The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-05-28
THE MYSTERIOUS FORGERY,

1t was q bleak October MORNING
and MIR. Walter Crump, cashier to the
hrm OF Messrs, Livesey & Mason,
qulckened his pace as he made his way
along Throgmorton street, to the
scene OF MS daily toll. 1t wasnot that
he feared to be late that Mr.. Crump
vas walking fast. During all theforty
years that he had sat upon a high
stool from 10 to $ Mr.. Crump had
V been known to be late for his
work. A more methodical. careful
mar hung over a ledger or bal
anced a cash-book.
AT length he reached the we'll known
staircase, opened the Office door, and
stood still for a moment in surprise.
Young Carter, the assistant book.
keeper, was there before him already
at his work. Mr.. Crump smiled grim
ly.
so you've made a beginning, young
man. he said. "Well, we'll see"
Carriers face flushed a little as he
babe the older man good-morninc.
1he tact was that Crump, who had
married ratherlate in life, had a bright
eyed daughter named Annie, with
whom Robert Carter had fallen very
much IN love. 1t was only on the
preceding evening that things had
come to u crisis, and, somewhat to
the young mans surprise, Mr.. Crump
had rejected theproposed engagement.
tie did not like young Carter. He did
not approve OF the young fellows
tashionably cut collars, nor OF his
scart-pin, o OF his cane Such things
Mr.. Crnmp considered were the signs
OF a frivolous disposition and I'M
steady habits. Nor did Mr.. Crump
approve OF the snatches OF comic
songs which Garter was continually
hummlns. He suspected that the
young man frequcnted music halls,
and spent more money on cheap ci-
gars, novels, and outings than was
proper lor one IN ms position. Be
sides, Mr., Robert Carter was usually
the last Of allthe c)ar,,s RI mall, b;s
"rfN ''o''"l5 anu 'h'S
was, IN Mr.. Crump's eyes, a very bad
sign. 1t was plain to the old man
that Carter was now makieg an at
tempt to earn his good opinion.
lime WIN show-tlme VIII show,
saiu MI. Grump, IN rather an agra
'atihS way, as he changed ms coat,
opened ms desk, unlocked his saie,a and
set o ms work.
soon the other clerks began to ar
rive ana theh came Mr.. Mason, the
acting partner u tan pale man, with
lohS oiacS "hiskers. MI Livesey, the
senior partner, only cameto the ofhce
t"lce u week, 20 examine the bank
pooA' ,l'' see NO" thilSs were gong
on. Mr.. Mason opened theletters, and
soon appeared az Mr.. Crump,s desk
with a smalishea1 OF them his hand.
these were letters IN response to
when small sums OF money a to be
sent, II 1t belonged to Mr. Crump to
attend TO them, Tor ne a authority
to sign checks Tor the ilrm Tor sums up
to nv pounds.
MIR. Crump flrst made a list OF the
payment he had TO make n then
Wentto ms sale ior MS ch~eck-book: AS
he opened 1T TO write h ilrst check he
was surprised TO ma tnat the coun-
terioil belonging 10 h last check
which IA been taken from the book
was not 1llledup: hardly be-
lleve his eyes. Neverln all his lie had
ne written a cnecS "lIhou9 nrst ming
up the counterfoll with particulars OF
the amount tne aate ana the person
to whom the cheeK was sent. but his
surprise changed to dismay e ne
took out ms cash BOOK II 1ound
that ne haa oh'y ura"h hlhe checks
the day before the couhterioiis OF
which were aliproperly 1liied up,"here.
as q tenth check had oeen torn out OF
the book.
For a moment ne a as II stunned.
Could any one nave toien the blank
check lie always kept n key OF MS
safe IN MS ouhcli out ~ was just
possible that some one might have
got hold OF the KEY, Iaken an impress
sion 1T ID ana had 1aise Key
made. he had heard OF such things:
he leaned ms heaa on ms hands II
tried to think. Mneh a ne closed
the safe las nleht? about q m the
afternoon, beiore any one had lelt the
office Tor the aay' lor ne rememoere
b a ne mao oeeh sem 10 Ihe DOCKS
about q o oiock VIII some
for a ship that was anou to san, n
that when ne gov PACK at hail-past o
everybody hao 'elt II IL place was
in darkness.
1.-THE blank hao peen stolen, the
theft must hnye been committed last
night-or ms morning: Couid the