Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-12-02
turning out his empty pockets.


turning out his empty pockets.
At this moment Leslie came noise
lessly into the office.
"Here are some receipts which
Snyder and two other men left tn be
given to you, Walter he said, in his
distinct tone.
Receiptsr' stammered Walter. aI
have not paid them."
"These bills, with the money en-
closed, were sent them by a messenger
yesterday" pursued Leslie. "They
brought the receipts themselves. See
If they are right-one hundred and
thirty-nine dollars and forty cents"
There was breathless silence. Leslie
walked back to his desk. The cold,
elammy sweat stood on Walters face.
Speak speak, Explain this, Wal
teri" cried his father, shrilly. "I don't
believeit. l trust you, my boy.,'
"How was it, Wallyp" said his uncle,
his gruff voice unsteady. "The lad can
clear it all up, Mr.. Luckett, if you give
him moments time"
II don't know how it was" broke
out Walter. "Some enemy has done
this for me. There is my deskl" fling
ing it open. "There are Snyder's bills
and the rest, unpaid There are all my
letters. I've been fool, as you'll see,
father; but I've not been q thiefp
The desk was disorderly heap of
old letters, papers, boxing-gloves, etc.
On the top, conspieuously, lay a clean
sheet of paper, with recently written
memorandum The OFF ser took it up.
"This explains matters" he said.
"Snyder, ninety dollars; Smith, twenty
three dollars; JudlSin, twenty-six dol
lars and forty cents total, one hundred
and thirty nine dollars and forty cents
And here is the change from the check
in the dcsk-ten dollars and sixty
cents. 1t is pity you opened your
desk," to Walter.
al never wrote that. l never saw
that change" said Walter boldly.
"Give me the memorandum" said
his father, "Great God! it is his
wrtingw
Uncle George leaned forward to look
at it. A sudden flash of intelligence
came into his face.
"Give me that lot of paper!' he
shouted. He held it up and smelled of
it. "My nose never deceived me yet!
It's the perfume that fellow yonder
carries about him. l thought as
much"
Then, before anyone had caught his
meaning he crossed the room, hurled
Leslie aside with one hand, and threw
open the desk with the other, saying
~ It's time TO look into your papers
now, young man.. This is a deep-laid
plan of yours to thrust Wally into the
street, while you sneaked into his
placel But I've got you! III not letyou
20 in hurry" holding him by the
neckcloth and shaking him breathless,
yhile Mr.. Ewalt and the officer exam
med the desk.
Criminals always leave some tell-tale
witness against themselves. There
was a sheet of paper, on which the
memorandum had been written several
times, in imitation of Walters hand.
AT the back of the desk were a couple
of forged checks, in Mr.. Ewalts name,
to large amount.
"The fellow was preparing for flight
in case he was found out" said Uncle
George, with shake to emphasize
each sentence. Bring in a policeman
Oh, you're cool handp
Leslie Crawford was tried and sent
to the state prison. The day after the
trial Uncle George had an earnest con-
ference with Walters father.
81 think you are making mistake
with the boy" he said. "He is fit for
an outdoor life Give him to me for
two years. I'll give him hard work,
and buy meadows and herds of cattle,
to deal with, instead of cases and ging-
ANS. He'll find hunting and fishing
more wholesome excitement than the
D heatre and drinking-saloons. Many q
10Y would be tired of sowing wild oats,
if you gave him real oats to SOW"
Walter Ewalt is now one of the
nrgest cattle-raisers of the West. His
\ ier has given up business, and lives
DNish him, and Uncle George comes up
iNcekly from his ranch.
ave he'd well-nigh made fatal mis-
take with this lad Of ours, Andrew" he
/ ,ys. "He's turning out al right"
| pite forgetting that the nlad" is the
her Of sturdy boys, and that his
! iskers are turning gray.-Waverley