Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-05-21
THE MYSTERIOI Us FORGERY.

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THE MYSTERY JJS FORGERY.
It was bleak October morning,
and Mr.. Walter Crump. cashier to the
firm Of Messrs. Livesey Z Mason,
qulckened his pace as he made his way
along Throgmorton street, to tie
scene Of his daily toll. Itwasnot that
he feared to be late that Mr.. Crump
was walking fast. During all the forty
years that he had sat upon high
stool from 10 to s Mr.. Crump had
never been known to be late for his
work. A more methodical,. careful
man never hung over ledger or, bal
anced a cash. book.
AT length he reached the well-known
staircase, opened the office door, and
stood still for moment in surprise.
Young Carter, the assistant book.
keeper, was there before him already
at his work. Mr.. Crump smiled grim
ly. .... H.
$50 you've made a beginning, young
man." he said. "Well, we'll see."
Carriers face flushed little as he
bade the older man good-morning.
The fact was that Crump, who had
married rather late in life, had a bright
eyed daughter named Annie, with
whom Robert Carter had fallen verv
much in love. It was only on the
preceding evening that things had
come to a crisis, and, somewhat to
the young mans surprise, Mr.. Crump
had rejected the proposed engagement.
He did not like young Carter. He did
not approve OF the young fellows
fashionably cut collars, nor of his
scarf-pin, nor of his cane. Such things
Mr.. Crump considered were the signs
OF a frivolous disposition and un-
steady habits. Nor did MIR. Crump
approve OF the snatches of comic
songs which Carter was continually
humming. He suspected that the
young man frequented music halls.
and spent more money on, cheap CT,
CARS, novels, and outings than was
proper for one in his position. Be-
sides, Mr.. Robert Carter was usually
the last Of all the clerks to make his
appearance in the morning, and this
was, IN Mr.. Crumps eyes, a verv bad
sign. 1t was plain to the old man
that Carter was now makieg an at
tempt to earn his good opinion.
''Ilme will show-time will show"
SAID MIR. Crump. in rather an aggra-
waiting way, as he changed his coat,
opened his desk, unlocked his safe. and
set about his work. r.
Soon the other clerks began to ar
rive, and then came Mr.. Mason, the
acting partner, a tall, pale man, with
long black whiskers. Mr.. L1vesev. the
senior partner, only came to the office
Twice q week, to examine the bank
book and see how things were going
on. Mr.. Mason opened the letters. and
soon appeared at Mr.. Crump's desk
with q small sheaf OF them in his hand.
These were letters in response to
which small sums Of money had to be
sent, and it belonged to Mr.. Crump to
attend to them, for he had authority
to sign checks for the firm for sums up
to five pounds.
Mr.. Crump first made list OF. the
payment he had to make and then
went to his safe for his check-book. AS
he opened it to write the first check he !
was surprised to find that the cou l.
terioil belonging to. che last che. k |
which had been taken from the book |
was not filled Hecould hardly be-
lieve his eyes. Neverin all his life had
he written a check without first filling
up the counterfeit with particulars of |
the amount, the date and the person
to whom the check was sent. But his |
surprise changed to dismay when he
took out his cash book and found
that he had only drawn nine checks
the day before, the counterfoils of
which were all properly filled up where
as g. tenth check had been torn out OF |
the book. - "@ u. ~
For a moment he sat as if stunned.
Gould any one have stolen the blank
check? He always kept the key ,of his |
safe 10 his own bunch; but it was lust |
possible that some one might have
got hold of the key, taken an impress
sion OF II IN wax, and had false kew |
made. He had heard Of such things. |
He leaned his head on his hands and |
tried4O think, Whsn had he closed |
the sale last nighta, About a iii the !
afternoon, before any one had left the
office for the day; Tor he remembered
that he had been sent to- the docks
about A o clock with some Documents
for q ship that was about to sail, and |
that when he got back at half-past g /
everybody had left and the place was
in darkness. szs::2.3
Il the blank bad been, stolen, the
theft must have been committed last
night or this morning. Could the
safe have been opened before his arriv.
al? He remembered Carriers unusu-
ally early appearance, and threw a |
Suspicious glance at the young man
. Then q simpler solution Of the mat.
ter occurred to him. Itwas very Dos
sible that, in tearing out thelast check
hs had drawn the day before, he had
torn out two by mistake, folded them
mp and sent them Of together. This
would, of course, account for the ap-
pearahce Of the check book. He de-
termined to write ct once to Marshall |
= Company, merchants in Liverpool.
TO whomhe had sent his laat check. |
and ask whether q blank check Had |
not been sent TO them by nnistalp.
v Thon tho question arose should he |
SNSy