Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-19


gone-it can't all be spent aIready-and i.
will lie none the worse for you"
Mr. Crump felt a choking sensation in his
throat; but he plucked up courage enough to
say: Il have told you already, sir, that
know nothing about it. 1t was only yester-
day morning that l noticed that check had
been taken from the book"
"Why did you not mention itl- asked Mr..
Mason.
Il thought had torn it out myself along
with the one sent to Mr. Marshall"
But il may have been torn out by any
one in the office during the day beforeir
'Yes, sir" replied Crump. al don't see how
any one could have got at the book, for I am
very careful: but it is possible"
"The thief has probably got a professional
forger to copy the signature from an old let
ter" said Mr.. Mason, taking up slip of
paper 1T is beautifully initiated. would
not have detected it myself
1T is plain that the thief must have been
some one in the office, though probably he
had an accomplice outside, said Mr.. Jeffreys.
"A stranger would not have known that the
firm had so large balance at the moment
Is there any one of your fellow clerks whom
yor think may have had a hand In itf' he
added, turning 10 the cashier.
NO. sir"
as there any one who keeps loose company,
or any one who is n the habit Of spending too
much money!
Mr. Crump thought of Carter and hesi-
tated for moment.
Speak sir, if you are wise" said Mr.. Live
sey sternly.
Al have sometimes thought that Mr. Car.
tor S,,a,t a frOcj daal nm draaS and an On
piled Mr. Crump. But as he spoke he sud
denly remembered Robert Carter's unusually
early appearance on the preceding morning.
and suspicion arose in his mind Without
intending it be allowed his thoughts TO ap-
pear in his face, SO that his protest-"I know
nothing whatever against Mr.. Carter'-had
but little effect.
Crump was sent back to his desk and Car
ter was sent for He came l>sk TO the clerks
room in n state Of great Indignation, having
strenuously denied any knowledge of the
forgery, The result Of a consultation be
tween the hank managers and the partners
that, as Crump could not account for the
loss Of tine cheek, he had probably stolen it:
and that. although there Was not evidence
enough to prosecute him, he must b, dis
missed at once. As to Carter, they deter
mined to allow him to remain where he was
and keep close watch on his proceedings.
Poor Walter Crump went home that day
like one in a dream He was dismissed as the
accomplice of a fOrgerl And he could not
say that, in the circumstances, he had been
treated unjustly. The check had been in
trusted 10 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 favorite 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 sus
picion of having robbed his employers Of
5000.
About o'clock in the evening a knock
came at the old mans door Ii was Robert
Carter Crump started to his feet in indigna-
tion. Was this fellow, whom he suspected to
be the real criminal, to come and gloat over
him in his misery!
But before he could speak, Carter had come
into the room and held out his hand
Il came to tell you, Mr.. Crump,r said he
"how sorry We all are in the Office about this
None Of US believe you had anything to do
with it, of course. II will all come out,
likely, in a day or two"
The old man stared at him for a minute or
two without speaking and without taking
Carriers hand
"Begone, sir" he cried at last sHov dare
you come here to insult me with your sympa-
a. You! | fancy you are the one who
knows most about it."
Annie TUNED from one to the other with be
wildered, terrified looks. Fortunately she
v as the only other one of the family in the
loom.
What is it, fatherf' she cried, clasping her
hands. What is it you say Robert knows
more about than any one elsei Oh, tell ME
what has happenedF
Go to your room, girl" said her father.
sternly. There is trouble enough without
your meddling in it Stop he continued. as
the girl slowly left the room. You see that
young man. / forbid you to see him, 10
write to him, to receive any letters from him
He-you will know soon enough
What, sir" cried Carter, his eyes blazing
with Indignation. do you say that THAT
bility, even if had wished to do such
thing
leave my house, sir- was the old mans
reply, as he reseated himself in his chair. He
had by this time persuaded himself that in
some unguaried moment be had left his kew
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 were all
against him, and that 1t woud be impossible |
for him now even to earn his own bread He |
looked upon Carter as the man who had ruined |
him, and in his misery and unreasonableness |
he fancied that one of the young mans Oh |
iects was to throw suspicion upon him TO re-
duce him to poverty and make it impossible |
for him to refuse to accept him for Annie's |
husband. But in this the old man determined |
he would never yield.
Carter protested once more against the in |
justice of the cashiers suspicious and then |
left the room. At the street door he met |
Annie, who was waiting for him.
"Oh, Robert, she exclaimed in low voice, |
''tell me what hss happened-
Somebody at the office has forged a check
for 5000 and more he replied at had
been taken from your fathers book and-and
be fancies l took it-I, who had nothing to
do with his safe whatever"
And do you imagine it was -"
Robert was silent
And you came here to say you didn't be
lieve iti oh, how good of your
But be thinks am the thief You don't
AnnieF
NO, Robert; l am very sure of that
Only, can't soc you as long as my
ather -"
Roberts only answer to this was a SIGH,
md with a hurried good-by the lovers
,arted
Of course poor Walter Crump could not
ind another situation, though he would have
'een glad to take the lowest place in an Office
The wolf came to his door in earnest Annie,