The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-05-21
BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY. MAY 81. 1886


the counterfoil. The numbers cores
pond. What made You do it, Crump {?
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.. Levesey tossed a
check across the table. Mr. Crump
took it up and read "The London
and Lancashire Bank. Pap Jos. Beck
man Esq, or order, three thousand one
hundred and seventy two pounds fif-
teen shil1ngs.--Livesey and Mason -
He looked mp bewildered The tall
man in the frock-coat watched him
narrowly.
"Who is this Beckman p asked Mr..
Iivesey.
81 don't know, sir"
"You don't know? You see that
the check has come from your book ?''
"Y,s, sir"
"Did you give it to any one p
"No, sir.
Did you miss it p
"fes sir. | missed it yesterday and
| wrote to Messrs. Marshall, to whom
| had sent the one before that, think
ing that | had torn out two by mis-
take"
That rather points to his in innocence,
whispered Mr.. Livesey to the tall man
at his elbow.
81 may be only a clever plant, sir,
returned the other.
"1ou 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 a
pause.
"Of course it Is forged" an nswered
Mr.. Livcsey.
"And was it paid ?"
"Yes :; it was paid yesterday
Mr.. Crump shuddered took long
breath, and waited.
"Now Crump, you bad better make
a clean breast of it, said Mr.. Livcsev
after moments silence. ''Ttll Us
who this man Beckman is tell 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, 81 have told you
already, sir, that know nothing about
it. 1t was only yesterday morning that
| noticed that check bad been taker
from the book
"Why did you not mention it ~ ask
ed Mr.. Mason.
81 thought l 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 ?"
"Yes, SIR replied Crump, 81 don't
see how any one could have got at the
book, for | am very careful but it is
possible.
"The thief has probably got a pro
fessional torger to copy the signature
from an old letter." said Mr.. Mason
taking up the slip of paper. at il
BEAUTIFULLY initiated. l would not have
detected it myself
sit is plain that the thief must hav,
been some one in the office, though
probably he had au accomplice out
side, said Mr.. Jetfreys. "a strange
would not have known that the firm
had so large balance at the moment
Is there any one of your fellow-clerk,
whom you may think may have had &
hand in it 2 he added, turning to the
cashier.
''No, sir"
SIS there any one who keeps loos'
company, or any one who is in The
habit of spending too much money a.
Mr.. Crump thought of Carter, anC
hesitated for moment.
Speak, sir, if you are WISE" sale
Mr.. Llvesey sternly.
81 have sometimes thought that Mr.
Garter spent a good deal on dress, ant
so on ; but not more than many young
men, replied Mr.. Crump. But as h,
spoke he sudden remembered Rober
Carriers unusual early appearance OF
the preceding morning, and a suspi
cion arose in his mind. Without in
tending it he allowed his thoughts t,
appear in his face, so that his protes
81 know nothing whatever agains
Mr., Carter er'-had but little effect.
Crump was sent back to his desk
aud Carter was sent for He cam
back to the clerks room in state O
great indignation, having strenuousl
denied any knowledge whatever of tn
forgery. The result of a consultation
between the bank manager and tn
partners was that, as Crump could no
| account for the loss of the check, h
had probably stolen it, and that, al
though there was not evidence enoug
TO prosecute him, he must be dsmisse,
at once. AS to Carter they determin
ed TO allow him to remain where h
was, and keep close watch on hi
proceedings.
Poor Walter Crump went home thf
day like one in dream. He was dis
missed as the accomplice of a forger
And he could not say that in the eli
cumstances, he had been treated III
justly. The check had been intruste
to him, and he had lost it 1t was, az
parently, at least, his fault that tn
crime had been comu tied. He almo,
wondered that he had not been sent I
prison.
When he reached his own house /
sat down in front of the fire withov
speaking, and even his favorite daugh
er, Annie, could not make him 50
what troubled him. How could
tell his children that he, their fathe
had been dismissed from his situate
on suspicion OF having robbed his er
ployers of $4,000
About s o'clock in the evening
knock came to the old mans door.
was Robert Carter, CrGmp started
his feet in indignation Was IL
fellow, whom he suspected to be I
real criminal, to come and gloat ov
, him i'm his misery ?