The weekly clarion., 1876-11-01
Chores
THE REJECTED BANK NOTE.

gown, sir?" asked sweet-faced girl, en-
termg the elegant store of Huntley &
/ Warner, in a city and 4 street of a city
/ which shall be nameless.
s~Is- eloadv-da The clerks
lounged over the counters and yawned.
The man to whom Alice Locke addressed
herself was jaunty and middIe-aged. He
was head clerk of the extensive establish
ment of Huntley & Warner, and extreme
ly consequential in manner
This dressing gown is valued at six
| dolars-you shall have it for Eve, as
trade is dull to-day"
Five dollars !" Alice looked at the
dressing gown longingly, and the clerk
Looked at her He saw that her clothes,
Though made and worn genteelly, were
common enough in texture, and that her
face was very much out OF the common
line. How it changed now shaded, now
lighted by the varied play of her emo
tins. The clerk must almost have sworn
that she had no more than that sum, five
dollars, in her possession.
The gown was very good one for the
prce. 1t was OF common shade, toler-
able merino, end lined with the same
material.
Il think"-she besitated IA moment
81 think [ shall take it., she said then
seeing in the face before her an express
sion She did not like, she blushed as she
handed him the bill the clerk had made
up his mind not to take.
"Jennis, cried Torrent, the head
clerk, in quick, pompous tone, ''pass
up the bank note detector."
Up ran the tow-headed boy with the
detector and down ran the clerks eye
from column to column. Then he
looked over with a sharp glance ard ex-
claimed: 'Thafs q counterfeit, Miss.
Counterfeit Oh, 40, it cannot be
careless you must be mistaken, sir"
Il am not mistaken Pm never mis-
taken, Miss This bill is counterfeit /
must presume, of course, that you did not
know it; although so much bad money
has been offered us of late, that we in
tend to secure such persons as pass it.
Who did you say sent it?
+" Mr. c., of New York He could
not send me bad money!" said the tremb-
bling, frightened girl.
"Humphw said the clerk Well,
there's no doubt about this; you can
look for yourself. Now don't let me see
you here again until you can bring good
money, for we always suspect such per
sons as you, that come on dark days with
well made story"
"But, sir"
You need make no explanations,
Miss" said the clerk, insultingIy. Take
your bill, and the next time you want to
buy dressing gown, don't try to pass
your counterfeit money!" and as he hand
ed it the bill fell from his hand.
Alice caught it from the floor and hur-
ried into the street.
Such shock the girl had never ex-
perienced. She hurried to banking es-
tablishment, found her way in, and pre-
sented the note to noble-looking man
with gray hair, faltering out, I" Is this
bill bad one, sir?'
The cashier and his son happened to
be the only persons present. Both no.
tIced her extreme youth, beauty and agi-
tation.
The cashier looked closely and handed
it back, as, with polite bow and some
what prolonged look, he said:
1T is good bill, young lady"
81 knew it was" cried Alice, with a
quivering lip-"and he dared"
She could 90 no farther, but, entirely
overcome, she bent her head, and the hot
tears had their way.
81 beg pardon--have you had any
| trouble with it," asked the cashier.
"Oh, sir, you will excuse me for giving
way to my feelings--but you spoke SO
kindly, and | felt SO sure it was good.
And think, sir, such men as one of the
clerks in Huntley & Warmers should be
removed He told me it was counterfeit,
and added something | am glad my father
did not hear. | knew the publisher
would not send me bad money"
Who is your father, young lady 2
asked the cashier, becoming interested.
Mr.. Benjamin Locke, sir.
Benjamin Locke-Ben Locke-was
he ever a clerk in the navy department,
at Washington ?"
Yes, Sir; we removed frorl there, y
replied Alice. +" Since then she hesi-
tated-'' he has not been well-and we
are somewhat reduced. Oh, why do ]
tell these things, sir ~
Ben Locke reduced :" murmured the
cashier; the man who was the making Of
me! Give me his number and street, my
child. Your father was the best, perhap:
the only friend 1 had. have not for
gotten him. No. i, Liberty street.
will call this evening. Meanwhile let me
have the billet me see, I'll give you
another. Since I've come to look,
haven't got a five; here's a ten; wei
: make it all right"
That evening the inmates of shabby
{ genteel house received the cashier of the
M Bank. Mr.. Locke, man o
l gray hair, though numbering but ift,
years, rose from his chair, and, mucl
: affected, greeted the familiar face. Th
: son of the cashier accompanied him, anC
t while the elders talked together, Alic
: and the young man grew quite chatty.
/ " Yes, sir, have been unfortunate,
r said Mr.. Locke in low tone. " | hav
c just recovered, as you see, from rheu
e matte fever, caused by undue exertion-
I and had it not been for that sweet girl o
r mine, I know not what | should hav
+ done. She, by giving lessons in musi
: and French. and writing for periodicals
j has kept me, so far, above want. F"
!. You shall not want, my old friend,
said the cashier. g It was kind Prov
idence that sent your daughter to me
n There's a place in the bank just mad
r vacant by the death of valuable clerk
d and it is at your disposal. 1t is my gift
e and valued at twelve hundred year."
o Pen cannot describe the joy wit
J which-this kind cffer was accepted. Th
day Of deliyerance had come.