Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-11
A CLEVER FORGER.
Reward Of the Young Man
Who Exposed Him.

Mr.. Walter Crump, cashier to the firm
pf Mcssrs. Livcsey & Mason, quickened
bis pace as he made his way along
Ehrogmorton street to the scene of his
}aily toll. 1t was not that he feared to
be late that MIR. Crump was walking
fast. During all the forty years that he
had sat upon a high stool from ten to
five Mr.. Crump had never been known
10 be late for his work. A moro
methodical, careful man never hung
over a ledger Or balanced a cash-book.
AT length he reached the well-known
staircase, opened the office door, and
stood for a moment in surprise. Young
Carter, the assistant ~book-keepcr, was
there before him, already at his work.
Mr.. Crump smiled grimly.
so you've made a beginning, young
man" he said. "Well, we'll See"
Cartcr's face flushed a little as he
babe the older man good morning. The
hct was that Crump, who had married
aher late in life, had a bright-eyed
Glghter named Annie, with whom
RoDert Carter had fallen very much in
love. 1t was only on the preceding
evening that things had come to q
crisis, and, somewhat to the young
mans surprise, Mr.. Crump had reject
ed the proposed engagement. He did
not like young Carter. He did not APP
prove of the young fellows fashionably-
cut collars, nor OF his scarf-pin, nor Of
his cane. Such things MI. Crump con-
sHered were the signs of a frivolous
disposition and unsteady habits. Nor
Md Mr.. Crump approve of the snatches
Of comic songs which Carter was con-
tnually humming. He suspected that
the young MAJ frequented music halls,
and spent more money on cheap cigars,
novels and outings than was proper for
one IN his position. Besides, Mr.. Rob-
eTt Carter was usually the last of all the
clerks to make his appearance in the
morning, and this was, in Mr.. Crump's
eyes, a very bad sign. It was plain to
the old man that Carter was now MAX
ing an attempt to arm his good opin-
ion.
Time will show-time will show"
said MIR. Crump, in rather an aggravat-
ing way, as he changed his coat, opened
ms desk, unlocked his safe, and set about
his work.
Soon the other clorks began to arrive,
and then came Mr.. Mason, the acting
partner, a tall. pale man, with long
black whiskers. Mr.. Livesey, the
senior partner, only came to the Office
Twice. a week, to examine the bank book
ana see how things were going on. MI.
Mason opened tho letters, and soon APP
peared at Mr.. Crump's desk with a
small sheaf of them in his hand. These
were letters in response to which small
sums OF money had to be sent, and it
belonged to Mr.. Crunp to attend to
men, for he had authority to sign
cnecks Tor the firm for sums up to five
pounds.
Mr.. Crump first made a list of the
payments he had to make and then vent
10 his safe for his check-book. As he
opened it to write the first check he was
surprised to find that the coupterfoil
,,clong!ng to the last check which had
oeeh taken from the book was not filled
up lie could hardly believe his eyes.
Never in all his life had he written a
eneck without first filling up the coun-
.elloll with particulars of the amount,
.1e date, and the person to whom the
eaeck was sent. But his surprise
changed to dismay when he took out his
1ash-book and found that he had only
ulawn line checks the day before, the
Gt1nontertoils of which were all properly
ntieo up, whereas q tenth check had
''en torn out of the book.
fora moment he sat as if stunned.
Ionid any one have stolen the blank
eAeck? He always kept the key of his
sue on his own bunch; but it was just
possible that some one might have got
iold OF the key, taken an impression of
I'm wax, and had a false key made.
LIE had heard of such things. He leaned
MS head on his hands and tried to think.
""hcn had he closed the safe last night?
Aoout four in the afternoon. before any
one had left the office for the day; for
ne remembered that he had been
',iI to the docks about four
uelock with some documents for a ship
"la' was about to sail and that when he
IT, -. oack at half-past six every body had
~, and the place was in darkness. If
w ,te blank check had been stolen, the
n nislt must have been committed last
slznt-or this morning? Could the
JAIL n2En hn-,, L. ro