Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-04-10

turp my back and leave her tired,
troubled heart to break or not as It
might. l was neither a priest nor q
Levite to find n ready excuse for
passing by on the other side. Yet
what could I do =? George Gilbert
had been sent on collecting tour
and had gambled away money re
celved for his employers. 1t was
plain case Of embe2zlement, and the
penalty was a term of years In the
States prison.
81 am sure he never meant to be
dishonest" " pleaded the loyal little
woman che was tempted by a
crafty and designing man, but in
stead of running away, rs others
would have done, he came back and
confessed his fault, Offering to let
his whole salary 60 towards making
Up the lost money till every cent
was paid. Mr.. Meek, the junior
partner, was willing to be merciful,
but Mr.. Mangle, the head of the
house, who just returned then after
a years absence, insisted that ihe
law should take its course"
~ gave her what poor conSola-
ton conld, for lawyers, like doc
tors, must keep their patients cour-
age up at times"
"In the first place, IL see Messrs.
Mangle Sc Meek" I said. "Mr.
Mangle may be brought to hear rea-
son, after all-if he can only be
made to see his interest in it,"
The pale, respondent face c:eer-
ed up a little. Ny words seemed to
have inspired sort of undeined hope
that l was far from feeling myself.
Mr.. Mangle received me with
stony poiitencSS.
Young man." his manner said,
"dOn't waste time in appeals to
sentiment you won't if you'H only
just look at me-"
took the hint and came at once
to business, repeated Gilbert's offer
AMI put it as strongly rs possible
that more was to be gained by len
lency than harshness-all of which
Mr.. Mangle listened to with y con-
scientious scowl.
II cannot be party 10 Com
pounding y felony" he answered
with a solemn lrtGnation.
Nor have l asked you," re-
piled, not little nettled. II haye
merely mentioned a plan of paying
your own, leaving it to your gener-
osity to press or not TO press this
prosecution.
ooh, its all the same,' was the
contemptuous rejoinder-''anYbody
but a lawyer, with his head full of
quibs and quiblets, could see that.
Besides, there is something rather
cool in the proposal to retain your
friend in our employ under pretencc
of working ont the money be had
stolen, with the opportunity of
fiitching twice as much IN the mean
time"
felt my temper rising, and not
caring to ilnperil my clients inter
est by an outright quarrel, | took a
hasty leave.
Had I been in the prisoners place
on The morning fixed for the trial, I
could hardly have ascended the
courthouse steps with more reluct-
ance than did. And when I Ell
tered the courtroom and found
Gilbert and his wife already there,
and noted the hopeful look with
which the latter greeted my coming.
my heart sickened at the thought OF
the bitter disappointment coming.
"The PEOPLE VS.. Gilbert" called
out the judge, after disposing of
some formal matters.
A jury was Immediately impanel-
ed and the case opened by the Dis.
trict Attorney.
Mr.. Meek was the first witness
The nervous, hesitating manner in
which he gave his evidence would
have greatly damaged it's effect had
it not evidently arisen from a dispo
sit;On to do the prisoner as httlt
hurt as possible. But no scftening
could break the terrible force oi
racts he was compelled TO relate.
In his partners absence he had
employed George Gilbert as clerk
had found him competent and trusj
worthy had sent him on trip t;
make collections after receiving
a considerable sum, he was induced
by a respectable looking gentleman
with whom he had casually fallen
in, to JOIN a social game of cards ; al
first they played for amusement
then for money, and after losing al
his own. in hope of retrieving his
loss, with the fatal infatuation OF
that dreadful vice whose end is swift
destruction, he had hazarded and
n " In I,