The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-06-06

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 ill, and would be unable to be at
his desk to-day. Mr.. Knicker is a very
careful man in business matters, and he
decided to take the duties of cashier
upon himself until Mr., Jones was in a
condition to relieve him. He, accord
lngly, unlocked the vaults and prepared
for work. Soon Adam, Mealie s. John
son presented a check for large amount
and, upon referring to the record of
yesterdays business, Mr.. Knicker found
that package of ten $1,000 bills had
been deposited he immediately de-
cided to use one of those bills in cash
ing the check, and. going to the vault,
removed the package supposed to con-
tain them. In counting the money, he
found nine $1,000 bills and 500 bill.
On investigation it transpired that the
last person who had handled the bills
was John Jones, the cashier. Before
passing into the hands of the cashier,
the bills had, however, been handled by
four subordinates, who reported that
there were ten of the $1,000 notes in the
packet when they saw it. 1t then went
to Mr.. Jones, and one of the clerks hap
pened to be standing near by, when
Jones took it. The clerk. noticed par.
ticularly that Mr.. Jones seemed to find
it all right, but that instead of pinning
the lite slip of paper with the amount
marked on it, which 1t is customary to
place arond packages of money, he with
drew one of the bills and laid the others
loose on his desk. The clerk was then
called to some other part of the room
and can give no further information.
Other evidence conclusively shows that
Notwithstanding Mr.. Jones's previous
integrity he has yielded to temptation
and gone the way of many others. 1t is
mentioned incidentally that that very
morning Mr.. Jones had said he was in
great need of 5000, the exact amount
extracted from the package. MIR.
Knicker, in consideration of Jones's
former uprightness and strict discharge
of duty, will not prosecute.
John read this once, twice, three times.
He only uttered two words: ''My God"
Falling back in his chair with wide
open eyes he sat staring at the wall.
The. clock licked away on the manrel
shelf, the fire grew lower and almost
died, the lamp sputtered and smoked,
but still John Jones sat back in his chair,
staring, staring at the wall. Finally it
gradually became light, and the noise of
traffic began in the street. John moved
uneasily, looked around the room and got
up. His head, he thought, was aching
somewhat harder than on the night be-
fore, and he bathed it. There was spot
on his cuff and he put on clean pair.
Yes, he was sure his head was aching
harder. What was that noise2 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 outside rif 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. d. ="
"DEAR JoHN-Cone and see me to day.
cannot believe it. BETH"
Who was Beth2 Oh! he remembered
now she was the girl who had prmised to
marry him, the thief. The word, he
thought, sounded we'll, so he said it over
and over again. Thief! Thief. Thief!
The boy asked for the answer.
"Well," he laughed wildly, "tellher I
will be there
John sat down again, and again began
glaring at the wall. 1t was nearly 10
O'clock now, and John got up and put
on his overcoat and hat, scrupulously
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 serv-
ant when he saw that it was Beth her.
self who had opened the door. He,
however, was not at all surprised, but
said good morning to her much as he
would have done to the servant.
ooh, John, T am so glad you have
come-why, John, are you ill?"
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 ism true.
know it is not. was hasty last night,
John; won't. you forgive me2"
John looked at her, brushed speck
from his knee, ind laughed a little
louder.
"Lohn, John, why don't you answer
met Why don't you tell me it isn't truce
But no, l won't ask that, know it
isn't" She threw her arms around him
and sank at his SIDE.
He did not move, but stopped laugh
ing. Oh! how his head did ache. No,
it had stopped aching: Where was heG
Oh, yes. Beth was with him and was
sobbing. Why was she crying2 He
didn't remember, but thought that he
was connected with it some way, he
didn't know how. He lifted her head
from his knee, bent down, and kissed
her. Kissed her many times, and drew
her up, folding his arms about
her and telling her he was sorry. What
he was sorry for he couldn't have said.
He got up and drawing her to him,
kissed her again and said: "Good-by,
Beth"
He could see her lips move but he
didn't hear anything. He went to the
door, opened it, and went down to the
street and wondered why the horses and
.raosona didn,t mnka INV naian How