Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-06-30

/ "hA1h ll1C SLlCCh WI IL
the counterfoil. The numbers CORE
spond. What made You do it, CrumpP
You are the last man in the world
from whom l would have expected
such conduct"
''Do what, sir?" family uttered Mr..
Crump.
"Do what!" echoed his employer
with a contemptuous smile. "WhO
did you get TO do this little bit Of work
for you?"
As he spoke Mr.. Livesey tossed a
check across the table. Mr.. Crump
took it up and read. "The London and
Lancashire Bank, Pay Jos. Beckman,
ESQ.,, or order, three thousand one
hundred and seventy-two pounds fif-
teen shilllngs. LlveSey and Mason"
He looked up bewildered. The tall
man in the frock coat watched him
narrowly.
"Who is this Beckman?" asked Mr..
Liye5ey.
81 don't know, sir.;'
You don't know? You see that the
check has come from your book?"
"Yes, SIR"
"Did you give it to anyone?"
mo, sir.''
ibid you miss lt?'
Yes, sir; / missed it yesterday, and
l wrote to Messrs. Marshall, to whom
had sent the one before that, think
ing that l had torn two out by mis-
take
That rather points to his innocence
4 rxh AFr hncnn 70 hn talf
at his elbow.
at may be only a clever plant, SIR"
returned the other.
"You did not put that letter among
the others to be copied in the letter.
book" put in Mason.
Crump hung his head.
is the check" he began, after a
pause.
"Of course it is forged" answered
Mr.. Livesey.
And was it paid?"
"Yes; it was paid yesterday"
Mr.. Crump shuddered, took long
breath and waited.
"Now, Crump, you had better make
clean breast of it, said Mr.. Livesey,
after a few moments silence. "Tell
us who this man Beckman is; tells US
where the money has gone-it can't be
all spent already-and it will be none
the worse for you"
Mr.. Crump felt a choking sensation
in his throat, but he plucked up cour-
age enough to say, ~ have told you
already, sir, that know nothing about
il. 1t was only yesterday morning that
| noticed that check had been taken
from the book"
"Why did you not mention it?"
asked Mr.. Mason.
81 thought / had torn it out myself
along with the one l sent to Mr.. Mar
shall.'
"But It may have been torn out by
any one in the Office during the day
beforeP"
"Yes, sir, "replied Crump. VI don't
see how any one could have got at the
book, for am very careful; but it is
possible.
1.-THE thief has probably got pro-
fessional forger to copy the signature
from an old letter." said Mr.. Mason,
taxing up the slip of paper. at is
beautifully Initiated. would not
have detected it myself"
sit is PLAIN that the thief must have
been some one in the Office, though
probably he had an accomplice outside, s"
said Mr.. Jeffreys. "a stranger would
not have known that the hrm had so
large a balance at the moment. Is
there any of your fellow-clerks whom
YOU think may have had hand in itr"
he added, turning to the cashier.
mo, SIR"
sis there any one who keeps loose
company, or any one who Is In the
habit of spending too much money!"
Mr.. Crump thought Of Carter, and
hesitated for moment.
"Speak, sir, If you are wise." said
Mr.. Livesey, sternly.
81 have sometimes thought that Mr..
Carter spent a good deal on dress, and
SO on; but no more than many young
men, - replied Mr.. Crump. But as he
smoke he suddenly remembered Robert
Carter's unusually early appearance on
the preceding morning, and a suspicion
arose In lis mind. Without intending
il he allowed his thoughts to appear In
his face, so that his protest.! know
nothing whatever against Mr.. Carter"
had but little effect.
Crump was sent back to his desk, and
Carter was sent for. He came back to
the clerks room in . state OF great
Indignation, having strenuously denied
any knowledge whatever OF the for
gerry. The result OF a consultation
between the bank MANAGER and tne
mariners was that, as Mr.. Crump could
not account for the loss of the check,
he had probably stolen it; and that,
although there was not evidence enough
tn prosecute him, he must be dismissed
at once. AS to Carter, they determined
To allow him to remain where he was,
and keep a close watch upon his pro-
ceedings.
Poor Walter Crump went home that
day like one In a dream. He was dis.
missed as the accomplice Of a forgerl
And he could not say that, in the cir'
cumstances, he had been treated un,
iustly. The check had been entrusted
10 him. and he had lost it. 1t was,
apuarently, at least. his fault that the
crime had been committed. He almost
,rondered that he had not been sent to
prison. . ho
60, down IN front of the fire without
sneaking, and even his favorite daugh-
ter Annie, could not make MN say
what troubled him. How could ne teii
his children that he, their father, nad