Democratic messenger., 1888-09-29

VcStiSdtiOH IL tIdhSpiTeu tildt
the last person who handled
the bills was John Jones. the
cashier. Before passing. into
the hands Of the cashier the
bills had, however, been han
died 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 MIR. Jones and
one Of the clerks happened to
be standing near by when
Jones took it. The clerk no.
ticed particularly that Mr..
Jones seemed to find it all
right, but that instead Of pin
ming the little slip Of paper
with the amount marked on
it, which is customary toplace
around packages OF money, he
withdrew 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 fur
ther information. Other evi-
dence conclusively shows that
Notwithstanding Mr.. Jones
previous integrity he has yield
ed to temptation and gone the
way Of many others. 1t is men
toned incidentally that that
very morning Mr.. Jones had
said he was in great need OF
5000, the exact amount ex-
tracted from the package. Mr..
knicker, in consideration OF
Jones' former uprightncss 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 open eyes he sat staring
at the wall. The clock ticked
away on the mantle 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 before, and
he bathed it. There was a
spot on his cuff and he put on
a clean pair. Yes he was sure
his head was aching harder.
What was that noise? Why,
of course, some one was knock
ing at the 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 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 JoIN-Comc and see
me to-day. ! cannot believe
it. BETH.
Who was Beth ? Oh he
remembered now ; she was a
girl who had promised to mar
ry 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,
"Wcll," he laughed wildly,
tell her that ! will be there. -
John sat down again, and
again began glaring at the
wall. 1t was nearing 10 o'clock
now, and John got up put on
his overcoat and hat, scruptu-
lously brushed them and went
out. He again took a cab and
went TO Bcth's house. This
time he paid the cabman, and
as he went in was about to
speak to the servant when he
saw that it was Beth herself
who had opened the door. He,
however. was not at all sur
prised. but said good morning
to her much as he would have
done 10 the servant.
"Oh, John, ! am SO glad you
have come Why, John, are
you i'll ?"
He laughed and again said
good morning. He preceded
her into the parlor, and sat
down in the same chair he oc-
cupicd the night before. He