The record-union., 1892-01-30

leave certain papers of his own in Johns
desk, which was locked every night.
This had given him an excuse 20 ask for
the key on several different occasions.
For some days he held the matter in
deliberation, and finally told Dave frank
ly of his suspicious. If he had hoped to
find the boy innocent he soon found his
mistake.
Confessing that he had abstracted money
for his own use, and that he had changed
the books, he insisted that j ohm should
let him finish his work.
''When l am done, old fellow, the books
will balance he said. II have TO work
slowly for il is ticklish business, and
must be done well. ii you hadn't made
the discovery just when you did, l could
have put in the finishing touches, and
ten to one you would never have discov-
cred it. AS it is, you just keep mum, and
PHI finish it up all straight"
There is nothing else to do" he con-
/ tinued, hastily, as John threw up pro-
testing hand.
There is only one thing that I won't
| do i'll the matter" said John, sternly. Il
uncle. Sooner than that, [ will tell him
myself of your crime, for can call it no
( other name"
! Dawes mood began to change, and
| knowing his brother was in sober, bitter
earnest, he made various eager promises
OF future integrity if John would only
| make no fuss over the matter.
They need never know anything
about it in the store," he persisted. IF
you will only drop it, John, l solemnly
swear that l will never put myself III
such danger again. 1t is only matter of
/ 500 that they will never know they have
received and, therefore, cannot miss. [
] was smart enough to make the changes
/ In just the right places, you may be
sure"
1.-The danger Of discovery is all you
/ think Off, said his brother, with cutting
! emphasis. You do not seem TO feel your
faults at all. | am almost discouraged.
l have tried 10 keep my word to mother,
/ Dave; she told me to look out for you, but
what can do when you will not help
yourself?'
After many long discussions, during
! which the stand OF neither was changed,
/ John came to the bitter conclusion that
as he could never bring himself 10 betray
1 his brothers. guilt, he must himself go
away. Dave made solemn promises, and
! the hope that had never really died out of
the elder brothers. heart burst into new
/ life again.
He will not dare interfere with a
strange bookkeeper's accounts" he rea-
soned, land surely he is old enough now
to stand alone without me to shield him."
Atall events, he could not remain in
apparently encouraging vice by conceal
! ing it.
There was an unpleasant little scene
with his uncle, who, diSliking to lose so
efficient e bookkeeper and resenting his
refusal TO give any satisfactory reason for
his resignation, accused him of ingrati-
tude. To this charge John, as in his hoy
hood days, made no reply.
On the day OF his departure he bade his
uncle and brother a pleasant good by"
and boarded the train for a busy city a
hundred miles away.
Alter few days he sought employment
| with Dobson Il Co., who had advertised
for an expert bookkeeper.
Naturally his principal reference was
his uncle, and MIR. Dobson seemed quite
satisfied but said he would write the let
ter ofinquiry as matter Of form.
That evening John wrote a long, atfec-
tionate letter to Dave and asked him to
write to him oftenjsO that though sepa-
rated they might still cherish the same
attectionate interest in each others lives.
Knowing his uncle's business-like
habits, be expected to find the matter SET
tied when, after two days, he called
again upon Dobson IL Co.
He hunted up pleasant boarding
place, for the event of an unfavorable let
ter from his uncle did not occur to him.
He had even made arrangements to have
his trunk moved before dark, and as he
made his way to the office to be assured
of his position ne made various plans for
the employment of his leisure evenings.
He resolved to be more social than be-
fore and felt sure he could make friends
and find congenial companions.
He was surprised st his reception by
Mr.. Dobson. The cdfdiality Of the pre-
Yious day was gone, and he could not un-
derstand the looks 5of distrust he met
from every one in the building.
noI, Il 80 H.
derisive smile handed him his uncle's
letter.
After the usual preliminaries, Mr.. Bar
ton wrote:
''In regard to my nephew, for 1 regret
to say that such tie does exist between
US, have only to say that he is an un-
scrupulous scoundrel. Among other
duties, he kept my books, and it is but
lately that discovered that he had syS-
tematically 'doctored' the accounts. /
cannot, as yet, determine the full extent
of his rascality. | have questioned his
brother, also in my employ, and a most
estimable young man, and l infer that
the beginning OF the trouble was gam
bling debts. have promised the younger
boy not to prosecute the rascal, but he
had better keep out of my way"
The paper dropped from Johns nerve
less fingers; he could read no more.
And Dave had done this!
You Will uHuerStanu GnaI we nave nc
use for you," said the cold voice of Mr.
Dobson, "and l should advise you to
leave the town. | shall consider it my
duty to see that you hold no position OF
any trust within its precincts" !"
John picked up the letter and smoothed
it out.
Il should like you to understand, sir,
that had no knowledge of this when /
applied to you for the situation
He had borne great deal from Dave,
but this affected him strangely. He felt
numb and cold.
81 don't suppose you knew it had been
found out yet, or you wouldn't have had
the audacity to come to me. | must ask
you to excuse me now; l have no more
time to waSte.o
John felt that life could hold nothing
more bitter for him than that days ex-
perience. 1t was all plain to him.
Some one, his uncle, possibly, had dis
covered the erasures, and, remembering
his sudden departure, had grown sus-
picious. OF course, Dave had been ques-
toned, and, even if he had not been active
in the injustice, he had allowed them to
think him guilty.
And gambler! Why, Dave knew he
did not touch cards once year. His
heart was full of bitterness toward
across the back of his uncle's letter,
explaining that it was in answer to an
application for a recommendation OF
character, he sent it to Dave.
Then he paid his bills, and left town.
II
Years rolled on and made a new man
of him. He dared not have any commu-
nication with either his uncle or Dave,
for fear the false accusation would again
blacken his character.
Sometimes he felt he had deserted the
trust his mother left him, but he knew il
was Dawes own hand that had raised the