The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-03
more than he had really done. Isaac

my own doing. AFTER all, tn0ugn, II
can't be any one doing it seriously; what
object could he have? No, it must be
one of those plaguey boys"
So soliloquizing, Isaac got to work,
contenting himself for the time by dart
ing such piercing glances at the appren-
tices who came within his ken, as one
would have supposed must have over
whelmed the audacipus evildoer; but
without producing any visible result.
That night Isaac went to rest with re-
newed confidence.
Miserable man! No sooner had his eye
glanced at the symmetrical columns of
the cash-book next morning than he per-
ceived that the same busy hand had again
been at work, and this time to great
er extent than before; numerous falsiti-
cations forced themselves on his bewild-
cred vision, executed with diabolical in
genuity, both as to the mode and style
of the fraud; threes were changed into
tives, ones into fours, ciphers into skies
and mines, and all in exact imitation of
his own handwriting; he was forced to
admit that had his senses not borne wit
ness TO the contrary, he should have had
to confess it his own handiwork. ..
The matter was now indeed serious;
no one had access by fair means to the
books but himself. He would find out
this villainous plotter; he would conceal
himself in the counting-house that night
without naming the matter to soul,
and then he would see. So said, so
done. After remaining working by him
self till late, he went as usual to his
room, but, instead of going to bed,
slipped noiselessly down stairs with the
key of his safe in his pocket, and took
up his position behind desk, where, by
little management, he could command
view of the whole room.
Here he remained undisturbed, save
by the ticking of the office clock, by
fancied noises now and then, and by his
own agitating thoughts. Chilled to the
bone, obliged to remain in the dark, and
perhaps little frightened, he neverthe-
less sat bravely on. Glad to find his
vigil so nearly over, Isaac sat down on
his own stool, and presently finding his
head bump against the desk before him,
was forced to conclude that he had been
asleep, and SO it proved; for on striking "a
match and consulting the clock, it
showed few minutes before six to be
the time.
Then he went to make up for his
nights watch, but was at his place in
the office very little later than his usual
hour.
But on opening his books Isaac gave
deep groan, and we'll he might. In spite
of watch and ward the enemy had been
at work; the entries left yesternight in
such order and symmetry were carica-
tured and travestied out of all shape,
figure after figure having been perverted,
altered and inserted
1T must have been in the room with
me last night" thought poor Isaac, and
in another minute the clerks were
alarmed by hearing loud thump, and
on entering Isaac's Office by finding its
occupant on the floor insensible; for the
first time in his life he had tainted. On
coming to himself, however, he repelled
all inquiry and advice.
"Nothing was the matter with him; he
had slipped in getting on his STOOL" he
said, "and fallen" ..-..
He closed the open cash-booR sharply,
and with suspicious glance at those
around him, and bidding them all rather
ungracously get to their work and leave
him, he sat down to try and think calm
ly over the matter. 1t was in vain, and
by the time Reuben Barlow returned
Isaac had pretty nearly worked himself
into fever. Informed of Isaac's faint
ing fit, Reuben, nevertheless, said moth
ing upon the point ut first
But the next morning Mrs. Hall, the
housekeeper, seriously alarmed at Isaac's
quietly went and begged Reu-
ben Gan early many to come upstairs and
persuade Isaac to forego attendance at
his duties for the day. 4
"Why, Isaac, what's the matter with
thee to-dayY' began Reuben, cheerily,
but stopped short shocked at the change
in the others appearance. "Thou art
surely very ill.," said he, more quietly.
way, Hot III, Sdlu lsddC, ldllltly.
"Not iii" said Reuben, "then thy ap-
pearance bellies thee greatly; but if not,
what then2"
Isaac sat silent for awhile, and then
burst out suddenly:
"Why, if tell the truth, I should say
/ was tormented by demon"
"Be not profane, Isaac," said Reuben,
But then went on kindly:
'Thee has got something On thy mind
would it not comfort thee, thlnk'st thou,
to let me know it?' r..
Thus adjured, Isaac poured out his
story in food to the great amazement
of the other, who, however, listened to
the end without word. But that which
had begotten fear in Isaac Jackson's
breast, aroused only indignation in the
stout heart Of Reuben Barlow, and he
smote the table with his hand rather
more emphatically than beseemed the
breadth OF his brim and the uprightness
of his collar.
81 tell thee, Isaac" he said, with
grim smile, "this is more carnal than
spiritual work; but let me see it with
mine own eyes,"
And off marched Reuben to Isaac's
Al u \