Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-13
1ales aud Skftfhfs.
rHE MYSTERIOUS FORGERY
fcontinued from Yesterday

Continued from Yesterday
Crump hung his head.
ala the check he began, after
..Of course it Is forged" answered Mr..
Livesey.
"And was it paid p
yes it was paid yesterday"
.sMr Crump shuddered, took long
breath, and waited.
Nov, Crump, you had better make a
clean breast Of it." said MIR. Llvesey'
after a few minutes silence. "Tell Us
who this man Beckman is; tell US where
the money has gone-it can't be all spent
already-aud it will be none the worse Tor
you"
Mr.. Crump felt choking sensation IN
his throat; but he plucked up courage
enough to say, al have told you, already,
sir. that know nothing about it. 1t was
only Yesterday morning that noticed that
a cheek had been taken from the book. "
"Why did you not mention it?" asked
Mr. Mason.
81 thought I had torn it out myself
along with the one sent to Mr.. Marshall -
but it may have been torn out by any
one in the Office during the day before ?''
Eyes, SIR" replied Crump. II don't
see how any one could have got at the
book, for am very CAREFUL but it is pos.
sible''
THE thief has probably got profes-
sional forger to copy the signature from
an old letter." said Mr.. Mason, taking up
the slip of paper. ut is beautifully imi.
tated. l would not have detected it my.
SELF
at is plain that the thief must have
been some one in the office, though proba.
bly, he had an accomplice outside" said
Mr. Jeffreys. "a stranger would not
have known that the firm had so large a
balance at the moment. Is there anyone
of your fellow-clerks whom you think
may have had hand in ftp" he added,
turning to the cashier.
mo, sir"
as there any one who keeps loose COM
pany. or any one who is in the habit of
spending too much money!"
Mr.. Crump thought of Carter, and hest
tated tor moment.
"Speak. sir, if you are WISE" said Mr..
Livesey sternly.
81 have sometimes thought that Mr..
Carter spent good deal on dress, and so
on ; but not more than many young men, "
replied Mr.. Crump. But as he spoke
he suddenly remembered Robert Carter s
unusually early appearance on the pre-
ceding morning, and a suspicion arose in
his mind. Without intending it he al
lowed his thoughts to appear 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
Carter was sent for, He came back to
the clerks room in state of great in.
dignation, having strenously denied any
knowledge whatever of the forgery. The
result of a consultation between the bank
manager and the partners was that, as
Crump could not account for the loss OF
the check, he had probably stolen it; and
that, although there was not evidence
enough to prosecute him, he must be dis
missed at once. AS to Carter. they de.
termined to allow him to remain where he
was, and keep close watch on his pro.
ceedings.
Poor Walter Crump went home that
day like one in dream. He was dis.
missed as the accomplice of forger! And
he could not say that, in the circumstances
he had been treated unjustly. The check
had been entrusted to him, and he had
lost it. 1t was, apparently, at least, his
fault that the crime had been committed
He 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,
l. Il,
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 suspicion OF having rob-
ed his employers of $4,000?
About s O'Clock in the evening knock
came to the old mans door. 1t was Rob
ert Carter. Crump started to his feet in
indignation. 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
81 came to tell you, Mr.. Crump," sale
he, ''how sorry we all are in the office
about this. None of us believe you had
anything to do with it, of course. 1t will
all come out, likely in a dav or two"
The old man stared at him for a minnie
or two without speaking and without tax
ing Carter's hand.
"Begone, sir" he cried at last. 'How
dare you come here to insult me with you
sympathy You! l fancy you are the
one who knows most about it,
Annie turned from one to the other with
bewildered, terrified looks. Fortunately
she was the only other one of the family
| in the room.