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

Where did you get that fve-dollar
bill you gave me to keep for you, Ed
ward?"
1t was portion of my last weeks
salary" replied Franklin, at loss to
understand the query.
"There is some terrible mistake
about this, Mr.. Zimmerman" protested
Archie. | never stole anything in my
life; and certainly would not begin
now, when l have everything that |
need and am getting well paid for my
work. You heard Edward say he got
his note in his salary, and that is where
l got mine"
''That will do, Marshall" said the
merchant. "You and Franklin will
hand in your designations Immediately.
| could make it 90 great deal harder
with you, but hope this will serve as
a salutary lesson to you in the future.
On this account, and in consideration
of your youth, feel disposed to be
lenient toward you"
Archie turned about with flaming
cheeks and trembling lips, and was in
the act of leaving the Office with his
fellow-clerk when Mr.. Ford, the junior
partner, came in.
" Halloo, Marshall What is the
troube?" Mr.. Ford asked, noticing
Archie's unusual appearance. 1t was
as much as the young clerk could do
to keep back the tears as he answered,
falteringly:
Mr.. Zimmerman has accused Frank
lin and me of stealing, and we are dis
charged without any opportunity of
self-defence."
How is that, zimmerman" asked
the junior partner.
Simply this, Ford both of them
had marked notes in their possession,
and acknowledged them to be theirs"
Let me see the notes." said Mr..
Ford.
Mr.. Zimmerman handed him the
marked bills, and he examined them
very closely.
81 don't know, Zimmerman" he
said. "These crosses look dull and
blurred, as though they were part of
the notes. Perhaps they are all en-
graved in this way?"
No, they are not" rejoined his
partner angrily. Look at these"
And, taking a roll of bank-notes out of
his pocket, he threw two fve-dolar
bills carelessly over to his partner.
Mr.. Ford scanned them for a mo-
ment, and then laughed heartily.
Why, Zimmerman" said he, these
are the very notes we marked"
Whath' cried the merchant; " they
are the same?"
Yes; and these of Marshall and
Franklin are merely impressions of
them. You know l told you to use the
blotting pad when you were marking
them, and you said it was not necessary
the ink would soon dry! 1t did not dry,
and the consequence was that the i'm
print was left on the notes you put on
top of them"
g really believe you are right" ac-
knowledged the senior partner, exam
lining the four notes in turn. g recol-
lect mixing the marked notes with 9TH
ers of the same denomination, and
! putting them all in the cash drawer
together. Afterward, | went hurriedly
to the cash drawer and took out some
money for my own use, and must have
taken the marked bills without noticin ,
the fact. Boys he continued. turn
ing to the young clerks, :" | owe you
a humble apology. Consider it made,
in part. until Saturday night, when an
increase in salary will complete it. !
am truly glad your innocence has been
so quickly and thoroughly established"
Marshall and Franklin received the
promised increase at the end of the
week, by which time the guilty person
was detected and punished. Tie two
young clerks afterward became the sue.
cessors of Zimmerman & Co., and
among the first things they did was to
hang in their counting-room a modest
placard bearing the legend: " A good
name is rather to be chosen than great
riches. "-PreSbyteridn.