The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-09-04
THE FORGERY.

made his way along Throgmorton street TO
the scene of hi daily toll. 1t was not that he
feared to be late that Mr. Crump was walk
ing fast. During all of the forty years that
he had sat upon a high stool from 10 10 D Mr.
Crump had never been known to he late for
his work \ more methodiCal careful man
never hung over ledger OF balanced cash
book
At length he reached the wellknown stair
case opened the Office door and stood still Tor
a moment in surprise Young Carter the as
sistant bookkcepcr, was there before him, al
ready at lis work. Mr.. Crump smiled
grimly. :,
$50 you've made beginning, young man,
he said We'll wen see"
Carriers face flushed Il little a. he babe the
older man good morning, The fact was that
Clunp, who had married rather late in life,
had bright-cyed daughter named Annie,
with whom Robert Carter had fallen very
much in love. Ii was only on the preceding
evening that things had come to crisis, and
somewhat to the young mans surprise, Mr..
Crurnp had rejected the proposed engage
ment. He did not like young Carter, He
did not approve of the young fellows fash
ionably cut collars, nor of his scarfpin, nor
vi us NsllI'. III tilurN WI "''p wa
sidered were the SIX us of frivolous DISPOSE
ton and unsteady habits. Nor did Mr..
Crump approve of the snatchcS of comic
songs which Carter was continually hum
ming. He suspected that the young man fire.
quented music halls and s!.nnt moro money
On cheap cigars, novels and outings than was
proper for one III his position. Besides, Mr..
Robert Carter was usually the last of all the
clerks 10 make his appearance in the morn
ing, and this was, in Mr.. Crump's eyes
very bad sign. 1t was plain to the old man
that Garter was now making an attempt to
earn his good opinion.
Time will show-time will show, said Mr.
Crump, in rather an aggravatng way, rs he
changed his coat opened his desk, unlocked
his safe, and set about his work.
Soon the other clerks began to arrive, and
then came Mr.. Mason, the acting partner, a
tall, pale man, with long black whlskers DIR
Livesey, the senior partner, only came TO tho
Office twice week, TO examine the bank book
and see how things were going on. Mr. Ma
son opened the letters and soon appeared at
MI Crump's desk with a small shcaf of them
in his hand. These were letters in response
to which small sums of money had to b. sent,
and it belonged TO Mr.. CruInp To attend to
them, for he had authority 10 sign checks for
the firm for sums up TO five pounds.
Mr.. Crlmp first made a list of the pay
ments 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 counterfoil belonging to the last
check which hal been taken from the book
was not filed up He could hardly believe
g.; Il, g., lad Ia.
seheck without first filling up the counterioh
with arti uarS of the amount, the date and
the person to whom the check was sent But
his surprise turned TO dlsmay when he took
out his cash book and found that lac had only
drawn nine checks the day before, the coun-
lerfoils of which were all properly filed up,
whereas a tenth check had been torn out of
the book.
For moment h. sat as If stunned Could
any one have stolen the blank check' He
always kept the key of his safe on hi own
bunch, bat it was just possible that some ono
might have got hold Of the key, taken an inn
preston of it in wax and had false key
made. He had heard of surh things He
leaned his head on his hands and tried to
think. When had he closed his safe last
night About in the afternoon, before any
one had left the office for the day, for he ~
memJcred he had been sent to the docks
about o'clock with some documents for IA
ship that was about 10 sail and that when he
got back at $50 everybody had left and the
place was IN darkness.
If the blank check had been stolen, the
theft must have been committed lust NIGHT
or this morning: Could the safe have been
opened before his arrivalf He remembered
Carriers unusually early appearance and
threw a suspicious glance at tho young man.
Then a simpler solution of the matter oc-
cured TO him. II was very possible that in
earring ont the last check he had drawn the
lay before he had torn out two by mistake.
folded them up and sent them of together
This would, of course, account for tho ap-
pcarance of the check book lie determined
20 write at on"o to Marshall * Co., mer-
,hantS il Liverpool. 10 whom he had sent his
last check, and ask whether blank check
had not been sent to them by mistake.
Then the question arosc-thoull he men.
lion the circumstance to Mr.. Mason! On
consideration Mr.. Crump thought that it was
not necessary to do 81. Mr.. Mason was
rather Il hard man TO deal with, and Il con
'ession would ruin the character for careful.
ness which the cashier had SO long en- joyed
And he fully expected that in two days ut
most he wold get letter from Liverpool
nClosing the slip of paper which had cost
MIN SO much anxiety.
The next day was Tuesday, and according
20 his inyariahle custom ON that day of tho
week, Mr.. Liyesey made his appearance in
he Office business had not long commenced
when everybody in the establishment YVES
aware that something unusual had happened.
Mr.. Mason was closotol with his partner for
few minutes, and then went hurricdly out
Of the office, returning shortly with Mr. JEFF
,reys, the manager OF the London and Ian
,ashirc bank at which the firm kept their
account.
Then Mr.. JciTreys left, and came back
accompanied one of the cashiers. Then u
bell was Ilng and Mr.. Crump was sent for.
With "A beatiug heart and cold sweat on his
brow the cashier obeyed the summons
"Bring your checl book, Mr.. Crump," said
The senior partner.
This was done, and tall man, whom Mr.
Crmp had not noticed up to this time, stepped
40 10 the Table and glanced at the check book
along with Mr. Lvesey.
II thought so" exclaimed the old gentle
man. Here's the place from which the
check was taken; here is the countcrfol Tho
numbers correspond. What made you do it
Crumpf You are the last man in tho world
from which rApccted such conduct -