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

ODt blO4N Nliti'' ''i''''''o
two by IN stake .,
"That ra,hor points 10 his innocence"
Whispered Mr.. Livcscy 10 the tall man at his
elbow.
at may be only a clever point, SIR re-
turned the other.
"You did not put that letter among the
Others 20 BE copied in the letter book put IN
Mr. Mason.
CIump hing his head.
as the chnn',--" he began, after pane
"Of course it is forged" answered Mr.. 1--we
sey.
"And was it paid!'
"Ycs; it was paid yesterday
Mr.. Crnmp shullcrcd, took long breath,
and waited.
"Now. CrImp, You had better make a
Glenn breast OF il, said Mr.. Lvescy, after "A
few moments silence. Tell us who this man
Bcckwith is; tell us where the money has
ronc--it can't all be spent nlrcady-and 1t
will he mono TIVE worse for YOU
Mr. Crump felt choking sensation in his
throat; but no plucl;ed up courage enough 10
say: II have told you already, sir, that
know nothing about it, II was only ycstcr-
day morning that noticed that check had
been taken from the book
"Why did You not mention it, asked Mr..
Mason.
II thought had torn it out myself along
with the one sent to Mr. Marshall.
"But it may have been torn out hv any
one in the Office during the day before"
eyes sir" replied Crump 81 don't see how
any one could have got at the book, for | am
very careful, buc it Is possible
"Tho thief has probably got professional
forgcr to copy The signature from an old let
tcr,r said M Mason, taking up Slip od
paper. II Is beautifully initiated. would
not have detected it myself.
at is plain that the thief must have been
some one in the ciiice, though probably he
had an acconplice outside, said Mr.. Jcilreys.
"A stranger would not have known that the
firm had SO large Ia balance at the moment.
Is there any one of your fellow clerks whom
Won think may have had a hand in it, he
added, turning to the cashier
NO sir"
as there any one who keeps loose company,
or my one who is III the habit of spending too
much money!
Nr. Cru1np thought of Carter and hest
tated for "A moment
"Speak, sir. if you are WISE said Mr. Live
sew stcrnlv.
"l have sometimes thought that Mr. Car
ter spent a good deal on dress and 50 on re
Piled NJ, Crump. But rs he spoke he sud
denly remembered Robert Carriers unusually
early appearance on the preceding morning,
and n suspicion arose in his mind Without
intending it he allowed his thoughts to ap-
near in his face, So that his protest. know
nothing whatever against Mr.. Cartcr'-had
but little effect.
Crump was sent back TO his desk and Car
ter was sent for. lie came hacktothe clerks
room in a state Of great Indignation, having
streuuuusy dcuird any knowledge of the
forgery. The result If consultation be
tween the bank managers and the partners
was that, Us Crump could not account for the
los Of the check he bad probably stolen it;
and that, although there was not evidence
enough to prosecute him. he must be dis
missed ut once As to Garter, they deter
miu,d to allow him to remain where he was
and keep a close watch on lis proceedings.
Poor Walter Crump went home that day
like one in a dream He was dismissed rs the
acconplcc Of a forEcr' And he could not
say that in the circumstances, he had been
treated unjustly The check had been in
trusted to him, and he had lost it, 1t was,
apparently at least his fault that the crime
had been committed. lie almost wondered
that he had not been sent to prison.
When he reached his own house he sat
down in front of the fire without speaking,
and even his favorte daughter, Annie, could
not make him say what troubled him. How
could he tell his children that he their father,
had been dismissed from his situation on slls-
picion of having robbed his employers Of
5000.
About s o'clock in tie evening "A knock
came ut the old mans door 1t was Robert
Carter Crump started to his feet mdsna-
ton. Was this fellow, whom he suspected to
he the real criminal, to come and gloat over
him in his misoryi
But before he could speak, Carter had come
into the room and held out his hand
II came to tell you, Mr. Crump," said he,
chow sorry we all are in the Office about this
None of VI believe you had anything to do
with it, of course. II will all come out,
likely, in day or two"
The old man stared at him for minute or
two without speaking and without taking
Carriers hand
"BcCOno, Sirt' he cried ut last. How dare
YOU come here to insult me with your sympa-
thy| You! | fancy you are the one who
knows most about it,
Annie turned from one to the other with be
wildensl, terrified looks. Fortunately she
was the only other one Of the family in the
room.
"What is it, father" she cried, clasping her
hands "What is it You say Robert knows
moro about than any one elso' Oh, tell me
what has happened"
$50 TO your room, girl said her father,
sternly There is trouble enough without
your mcddling i'll it, stop he continued, as
the girl slowly left the room. you see that
young man. forbid you to see him. to
write to him, to receive any letters from him.
Hc--you will know soon enough
what, sir!' cried Carter, his eyes blazing
with indignation. 40 you say that THAT
took the check. Why, it was an impoSsi-
bilty, even if ! had wished to do such a
thing"
"Lcave my house, sir" was the old man
reply, rs he reseated himself in his chair. He
had by this time persuaded himself that in
some nnEuarlcd moment he had left his key
In the safe, that Carter had taken an impress
sion of it and had false key made, and that
he had got some clever forger to initiate the
| firms signature. But he knew that no one
would believe him, that appearances We're all
against him, and that 1t would he impossible