News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-07-26

was strange; he couldn't understand it
But he said: every well, I will wait.
"Miss Hughes will be unable to set
you this evening and requested me t,
give you this package. I am sorry, Mr.
Jones, but I must beg you to discon
tinue your calls"
Great God! What did it mean
John was thoroughly, painfully wide
awake now, and sprang to his feet.
Bertha can't see me, and you ask me
to discontinue my visits? Please tell me
| why"
He was now standing perfectly straight
and gazing composedly but intently al
Mr.. Hughes.
81 trust that you understand the rea
sons, Mr.. Jones, as well as 1 do" said
Mr.. Hughes with a peculiar look.
Almost the identical words Knicker
had used in his note. John turned with
out word and left the house. He did
not put on his overcoat, although the
night was cold. He tipped his hat over
his eyes and walked. He now realized
how sick he was. His head throbbed
until he thought it would burst. What
did he care. 1t even made him smile a
little to think of it. He pulled his hat
down hard, so hard that its tightness
hurt him. He wondered if that would
make his head ache any harder. He
wondered if his head could ache any
harder. If it could he should like to
have it. He didn't notice where he was
going, but suddenly surprised himself
by unlocking the door of his own house,
going upstairs and sitting down. All !
there was the afternoon paper. He
would read the accounts of the misery of
others and smile to think how much
more miserable he was than any of them.
He picked it up, glanced it over, and was
about to lay it down again when his at
tention was arrested by this headline:
"a BANK IN A HOLE"
DRovERS' DEFRAUDED BY AN OLD EN-
PLoYEE.
What was that2 The Drovers' Bank
defrauded? Why, he used to be cashier
at the Drovers' Bank. What a long time
it seemed since he had stood at the
cashiers desk, and yet it was only yes
terday. He would read the article any
way. He didn't care now about Mr..
Knicker's note. Beth's message had in
fiicted so much deeper sting that he
had almost forgotten the note, but he
would read the article, and he thought
he should feel pleased to learn that
Knicker had been cheated.
'This morning when P. V. Knicker, |
the President of the Drovers' Bank, |
reached the Office, he found note tell |
ing him that his cashier, John Jones,
was i'll, and would be unable to be at his |
desk to-day. Mr.. Knicker is o very care |
full man in business matters, and he de-
cided to take the duties of cashier upon
himself until Mr.. Jones was in a condi-
ton to relieve him. He, accordingly,
unlocked the vaults and prepared for
work. Soon Adam, Mealie & johnson
presented check for a large amount,
md upon referring to the record of yes
erday's business, Mr.. Knicker found
hat package of ten 81, ZOO bills had
)een deposited. He Immediately de-
ided to use one of those bills in cashing
he check, and, going to the vault, re-
moved the package supposed to contain
hem. In counting the money, he found
inc 81, 600 bills and n 800 bill. On
lvestigation it trnnspired that the last
,IE-on who had handled the bills was I q
ohn Jones, the cashier. Before passing {
ito the hands of the cashier, the bills 2
ad, however, been handled by four subor- I
mates, who reported that there were ten ]
the 81 900 notes in the packet when 6
ley saw it. 1t then went to Mr.. Jones, and
ne of the clerks happened to be stand
lg by when Jones took it. The clerk
oticed particularly that Mr.. Jones
eemed to find it all right, but that in
tead of pinning the little slip of paper
With the amount marked on it which 1t
S customary to place around packages OF
money, he withdrew one of the bills and
aid the others on the desk. The clerk
vas then called to some other part OF the
DOM and can give no further informa-
ion. Other evidence couclusively shows
hat Notwithstanding Mr.. Jones previ-
JUS integrity, he has yielded to tempta-
ion and gone the way of many others.
It is mentioned incidentally that that
7ery morning Mr.. Jones said he was in
great need of $500 the exact amount
extracted from the package. Mr.. Knick-
er, in consideration OF Jones former
and strict discharge of duty
will not prosecute.
John read this once, twice, three
lines. He only uttered two words: "My
God."
Falling back in his chair with wide
open eyes he sat staring at the wall. /
The clock ticked away on the mantle .
shelf, the fire grew lower and almost .
lied, the lamp sputtered and smoked, |
Out still John, Jones sat back in his chair, |
staring, staring at the wall. Finally it .
became light and the noise of
.raffic began in the street. John moved |
lneasiIy, looked around the room
md got up. His head, he
thought, was aching somewhat harder
han on the night before, and he batLed .
t. There was a spot on his cuff and he 7
put on a clean pair, Yes, he was sure
his head was aching harder. What WAS /
that noise? Why, of course, some one |
was knocking at his door. He would /
open it and see who it was-a messenger
boy. He took the message, opened it, .
and forgot to read it. He was standing .
still and wondering if it was foggy out
side or if his eyes were dim.
''The lady said to wait for an answer"
said the boy.
Oh, yes. There was that note. He
would read it.
DEAR JoHN-COme and see me to-day. I
cannot believe it. BETH.
Who was Beth2 OH he remembered
now; she was the girl who had promised
to marry him, the thief The word, he
thought, sounded well, so he said it
over and over again. Thief Thief |.
Thief! The boy asked for the answer.
"Well," he laughed wildly, 'tell her
/ will be there"
John sat down again, and again began
glaying at the wall. 1t was nearing 10 |
o'clock now, and John got up and put |,
on his overcoat and hat, scrupuIously |
brushed them and went out. He again |
took a cab and went to Beth's house. |
This time he paid the cabman, and as
he went in was about to speak to the |
servant when he saw it was Beth herself |
who had opened the door. He, how !
ever, was not at all surprised, but said |
good morning to her much as he would |
have done to the servant.
go, John, am so glad you have come |
why, John, are you i'll 2"
He laughed and again said good morn |
ing. He preceded her into the parlor,
and sat down in the same chair he occu-
pied the night before. He was laughing
quietly to himself all the time. His
head was aching terribly now, and that
was very funny.
"John, dear John, tell me it isn't true
I know it is not. [ was hasty last night,
John; won't you forgive me-"
John looked at her, brushed a speck