New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-07-25
SAVED ON TIE Brink.

I was seated in my Office one after
noon in October, 1854, when an ac-
quaintance, merchant of this city,
called. had then acquired a fair ex-
| perience in my calling, but my income
from that source had been quite
limited; hence my extreme gratifca-
ton when my visitor announced that
the purpose of his visit was bust
| ness
The gentleman said that a friend
| of his, Mr.. B, a merchant doing
an extensive business on Lake street,
had requested him to suggest the
name of a reliable man to undertake
a private Investigation; that he had
promised to comply with the request,
and therefore came to me. [ asked
him if he knew anything about the
character and details of the case.
He replied that he did not. At my
instance the gentleman wrote a let
ter of introduction to Mr.. b,
which he handed me, and after re-
ceiving my promise to deliver it with
out delay he departed.
lost no time in communicating
1 with Mr.. B. sent my messep-
ger the letter ofintro duction inclosed
IN a note OF my own, requesting an
| interview, and in reply was invited
/ to call at his residence that evening
at 8 o'clock.
| was promptly on hand at the des-
ignated time, and was ushered into
a comfortably and well appointed
little library room.
| Mr.. B received me cordially,
but his face wore an expression of
much concern.
ssFor what specific purpose is my
service required?" I asked, making a
dive at the business in hand.
| Il wish you to investigate a little
matter for me-" he said, aand will
| give you the cause and details in a
few words After a moments hest
tation, which seemed devoted to
deep thought, he said: 81 presume
you are aware of the character of
our business; we require a large
clerical force in our counting ROOM
we reward our efficiency and zeal
with merited promotion, and many
of our clerks have acquired their
present advanced positions through
this system. Among others in our
counting room is one who has Sc
cured his desk by gradual promo
ton, a young man who seems pos
sessed of the required qualifications
and who has always, SO far as / can
judge, properly performed his whole
duty. Ispeak Of our cashier. He is
young, intelligent, with a kindly dis
position, prompt at his post, and in
defatigable in his work. Because of
these qualities and the fact that he
has exercised economy I have felt
myself gradually drawn toward him.
| have taken deeper interest in him
than in many others in our employ
and was much gratifed to find that
he had to his credit a neat little sum,
saved out of his salary. Recently,
however, / have noticed that he
wears a haggard expression, and the
discovery has disturbed me. When
first [ observed this change it was
but slightly depicted on his counte-
nance, but it has grown more pro-
nounced from day to day until now
he seems little more than a shadow
of his former self, and though prompt
at his post and in his work, the old
smile seldom lights up his genial face.
| I have taken occasion to look into
| his personal account in the led ger and
find that from time to time he has
drawn upon it until now very little
remains Of the 81, 900 to his credit a
month ago.
! "What is your idea of the cause OF
| this condition of things?" | asked.
II have no fixed idea" Mr.. B
replied, and then added: "What
| puzzles and pains me is the fact that,
though he has authority to pay out
money standing to the credit of any
employees account and had a right to
| draw his money. he had several times
/ invested in shares ofbuilding and loan
associations, but never without first
| consulting me as to the ACCESSIBILITY
OF doing SO. Ofcourse, / have been
more than pleased with this mark Of
confidence, and was so favorably i'm
pressed with his worth that / had al
| ready determined that he would be
| the next to be admitted to a junior
4 copartnership interest in our estab-
ishment. My recent discoveries and
| the cashiers reticence have made me
uneasy. / am determined, Impossible,
| to learn the cause of this change, and
therefore I have sent for you to look
i into the case for me. / desire you to
ascertain what influence has caused
the change in his appearance, and
what he has done with his money
The only condition that I interpose
is that you must make no move that
| will disturb him until you shall have
reported to me. You may adopt
4 your own time and method to reach
the end in view, and you may cal