The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-05-21

"Hand over the fifty, then" said the
other after pause and then there was
slight rustic OF bank-notes.
"You had better leave the country
said Mr.. Mason in low tone. "The
bank cashier who cashed the check
might meet you in the street"
"I'll take care of that" replied the
stranger; and after a few more words
had passed the two men left the office.
All this time Garter had been stand
ing half paralyzed, first by fear of dis
covery and then by astonishment.
But he understood ehis much, that this
stranger was the man who had cashed
the forged check under the name OF
Beckman that Mr.. Mason knew it, and
so far from denouncing him to the
police was giving him money to hold
his tongue. Yes and more than this
the stranger was threatening to "aplit"
upon Mr.. Mason!
What it could all mean Carter could
not comprehend but he saw one thing
plainly enough. The important poirt
was to find ont who this man was, and
where he lived. In moment Carter
ran out of the room, seized his hat, and
rushed do Sn stairs.
lie was just III time. Mr.. Mason
was leaving the foot of the stairs,
going up the street, while well-dress-
ed man, who had evidently just parted
from him, was walking rapidly in the
opposite direction. Carter followed
the stranger to the Mansion House,
and saw him take a Bayswater omni-
bus. This suited Carter exactly. He
went round to the front of the vehicle
and got up beside the driver. Then
he clambered along the roof and seat
ed himself above the door.
AT the Holborn Restaurant the man
whom he was following got out and
stopped to refresh himself, while Car
ter waited patiently outside. AT last
he reappeared, and Carter quietly fol-
lowed him down Holborn, up Gray's
Inn Road and into dingy street in
the neighborhood OF Kings Cross.
Here the pretended solicitor stopped at
door, which he opened with latch
key
"Ah" said Carter to himself, II
have you now "
He waited few moments, and then
knocked at the door.
1t was answered by dirty, slip-shod
girl.
Does Mr. Williamson live here?'
inquired the young man.
mo, he doesn't"
"Wasn't that Mr.. Williamson who
came in Just now-Mr. Williamson, of
Peterborough
"No, it wasn't. That was our first
floor, Mr. Cromer You've made a
mistake"
$50 l have. Beg pardon, I'm sure"
and Carter turned away.
From Kings Gross he went straight
to Scotland Yard and narrated his ex-
pcricnces. That night Mr.. Livesey re-
ceived visit which caused him some
surprise-snd so did Mr.. Cromer. No
sooner was the latter gentleman in the
hands of the police than he confessed
the whole matter.
Mr.. Mason had known Cromer, who
was scoundrel with respectable ap-
ptarance and a plausible manner, for
some time, and had selected him to be
his tool. He had sent poor Crump to
the docks on the afternoon before the
morning when the check was missed
he had come back to the Office after
the clerks were gone, and had ther
opened Crump's safe with his own key
and distracted the blank check. This
check he had himself filled up anc
signed with the firms signature in the
usual way, 50 there was little wonder
that the cashier at the bank paid il
without any suspicion. He had ne
doubt, calculated that the bank woulG
have to bear the loss but, as it was, h
had cheated Mr.. Livesey out of tw,
thousand pounds, for, as he himsel
had but third share in the business
Only one thousand out of the three ha(
to come out of his own pocket.
Mr.. Mason saved his partner tn
trouble of trying whether he coul,
make him criminally responsible TO
what he had done for when the polio
, went TO look for him he had disappear
ed. Probably he had seen Robert Cart
er following his accomplish, and, scent
ing danger had saved himself Will
. there was time. 1t turned out afte,
ward that he had been speculatins
largely on the Stock Exchange an,
, was sorely in need of money to pa
, his losses. 1t was some consolation I
Mr.. Livesey to think that his dishones
partner had not profted much by hi
theft.
, As for Walter Crump, he was offe
/ ed his old place, with an apology an
D d handsome present to boot; and h
/ still keeps the books which he had $
: long under his care. He had not qui,
) overcome his prejudice against Robe
f Carter, and he always regarded it as
, hard thing that he should have 10 ow
e his reputation and his deliverance fro
>. poverty to that particular young gel
t tleman. However, as things were
4 could do no less than inform Cart,
h. that he had done him an injustice, an
, that he would be happy to see him
T. the evening whenever it suited HIM
:, call. The color came back to Annie
r. cheek and the light to her eyes whe
n she heard the good news; and it W;
not many weeks before she became Il
d promised wife of the young man WI
q discovered the secret of The Mysteriou
Forgery WhitehaN Recieao.
a -------- -
D An Exchange of Oourtesies.