Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-13
A TERRIBLE MISTAKE"

You are requested to draw two weeks salary, l and for reasons with which trust you are ac- l quainted seek another position.
 P.v. KN1cKER, President Drovers' Bank. 1 Philadelphia, Dec. IS, 1887.
 l How many times John Jones had read this note he could hardly have told. "Reasons l with which trust you are acquainted" He, l the cashier of the Drovers' bank, dismissed for reasons with which he was acquainted. l What did he mean? What were the reasons, and why was he supposed to be acquainted with thema These were some of the ques- tions he was putting to himself as he sat in his room almost stupefed.
 He did not fear inability to procure another situation. John Jones was too well known and had been too faithful in his services at | his bank to fear that. But why was he dis missed2 ..
 Well, he couldn't find out until the next day, unless, to be sure, he called upon MT. Knicker at his home, and that John couldn't | do in the state of mind he was in just then.
 The feeling of injured innocence Is not altogether unpleasant after all, and John finally dispersed the constantly recurring questions and prepared to go out. He would 20 and see Beth, his Beth, and together they I would talk over the matter, and:he would decide what to do. | John Jones had been sick all day. A blind 1 headache had begun to bother him before he l had left the bank the day before, and had grown constantly worse all that night, until when morning came he was unable to go to 1 his business. The headache was forgotten now: occasionally throb of pain would make him vince physically, but his thoughts were too thoroughly occupied with that un- l accountable note to realize the pa1n
 Ll-@ l. o,1d f1 1dGF{ rUa | up Chestnut street and thence to see Beth. | He saw no one, did not even feel the exertion l of walking until he brought up with bang against a gentleman who Was going in the opposite direction. He mechanically apolo- l pized and started on, but soon did the same l thing again, and saw he was unable to think about the present even enough to dodge his l fellow pedestrians. He called a cab and gave the driver orders to take him to Beth's home. Before he realized that they had started he was aroused by the sudden pulling up of the vehicle and the man, clambering down from his seat. opened the door and stood waiting for him to get out. He did so, and started up to ring the bell when the driver called after him. He had forgotten the mans fee. He paid him, and then pulled the bell.
 The door opened and he passed in, not speaking to the servant who admitted him. He seated himself and didn't move for three or four minutes. This time it was the ser want who aroused him. .t
 "Who do you wish to see, sirg' John then noticed for the first time that he l had never seen the man before. He turned on him, and the man started back and asked him if he were ill. John paid no attention to his question, but told him to tell Miss Hughes that MT. Jones was in the parlor. Then he settled into his former position and did not move again until MT. Hughes entered | and said: "Well, sir?'
 John looked up and asked for Beth. tMy daughter is engaged at present" said Mr. Hughes.
 ! Beth engaged when he, her betrothed hus- band, was waiting to see hera That was strange; he couldn't understand it. But he said: ''Very we'll, will wait"
 "Miss Hughes will be unable to see you this evening and requested me to give you this package. l am sorry, MT. Jones, but must beg you to discontinue your calls" | Great God! What did it means John was thoroughly, painfully wide awake now, and l sprang to his feet
 "Bertha can't see mo, and you ask me to discontinue my visits? Please tell me whyg'
 He was now standing perfectly straight and gazing composedly but intently at MT. Hughes
 q trust that you understand the reasons, MT. Jones, as we'll as do," said MT. Hughes, with peculiar look. | Almost the identical words Knicker had used in his note John turned without a l 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. 1 He now realized how sick he was. His head throbbed until he thought it would burst l What did he care? It even made him smile a little to think of it. He pulled his hat down hard, so hard that it's tightness hurt l 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 1 should like to have it. He didn't notice where he was going, but suddenly surprised himself by unlocking the door of his house, going upstairs and sitting down. Ahl there was the afternoon paper. He would read tho 1 accounts of the misery of others and smile to l 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 attention was arrested by this head line: l "A BANK IN A HOLE.n
 DRovERs' DEFRAUDED BY AN OLD EMPLoYE.
 What was thats The Drovers' bank de- fraudeds Why, he used to be cashier at the Drovers' bank. What long time it seemed
 since he had stood at the cashiers desk, and
 yet it was only yesterday. He would read
 the article anyway. He didn't care now
 about MT. Knicker's note Beth's message
 had inflicted 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 tho Drovers' bank, reached the office, he found a note telling him that his
 cashier, John Jones, i'll, and would be unable to be at his desk today. MT.
 Knicker is very careful man in busi-
 ness matters, and he decided to take
 tho duties of cashier upon himself until
 MT. Jones was in condition to relieve him.
 He accordingly unlocked the vaults and pre- pared for work. Soon Adam, Mealie & Johnson presented check for Q large
 amount, and upon referring to the record of
 yesterdays business, MT. Knicker found that a package of ten s1 900 bills had been depos- ited He immediately decided to use one of
 those bills in cashing the check, and going
 to the vault, removed the package supposed
 to contain them. In counting the money he
 found nine $1 900 bills and $1OO bill On