Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-26
CHAPTER ".
"wHo HAS DONE TH1sf'

There were six checks lying before Mr..
MurTidge. All Of them were drawn for tho
same amount; all Of them, in words and
figures, were written exactly alike, save for
the date. Mr.. Murridge himself wrote a
small and well-marked hand, very neat and
clear-each letter perfectly ~formed-such a
hand as might be expected Of one who has
been brought up as an engraver. Yet, for
that very reason, perhaps, easier to initiate
than a more common and slovenly char
acter. The signatures Of these checks we're
30 perfectly initiated that even Mr.. Muir
ridge himself could only tell by the dates
which were his own and which were for
geries.
"Six checks" he said, c more compar-
ing the dates of the checks with his own
diary, ''and four Of them-these four-are
forgeries. These four"
Again he examined them closely.
They were all drawn for the same amount
namely. twelve pounds. Il was an estab-
lished rule with this methodical man, a rule
from which he never departed, always to
draw the checks he wanted for private and
domestic use for the same amount-namely,
twelve pounds. This enabled him to know
by a glance at the bank book how much he
spent on his household, and on salaries,
wages, personal expenses and office. Gen
orally he drew this twelve pounds once a
week. Sometimes, however, he would have
to draw oftener than once a week. But q
check for twelve pounds, with his signature,
payable to bearer, would be certainly cashed
without suspicion or doubt when presented
across the counter.
II forger must have known that practice
of his.
Who did know it,
He had before him, BESIDES the checks
themselves, his bank book and his check
book.
six checks" he said, summing up the
case, have been distracted from the book:
not taken altogether, which would have
made a sensible gap in the book
should have noticed that at once-but one
taken here and one taken there, SO as to
escape observation. That was crafty. When
could | have left the check book lying aboutl
and who would be in the office when l went
out leaving it lying on the tablet Six
checks. -Four have been presented and paid.
There remain two more"
Mr.. Murridge's business was not one which
required the continual paying into the bank
of money and the drawing of many checks.
He had his bank book made up once a month.
His son generally called for it. On this oc-
casion be had himself, while passing the
bank that very morning, three days before
the usual time, looked in and asked for it.
Therefore it was probable that the other two
checks would be both presented before the
customary day of sending for the handbook.
Evidently the writer Of the checks knew
perfectly well the routine of his office as well
as his signature.
ut could not be the girl, " said Mr.. Muir
ridge; 'she could never initiate my hand
writing, TO begin with" He looked at one
Of her papers. 1t was written in a large
hand, rather clumsy, for Norah belonged to
the generation which has not been taught to
write neatly as well as legibly, and the day
of the fine Italian hand has quite gone by.
Nobody who wrote such a sprawling hand
as hers could initiate even distantly Mr..
Murridge's neat and clearly formed charac.
tiers. "She may have stolen the checks for
some one. though. She may have a lover.
Girls will do anything for their lovers. Yet
l have always thought her an honest girl.
Tho man who trusts any ons is a fool0