Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-03-13
Circumstantial Evidence.

You'll have the green baize all off your
desk yet, said old Mr.. Markham to his cash.
ier, STOPPING over and putting his long, lean
fingers upon corner of the covering of the
great desk that curled up exasperatingly.
Why don't you gum it down %
&" I've thought of it half "a dozen times"
said the clerk, looking up.
" But as you didn't do it that doesn't
matter" said Mr.. Markham
The cashier, who was counting some money,
did not even look up.
"When | think of thing | do it, said
Mr. Markham, and reached for the mucilage
bottle. As he did so the cashier suddenly
started up, caught his hat and ran out of the
store, leaving the bills under paper weight.
"What is the matter, wonder z" said
Mr.. Markham. But he gummed his baize
down all the same before he went to the
door to look out. When he had finished he
saw that he had knocked the paper-weight
from the pile of notes the cashier had been
counting, aud replaced it.
."l never knew Moreland to leave his bus
mess like that said he. Hope he hasn't
run mad these dog days
1t was late in the afternoon, indeed. Al
though the sky was still bright, it was alb
soutely evening. The store was partially
shut up, aud the cashier was winding up
affairs for the week by the light that came
through the door, He had sharp, young
Young eyes, and could see better than old
Mr.. Markham did. However it was al
most too dark for him by the time he re-
turned, and Mr.. Markham was growing in-
dignant.
"Well, sir, aud where did you fly with
out word of explanation 7" said the old gen
tIau,au taatilv !. Stupular iuHaaI ll,r -
III beg pardon, I'm sure" said the cashier,
l." really should have said something, but |
saw friend whom | have not seen for
year passing the door, and l--felt-that /
>" and he blushed crimson and stopped.
Z" Not at all busine ,s-like," said Mr.. Mark
ham.
And had finished everything" said the
cashier, putting the pile of notes into the
safe and depositing the book in its proper
place.
~ wish you'd mentioned that | need
not have waited, said the old gentleman
There's my dinner spelling, no doubt"
Then the two went out together. 1t was
a small establishment, and the three clerks
had gone home at the closing hour, and
Mr.. Markham, who was always seriously
offended by anything like neglect of duty
in an employe, went home to dinner, and
over it told the story to his wife.
And ! suppose you saw everything was
right about the money afterward 2" com
mented the lady.
"Why," asked Mr.. Markham, turning pale
Because when a cashier goes flying OFF
that way there may be some reason for it"
said Mrs. Markham.
Bless mel" said her husband {" de
clare it never entered my mind. III go over
and investigate this evening. But what
need could there be of his flying off like
that he'd only awaken suspicion"
Still the thought haunted him, and after
dinner he took his keys aud went to the store
Ten minutes before the cashier had left
the desk he knew all had been correct
doubtless all was correct now, but still he
should sleep better for making sure.
lie lit the gas and opened the safe. In
ten minutes he leaned back, with the per-
spration standing on his forehead.
81 would not have thought it of the young
fellow !" he said, "Dear, dear, I'd never
have thought it of Tom Moreand, never |"
The money in the safe was hundred
dollars short of what it should have been,
There had been hundred dollar bill taken
in that day, which was noticeable, because
of some red ink on one corner and which
had caused some talk, because the lady who
offered it had only bought fifty cents worth
of goods, 1t was this hundred dollar bill
that was gone.
but, perhaps" said old Mr.. Markham,
"perhaps it isn't so. 1t may have fallen on
the floor. 1t may have hidden itself away
in the safe III look. III search carefully.
Good heavens | can't believe this of
Moreland. Why, | knew his poor father /;
as honest man as ever lived. 1t can't be-"
But though Mr.. Markham lit all the gas
in the place, and swept aud busted aud
poked into every corner with the greatest
care, the bill was not found.
lie was forced to own that he must have
been deceived in one in whom he had be
lieved implicitly, and nothing can be sad
der lie was testy old gentleman enough,
but he was good man, and he was grieved,
as Christian should be, at this discovery,