Middletown transcript., 1891-06-25

IN the small noufS Vi Tue MoInluS,
and old Dinah, the colored cook, who
had served in his fathers family when
Harry was boy, shook her woolly
head and sighed deeply whenever the
subject was mentioned.
Fully engrossed by the growing
charms and occasional ailments of her
babe, Mary noticed nothing ofall this:
When her husband made brief visit
to the nursery, her eye detected no
change in him, and when they met at
table, she was SO anxious to return to
her charge as barely to heed the re-
quirements of courtesy.
Months rolled on and no further
change occurred in the domestic rela.
tions of Harry Irving, save that his
wife was more closely than ever con-
fined to the nursery, for now her in
fant was entering on the critical
period of teething.
But over the horizon of his business
prospects heavy cloud was lower
ing. Harry had for several years
years been employed by the wealthy
firm of H-& Go. He had grad
ually risen to situation of confidence
and considerable emolument, and was
beginning to look forward to a
partnership.
At this period the firm was agitat-
ed nv a most unwelcome discovery.
Considerable sums of money had,
from time to time, been missing from
the safe, and were not to be accounted
for. Harry Irving, as confidential
clerk, had free access to this depository
at all hours. To him, therefore, in
the first place, suspicion was natur-
ally directed. The services of a
detective officer were secretly secured,
and inquiries quietly set on foot as to
Harry's habits and expenditures.
Among his fellow-clerks was a man
OF about his own age, named Robert
Armitage. He had been longer in
the office than Harry Irving, but had
been distanced by the latter in the
race for promotion, and now occupied
a comparatively poorly-paid position.
He was fond of pleasure, and had re-
Gently obtained admittance to the
club of which Harry was member.
and where he was principally noted
for his devotion to games of hazard.
In fact. he was one of those who
had been the means of introducing
these games among the recreation Of
the club. Naturally, Harry and
he had been much together Of late,
and this having been remarked, he
was now taken into the confidence of
the firm, and questioned as to his
knowledge of Hsrry's habits and as
sociations. He replied with consider.
able hesitation, and spoke in praise Of
his friends general character and
demeanor. When pressed on the
point, he admitted that he had known
of Harry's playing i" faro" now and
then,-believed he had lost more than
he could conveniently spare, on some
occasions, of late, still, he could not
bring himself to believe that such a
good fellow would resort to robbery.
However, it was Of the, first impor.
tance to evssy one concerned in the
inquiry, and, most of all, to Mr.. Irv-
ing himself, that the matter should be
expeditiously cleared up, and he
thought he could propose plan by
which this object might be effected.
On being explained, his stratagem
was approved of, and tie requisite
prepare tions were made for putting it
in immediate execution, qgv ess.al.-
All this, of course, took place 10
secrecy and Harry remained totally
unconscious of the test to which bis
integrity was to be brought.
At the club, some weeks previous,
Harry, while excited by an unaccus-
toned quantity of wine, had been in
duced to take part for the first time,
in game of faro. He had subse.
quently played several games with
varying success, but on the whole, as
Armitage had stated, had lost more
than he could well spare. He had
then declared his resolution to re-
nounce the amusement, and had
adhered to it up to the evening fol-
lowing the conference just spoken Of
On that evening Robert Armitage
found means to overcome his deter
mination. He played till an unusually
late hour, and rose a winner to q
considerable amount, which was paid
him mostly by Armitage himself, who
also undertook to see him safely home.
The next day he arose, not a little
the worse for the previous nights
indulgence, but remembering nothing
distinctly except the fact that he had
drank enough champagne to give him
very bad headache. Presenting
himself at the Office, he was met by .
summons to the private room Of the
head of the firm. Here he found
himself in presence of all the partners
together with an officer of police, and
was informed of the suspicious which
were entertained respecting him. Fol
an instant he stood thunderstruck
and almost unnerved, then, regain
ing his comp osure, he disdainfully re-
PEELED the charge and demanded inn
mediate investigation. Required tt
submit to search, he at once con-
sented. His pocket-book was frs
examined. Some bank notes which i
contained underwent close scrutiny
Then Mr.. H turned to Harry
and extending them toward him, ask
ing him if he was willing to disclos
how he came by them. Harry ex-
amined the notes carefully, but coult
not recollect that he had ever seer
them before-nor had he the slightes
idea as to how they had passed int
his possession. His reply to thi
effect evidently produced most un'
favorable impression. He was in
formed that the notes could be posi-
lively identified as the property Of tn
firm, and as having been deposits
in their safe, from which they ha
been missed that very morning