Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-21
CHAPTER ".
WHO HAS DONE THIS?


here We're six ChyCAS ivInS before Mr.
MurTi lge All Of item wer, drawn for III"
>tne amount. al of rIcm in words and
. figures. We're wri ten exactly alike save fo'
the dat Mr. Murrldge himself wro:e n
small ard wrIl-markel hand, very neat and
lie Each letter perfectly io~ned-such a
mi ~ might be expected Of one who has
been r"ught up an engraver. Yet, for
that very reason, perhaps. easier to initiate
than a more common and sovenly char
arier- The signatures If these checks we're
So perfectly initiated that even Mr.. Muir
ridge himself could only tell by the dates
which were his own and which were for
gerieS.
six checks he said once more Compar
ing the dates of the checks with his own
diary, and four of them-these four-are
forserieS These four
Again he examined them closely.
They were all drawn for the same amount
namely twelve pounds 1t was an estab-
l,shed rule with this methodical man, a rule
from which he never departed always to
draw the checks he wanted for private and
domestic use for the same amount-namely,
t elve pounds This enabled IN TO know
by glance at the bank book how much he
spent on his household and on salaries,
wages. personal expenses and office. Cen
orally he drew this twe.ve pounds once
we.k Sometimes, however. he would have
10 draw oftener than once a week. But a
Cleck for twelve pounds, with his signature,
rayab 10 bearer, would be certainly cashed
without suspicion or doubt when presented
across the counter
The forser must have known that practice
of his
Who did know it,
He had before him. besides the checks
themselves, his hank book and his check
book.
Six checks" he said summing up the
case, have been distracted from the book;
not takeL altogether, which would hav.
made a sensible gap in the book
should have noticed that at once-but one
taken here and one taken there. so a. to
e cape observation That was crafty When
could | have left the check book living about
and who would be in the office when went
out leaving it lying on the tablet Six
checiEs Four have cen present Ell and paid
there remain two more
Nj Murridges business was not one which
required the continual pay ing into the b nix
of money and the drawing of many checks
H. had his bank book made up once a month
Ills son generally called for il On this oc
"a ion he had him elf. while passing the
bank that very m rning, three days before
the usual time, look d IN and asked for it
Therefore it was probable that the o her two
checks would be both presented before the
Gu, tomary day of sending for the bsnkbook
Evidently the writer Of the checks knew
perfectly well the routine Of his office as well
as his signature.
1t could not be the girl said Mr. Muir
ridge she could never initiate my hand
writing. 10 tegin with" He looked at one
of her papers 1t was written in large
hand, rather clumsy. for Norah belonged to
the generation which has not been taught to
write ne atty As we'll a legibly. and the day
of the fine Italian han d has quite gone BY
Nobody VIII wrote such a sprawling hand
as hers could initiate even distantly Mr.
MurrIdges Isat and clear, V formed charac.
tiers. She may have stolen the checks for
some one. though, She may have a lover
Girls will do anything for their lovers. Yet
have always thought her an honest girl
The man who trusts any one il fool