Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

Bank. Pay Jos. Beckman, Esq, on order
e3,172 15s.-Livesey and Mason"
He looked up bewildered The tall
man in the frock coat watched him mar
rowly.
''Who is this Beckman?" asked Mr..
Livesey.
Il 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 any one?"
mo, sir'
'Did you miss t."
eyes, sir. [ missed it yesterday; and [
wrote to Messrs. Marshall, to whom had
sent the one before that, thinking that I
had torn out two by mistake"
THAT rather points to his innocence"
whispered Mr.. Livesey to the tall man at
his elbow.
''It may be only clever plant, sir" re-
turned the other.
you did not put that letter among the
others to be copied in the letter-book,"
put in Mr.. Mason.
Crump hung his head.
''Is the check" he began after
pause.
'Of course it is forged" answered Mr..
Livesey.
''And was it paid?"
eyes; it was paid yesterday"
Mr.. Crump shuddered, took long
breath, and waited.
Nov, Crump, you had better make a
clean breast of it," said Mr.. Livesey after
a few moments silence. "Tel US who
this man Beckman is; tell where the
money has gone-it can't be all spent al
ready-and it will be none the worse for
you"
Mr.. Crump felt choking sensation in
his throat but he plucked up courage
enough to say, II have told you already,
sir, that I know nothing about it. It was
only yesterday morning that noticed
that check had been taken from the
book"
"Why did you not mention it?" asked
Mr.. Mason.
II thought I had torn it out myself
along with the one I sent to Mr.. Mar
shall"
But it may have been torn out by any
one in the Office during the day before?'
Eyes, sir" replied Crump. Il don't
see how any one could have got at the
book, for I am very careful; but it is
possible"
''The thief has probably got profess
ional forger to copy the signature from
an old letter." said Mr.. Mason, taking up
the slip of paper. "It is beautifully imi-
tated. [ would not have detected it my
self"
ut is plain that the thief must have
been someone in the office, though prob
ably had an accomplice outside" said
Mr.. Jeffreys. "a stranger would not have
known that the firm had so large bal
ance at the moment. Is there anyone of
your fellow clerks whom you think may
have had a hand in it?" he added, turn
ing to the cashier.
NO sir"
us 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 for a moment.
Speak, sir, if you are wise, said Mr..
Livesay sternly.
i Il have sometimes thought that Mr..
Carter spent a 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 Carriers
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 a state of great in
dignation, having strenously denied any
knowledge whatever of the forgery. The
result of 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
charged at once. As to Carter, they de-
termined to allow him to remain where
, he was, and keep a close watch en- his
proceedings.
, Poor Walter Crump went home that
day like one in a dream, He was dis
missed as the accomplice of a forger!
, And he could not say that, in the circum-
stances, he had been treated uni Justly.
, 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 speak
| ing, and even his favorite daughter,
Annie could not make him say what
GGOuDl6u MIN. HOW COulu ne Tell his
children that he, their father, had been
t dismissed from his situation on suspicion
l of having robbed his employees of about
$4,000.
About o'clock in the evening knock
: came to the old mans door. It waf Rob
ert. Crump started to his feet in indig
r nation. Was this fellow, whom he sus-
pected to be the real criminal, to come
and gloat over him in his present mis-
cry.
But before he could speak Carter had
| come into the room and held out his
) hand:
7 came to tell you, Mr.. Crump," said
| he, chow sorry we all are in the Office
J about this. None of US believe you had
anything to do with it, of course. 1t will
, all come out, most likely, in a day or
two
The old man stared at him for a min
ute without speaking and without taking
Carter's hand.
c5-I.sI ,o Of