The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-02
The Marked Bank-NOtes.


Marshall, won't you do me the ia
vor to keep this tive-dollar bill for
me? | want to take my holiday soon,
and I'm afraid if | keep it myself, I'll
be tempted to spend it,"
why, certainly, Edward; I'll keep
it for you with pleasure" And the
youth who had been addressed by his
companion as Marshall took out his
pocket-bOok and put the bauk-note
carefully in it by the side of one of the
same denomination that was already de-
posted there.
Archie Marshall and Edward Frank
lin were fellow-clerks in the large
wholesale house of Zimmerman & Co.,
and being about the same age, and
formerly schoolmates, were very init
mate, both in and out of their business
associations.
Marshall lived with his parents, and
Franklin was an orphan, but both were
boys of excellent character and served
their employers faithfully; yet, while
Archie was economical in his habits,
Edward was just the reverse, and spent
his wages freely. This explained the
request made of his friend.
While the two boys were talking
about the money, Mr.. Zimmerman, the
senior partner of the firm, passed by
on his way to the cOunting-room, and
scanned them closely as he noted the
transfer of the money to Marshal's
pocket-book
A few moments later an errand-boy
told Marshall that Mr.. Zimmerman
would like to see him in the counting
room.
Dropping his work, the young clerk
proceeded at once to see his employer,
wondering at the strange summons, for
he had never had one of that kind be-
fore.
He found Mr.. Zimmerman alone in
his private office, and looking unusually
severe and serious.
AS Archie knocked at the door the
merchant, without looking up, told him
to come in and be seated. After few
moments silence, Mr. Zimmerman
looked up.
Marshall" said he, &c | am plain
spoken man, and will not beat about
the bush at all. We have lately baen
missing small sums of money from the
cash drawer, and, while | am loath tc
suspect you, l would like to examine
that five-dollar bill which you have in
your pocket"
Certainly, Mr.. Zimmerman" re-
piled Archie, promptly handing his EN-
ployer his pocket-book; "but excuse
me, sir, don't think | quite under
stand you," he continued, with hest
tation.
Mr.. Zimmerman looked at the franz
face of his young employee a moment
and said, with equal hesitation:
well, Marshall, it is just this. AS
| told you before, we have been miss
ing money, and took the precaution tc
mark some bills with private mark il
the effort to trace the guilty person
As | passed you in the store, lttl,
while ago, / saw Franklin give you
what thought | recognized as one o
those marked notes. All here it i
now" continued the merchant; anC
here is the mark"
Saying this, he drew forth the not
which Franklin had given Marshall
and pointed to an " X " in one corner
which had apparently been made il
red ink with quill pen.
And here is anotherl" he exclaimed
HNhNH' A"bSis 90 hO hlSSloocd III
other note, belonging to Marshall
which also bore the guilty mark.
The young clerk was too much shocke
and surprised, for time, to make an
answer. His face flushed and pale,
by turns, but it was not with emotion
of guilt or fear; and he looked squared
into the merchants face as he strov
TO collect his scattered thoughts.
i can not imagine how this can be
Mr.. Zimmerman" he finally gasped
The first note you saw belongs t
Franklin, and the other | got as a par
of my last weeks salary. Frankli
can not save money, and he asked m
to keep his five dollars for him"
81 am very sorry, Marshall" re
sponded the merchant, but the proc
is too plain. Your resignation will b
accepted, to take effect at once. c
course it will be impossible to kee
you or Franklin longer in our emplo
after this evidence of guilt on you
part"
"But you will allow me to call E'
ward, will you not, Mr.. Zimmerman?
pleaded the young clerk.
"Oh, yes" replied his employe
90 but | can not see what possible goo
that can do"
" He can tell where he got his note,
explained Marshall.
When Franklin entered the Office,
response to the summons, his fellow
clerk asked him: