The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-09-01
THE MYSTERIOUS FORGERY.

Il was bleak October morning, and
Mr.. Walter Crump, cashier to the firm
of Messrs. Livesey d Mason, quickenesl
his pace as he made his way along
Throgmorton street to the scene OF his
daily toll. 1t was not that he feared to
be late that Mr.. CruBp was walking fast.
During all the forty years that he had sat
upon high stool from ten 10 five, Mr.
Crump had never been known 10 be late
for his work A more methodical, care
ful man never hung over ledger or bal
aneed "a csish-book
At length he reached the well-known
staircase, opened the office door, and
stood still for moment in surprise.
Young Carter, the assistant book-keeper
was there before him, already at his
work. Mr.. Crump smiled grimly.
So you've made beginning, young
man, he said Wen see
Carriers face flushed a little as he babe
the older man good morning The fact
was that Crump, who had married rather
late in life, had bright eyed daughter
named Annie, with whom Robert Carter
had fallen very much in love 1t was
only on the preceding evening that
things had come TO crisis, and some
what to the Young mans surprise, Mr.
Crump had rejected the proposed en-
gagement. He did not approve of the
young mans fashionable collars, nor of
his scarf-pin, nor of his cane. Such things
Mr.. Crunp considered were signs Of a
frivolous disposition and unsteady habits.
Nor did Mr.. Crumpapproye of the esnatch
es of comic songs which Carter was con
tinually humming. He suspected thai
the young man frequented music halls
and spent more money on cheap cigars,
novels and outings than was proper for
one in his position. Besides, Robert Car
ter was usually the last of all the clerks
to make his appearance in the morning,
and this WIS, in Mr. CnImp's eyes. a very
bad sign. 1t was plain 10 the old man
that Carter was now making an attempt
to earn his good opinion.
Time will show, time will show" said
Mr.. Crunp, in rather an aggravating way
as he changed his coat, opened his
desk. unlocked his safe and set about his
work.
Soon the other clerks began TO arrive,
and then came Mr.. Mason, the acting
partner, tail, pale man, with long, black
whiskers. Mr. Livesey, the senior part
ner. only came To the office twice week
to examine the bank books and see how
things were going ON. Mr. Mason open
ed the letters, read them, and soon
at MIR. Crump's desk with
small sheaf of them in his hand These
were letters in response to which small
sums of money had To- be sent. and it be-
longed to Mr.. Crump to attend to them,
for he mad authority to sign checks for
the firm for sums up 10 50.
Mr. Crump first made list of the pay
ments he had TO make, and then went to
his safe for his check-book. As he open
eli il to write the iirst check, he was sur
prised To find that the counterfeit belong
ing 10 the last check which had been
taken from the book was not filled up.
He could hardly believe his ewes. Never
in all his life had he written check
without first filling up the counterfoil
with particulars Of the amount, the date,
and the person Ia which the amount was
sent But his surprise changed TO dis
may when he took ont his cash book and
found that he had only drawn nine
checks the day before, the counter;oils of
which were all properly filed up, where
as i tenth check had been torn ont of the
book.
For moment he sat rs if stunned.
Could any one have stolen the blank
check ? He always kept the key of his
safe on his own bunch but ii WIS also
Just possible that some one might have
got hold of the key, taken an impression
Of il in wax. and had false one made
He had heard Of such things. He leaned
his head on his hands. and tried to think.
When had he closed the safe last night
About four in the afternoon, before any
Dne had Jeff the office for the day, for he
that he had gone TO the
locks about four o'clock with some doc
rments for a ship that was about To sail,
md that when he got back at 7::,0 every
body had left. and the place was in dark
ness.
If the blank check had been stolen,
hen the theft must have been committed
asst night--or this morning? Could the
safe have been opened before his arrival
He knew Carriers unusually carly appear
NICE, and rev suspicious glance atthe
Young man.
Then simpler solution of the matter
occurred to him. Ii was very possible
hat. in tearing out the hast check he had
lrawn the day before be had torn out two
by mistake, folded them up and sent
them off together This would, of course,
account for the appearance Of the check
book He determined to write at once TO
Marshall 4 Co., merchants at Liverpool,
to whom he had sent the last check, and
ask whether blank check had been sent
them by mistake.
Then the question ar,se-shoald he
mention the circumstance to Mr.. Mason
On consideration. he thought that il was
not necessary To do -. Mr. Mason was
rather hard man to deal with, and
confession would ruin the character for
carefulness which the cashier had 80 long
enjoyed. And he fully expected that in
two days at most he sould get a letter
from Liverpool, including the slip of pa
per which had cost him so much
anxiety.
The next day was Tuesday, and acsor,i
ing to his insariable custom on that day