Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-05-21

ldcs returning shortly sfterward With
JedfSya, the MAJ per OF the Lon,
don and Lancashira Bank at which
1.-The firm kept their account
Then Nj. Jeflleys t.. sud came
back accomp panied ~ ono 81 Hi cash,
lers. Then g bell Was rung and Mr.
Crump was rent for. 81
Withsa, beating heart aud cold sweat
on his brow the cashier obsyed The
Summons.
Bring you're check ook M. Cxu III 4
said the senior partner SIS
This wAs done, and 8 Imam whom
Mr.. Crump had not noticed IN to this
time, stepped up to tho table and
glanced Of the check book along With
Mr.. Liveeey. .z5:5Es5
81 thought so.", exclaimed the Old
gentleman. s Here's the place from
which the check was taken; hereis the
counterfeit. The numbers correspond,
What made you do il, Grumpy You
are the last man in the world from
whom ! would have expected such
conduct" ia Il IA B -: ,.1'.
"po what, sir, faintly uttered Nj.
Crump. II %s y 8. ,s.=.. ..l7 .s5. .-
Do whatp echoed his employer with
q cOntemptu smile. "Who did
you get to do this little bit ofwork for
you?" .,s u 5e.5s ..s 81
As he spoke Mr.. Liyesey tossed a
check across the table. Mr.. Crump
took it up and read: The London
and Lancashire Bank. Pay Jos. Beck
man, Esq, or order, three thousand
one hundred and seventy-tWo pounds
fifteen shillings. Livesey and Mason. 4
He looked up bewild Tered. The tall
man in the frock-coat watched him
narrowly. e.
"Who is this Beckman?" asked Mr..
Livesey.. '5 = - -
II don't know, sir" ;
/" "You don't know? You see that
check has come from your book?"'
Eyes, sir.''' ..ss %.
"pid you give it to any one?" =.
t'No, SIR 49,. -
- "Did you miss it,
eyes, sir: missed it yesterday, and
l wrote to Messrs. Marshall, to whom
had sent the one before that, think-
ing that had torn out two by mis-
take"
''That points to his Innocence"
whispered Mr.. Livebey to the tall man
at his elbow.
1T may be only clever plant, SIR"
returned the other. -
"You did not put that letter among
the Others to be copied in tho letter.
box" put in Mr.. Mason.
Crump hung his head.
"Is the check" he began, after b
pause.
"0f course it is forged" answered
Mr.. Livesey.
"And was it paid?"
yes, it was paid yesterday"
MIR. Crump shuddered, took g. long
breath, and waited.
"Now, Crunlp, you had better make
a clean breast of it," said Mr.. Livesay
after few moments silence. "Tell
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 fo1 YOU"
Mr.. Crump felt a choking sensation
in his throat; but he plucked up cour-
age enough to say, II have told you
already, sir, that I know nothing
about it: 1t was only yesterday
morning that l noticed that a check
had been torn from the book"
"Why did you not mention it?"
asked MIR. Mason.
II thought had torn it out myself
along with the one sent to Mr.. Mar
shall" .-:s.s ~ - =
""Butit may have been torn out by
any one in the Office during, the day
before?"
"Yes, SIR replied Crump. IT
oon,c see now any one could have got
atthe book, for | am very careful;
but it is possible"
"The thief has probably got d pro-
[essional forger to copy the signature
rom an old letter." said Mr.. Mason,
taking UP the slip OF paper. ut is
beautifully initiated. would not
nave detected it myself"
1T is plain that the thief must have
oeen some one in the Office, though
he had an accomplice out
'ide,," said Mr.. Jefferys. "a stranger
would not have known that the firm
had so large a balance at the mo-
nent. Is there any oneof your fellow
clerks whom you think may have had
l hand in it?" he added, turning to the
cashier.
"No, sir"
SIS there any one who keeps loose
company, or any one who is in the
labit of spending too much money!"
Mr.. Crump thought of Carter, and
lesitated for moment.
"Speak. sir, if you are WISE" said
MIR. Livesey sternly. =.
II have sometimes thought that
Mr.. Carter spent good deal on dress,
md soon; but not more than many |
young men, !" replied Mr.. Crump.
But as he spoke he suddenly remem-
,ered Robert Carter s unusually early
appearance on the preceding morning,
Ind g suspicion arose in his mind.
Without intending it he allowed his
thoughts to appear in his face, 10
hat his protest Isl know nothing
whatever against Mr.. Carter had
but little effect. ~s&%
Crump was sent back to his desk,
Ind Carter was sent tor. He came
BACK to the Clerks room in 8 state of
reat indignation, having strenuously
aenied any knowledge whatever Of the
orgery. The result Of a consultation
between tho bank manager and the
partners was that, as Crump could
lot account foH the loss Of the check
le had probably stolen il; and that,
although there Was not evidencs
.nough to prosecute him, he must be
sc Once. Ast to Carter, they
determined to allow him to remain
where he was, and keep q close watch
IN his proceedings.
Poor " alter Crump went home that
lay hike one ID q dream. He was dis
missed - the accQmplics Of 8 foreerl
And he could not Jay that, In tho cir
he had been treated I'M.