Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-11-20

the funds of the house have mysteri-
ously disappeared.
"What: Say that again boy.''
The young man repeated his words,
and added:
lone afternoon while you were alb
sent East, placed $3.50 in the safe, and
the following morning SIS were miss
ing"
You have committed an error in
counting, possibly"
IF | cannot count money correctly
when it is before my eyes deserve to
be thrown out of employment" said
the youth, in an insulted tone. "Sev-
eral times during your absence have |
roticed the pecuiatiOns of some un-
known person."
who had access to the safe?''
II held the keys, sir" answered
Phillip quickly. Il have not missed
them for single moment. But the
safe has been opened by keys
Andreas Harley dropped his head in
deep thought, while the clerk stepped
TO his desk and summed up various col
umns OF figures on the back of an en-
yelope which he drew from an inner
pocket.
''Three hundred dollars have been
purloined within four weeks said
Lee, turning from his desk.
''lt staggers me-" returned Harley.
''but we will watch the thief. and if We
catch him he shall have his reward"
The merchant began buttoning his
coat, and the clerk walked from the
room. Andreas Harley heard him
close and lock the outside door OF the
store, and then stepped toward the
desk, his dark eyes fixed upon an OBJ
ject which lay thereon.
Itwas an envelope upon which Philip
Lee had been figuring.
IN look at his figures" he MUIR
INJURED, but the next moment he turned
the envelope and stared at the super
scriptiOn. Ii was merely ''Phillip Lee,
Present." but the chirography startled
the merchant. Those delicately formed
letters he had encountered before. And
after closing the counting-roOm door.
he half fearfuHy drew the letter from
its hiding place.
For moment his eyes remained fixed
upon the brief communication, when
he started from the desk, while some
thing like an oath fell from his lips.
$50, Miss Maumee Martini" he said.
hurting the letter TO the floor and ga
zing angrily at it, ''you possess lover
beside Andreas Harley. Girl-woman
i will not supmit to this. Ifyoupre-
fer the employe to the employer. you
must hunt another home. But by the
heavens, you shall not wed him as he
stands before the world now. He has
held the keys 10 the safe. He has
robbed it, The crime shall be fastened
upon him. Harley's chances do not
look so bright now, but fancy that a
little sternness will bring the girl to
terms. She's a beggar now, almost.
Does she want to marry another!"
Then he picked the letter up. read it
again, and placed it on the desk where
the youth had left il.
The contents of the missive did not
amount to much. 1t was merely a re-
ply to one which, during business
hours. Phillip Lee had sent her, but the
appellation of "DeAr Phillip" had
opened mine of information TO An
dreas Harley. He had never encoun-
tered his clerk at the home of the Mar
tins. They had spoken of him but once
or twice, and then casually, and he had
suspected nothing until the letter was
thrown in his way.
Several days of quiet preceded the
bursting of the storm.
Clerk and employer encountered each
other often, but no unusual words
passed between them. 1t was evident
that Andreas Harley was displeased at
something. but he took care 10 conceal
his displeasure as much as possible.
The night following the one that wit
messed the scene in the counting-room
described above witnessed the robbery
of the safe.
This time $50 were distracted, and
Andreas Harley called one of the clerks
Theodore Mason, to his side, and ac-
auaInted him with the facts.
Mason, upon being asked if he sus-
pected anybody, said
.Leer'
The merchant started at the announce
ment, but a flush of triumph stole to his
temples.
81 saw Lee standing by the store last
Eight at eleven, while | was going home
from the club" continued Mason, evin-
cling an eagerness to unburden himself
of something that prayed upon his
mind. ''He did not speak as passed
him. but perhaps he did not see me, as
il was raining and he carried his UNI
brella Iowa little lower than was ne
cessary, fancy"
II am on the right trail," said An
dreas Harley, exultingly. And yet, y
feigning a sorrowful tone, Il do not
want to think the purloiner is Phillip
Lee"
Nor do l." said Mason; "but cir
eumstances condemn him. could tell
YOU more. Mr.. Harley, but / do not
like to speak against Phillip"
Ancreas Harley persuaded Theodore
Mason to unburden his mind much
further concerning Phillip Lee, and
that night the accused clerk found him.
self in the clutches of the law.
The arrest was so quietly conducted
that the public was unaware OF the
transaction until the morning papers
placed it before their eyes.
Flushed with triumph, Andreas Har-
lev. on the morning following Phillip
Lees arrest, fastened to the home OF
sj,e Martins. He often made such call'
On his way TO the store. and this morn
inc he found the bankrupt's family
pieas d TO see him.
Mal,mee was in the parlor preparing
| = L. .t,sS in music and Andrea.