Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-01-11
ought 10 20 TO Mann & Co.'s to see

brand-new set of things for our sit
ting-room, hadn't we, Maria?
Yes, indeed, replied Maria; and
we want some nice pictures for the
walls, too, and | shall look for some
the first opportunity | get.
Well, here comes the carriage,
said Jane, who was ON the watch at
the window. Hadn't / better let my
engagement go, Annie, dear, and ac-
company you?
No, indeed, exclaimed Annie,
tossing heI head; Pm not a.baby.
Annie, with last hurried glance
in the glass, hastened below, and as
the carriage drove to the door, she
was cautioned again and again to be
extremely careful. Taking her seat,
she was driven away at rattling
pace. tr- Heo
Arrived at her destination, the of
fee of the gentleman holding the
money in trust, Annie was ushered
in by clerk.
GUod morning, Mr.. Algerl she
said. 20 .a
All, good morning, Miss Maskall!
responded Mr.. Alger, looking up
from his papers. Come after your
money, eh?
Yes, sir, replied Annie; Pm just
going to paw for onr new house.
Well, ] haven't the money here,
but as you are known at the bank,
I'll draw you a check; and Mr.. AL
ger, taking down his check book,
wrote the required order, and haned
it to Anne; check for the sum of
seven hundred pounds. As the
house was to cost but six hundred,
Annie was to pay that sum for a
deed of the place, and retain the re-
mainder for household expenses.
Shall l send a clerk with you,
Miss Maskall? inquired Mr.. Alger;
that's quite a sum for young lady
to handle.
Oh, no! cried Annie, blushing;
there's not the slightest need. l
shall be very careful. Good day,
sir! and Annie, going to her car
riage,was driven to the B. Bank.
Presenting the check to the cash
ier of the bank, he glanced at her,
recognized her her with q pleasant
word, and, counting out the re-
quired sum. handed it across the
counter.
Annie, clutching the notes tightly
in her hand, hastened down the high
steps, and, taking her seat in the car
riage, was giving directions to be
taken to Mr.. Burchard's, when a
clerk, bareheaded and with pen be-
hind his ear, hurried down the steps,
and, before the coachman had time
to start his horse, was at the car
riage door and accosted Annie.
| beg your pardon, ma'am, but
we neglected to take the numbers of
those notes; if you will allow me
moment, and stretching out out his
hand, he took the roll of notes, and
hurried back into the bank. leaving
Annie waiting for his return.
Annie waited few minutes, and
then grew impatient. With an in
defnable fearin her heart, she bur
ried away to the cashier of the bank.
Are the notes ready for me? she
asked.
Notes, notes; what notes? inquired
the cashier, in surprise.
Wby-I-I-gave the notes you
let me have to clerk, who said he
wished to take the numbers of them.
Gave them to a clerk? cried the
cashier, astonished.
Yes, sir, almost crying.
Then you are robbed! exclaimed
the cashier.
And taking in the situation of af-
fairs from the disjointed remarks of
Annie. he consulted with the mana
ger of the bank as to thebest means
to be employed to catch the thief.
Annie sank in chair in despair;
she felt as if her heart would break.
Here, after all the precautions not
for one moment to let the money
out of her hand, she had lost it
lost it, perhaps beyond hope of re-
covery.
The people of the bank questioned
her closely regarding the manner in
which her money was taken, how
the thief looked, dressed, etc. An
ME, with tear-wet eyes, answered as
best she could; and was promised
that every effort would be made to
catch the thief and recover the mo-
ney, but it was probable, seeing that
he had such a start, having without
doubt at once slipped out at side
door, that it would be a long time
before anything would turn up re-
garding MIN.
1 am exceedingly sorry for your
mishap, condoled the manager, and
| shall spare no expense in trying to
ferret out the rascal.
An ingenius fellow, whoever he
was, observed the cashier; the idea
of representing himself as bank
clerk wasn't bad, and the official
chuckled at the cunning of the
rogue.
Annie tried to dry her tears, and
with sad face and aching heart re-
turned to the carriage, and gave or
ders to be driven home. She had
never before met with such misfOr-
tune, and it completely upset her.
To think, too, that she had given
the money to the man with her free
will, as it were. She could not
restrain her tears, but cried softly to
herself all the way home. She
dreaded to meet her sisters, and
thought how greatly they would
blame her. On arrival she found
both Jane and Maria at home, and
waiting for her.
Have you the deed all right, An
ME? cried Jane, as soon as Annie
had entered. And then, seeing her
sorrowful face, she cried, Why An
ME, what is it, you have it, haven't
you?
o, Jane! cried Annie, throwing
herself on her SISTERS breast and sob-
bing previously; o, don't blame me;
don't, please; l can not bear to hear
you. I-I-have lost the money!
Lost the money! cried Maria, her
face growing pale; why Annie!