is only to take youI
body"
Seeing that further parley was useless
with what composure he could command
Archie, after bidding tho servant ex
plain to Miss Gilbert that urgent bust
ness called him away suddenly, accom-
panied his custodians in silence.
At the police Office be learned that 9
note which he had paid out that evening
had been identified as one Of those stoler
from the bank, which fact led to hi
present arrest.
A search was then made Of the pris
oner, in whose pocketbook was found I
number of bank notes. every one o
which was proved, by its pumber ant
other distinctive features, to belong Il
the missing packet.
At this revelation Archie Norton stoot
overwhelmed and speechless. The stun
ming force with which the blow had fall
en- bereit him of all power to make al
explanation, if, indeed, be had any T.
offer.
Next morning l received summon
from the prisoner, with whom l had beel
on terms Of friendly intercourse and on
of whose wedding guests was to be.
found him in his cell, in half-dased, be
wildered state.
"Surely," 1 said, "you must be able t
account for your possession Of the note
found upon you" =.
"Certainly l am" be answered; {"
got them Yesterday from my uncle's OK
ecutor, Mr.. Gordon, in payment Of
legacy. l was too much confused las
night to mention that"
"Mr. Gordon is very methodical ma
Of business" l replied. "and may b
able to identify the notes he paid you
In that case the affair will be easily clear
ed up: for no one will suspect Mr.. Coz
don, and if he remembers from whom
received the notes, not only will you
innocence be established. but clew ma
be gained to the discovery Of the rel
culprit"
"By.the.way," l added sin who's
company were you yesterday after II
ceiving the money from Mr., Gordon ?"
"In'Ralph Grayson's," Unanswered.
"lndeed !" said little astonished
for Ralph Grayson, fellow clerk {
Archie's, had been his rival aspirant I
the hand of Marion Gilbert, and their r,
!. lations had been far from friendly. The
4 you have become reconciled 2"
"Oh, yos,' he replied she cam
home with me yesterday. and RENAME
till started on my visit to Marion"
r uWhera was vour pockethook man,