The Press., 1893-01-19

to tell. As he proceeded Jack under stood the motive of the theft from the safe.
 .sYou see,'" began Simmons, while have worked for MT. Medbury many years, even before you came, have only run the books about-let me think.
 Eighteen months" suggested Jack.
 ssYes; that's just about the time, l guess. You were then at the case, think. 1 wasn't sure whether 1 took them while you were devil or not. At any rate, if Mir. Arthur hadn't been so ambitious to be business manager and disliked bookkeeping so much, he would probably have succeeded MT. Perkins, and would have been still out on the road collecting and canvassing.
 ssI used to envy Nr. Arthur at first, for could see or thought l could that he was bound to secure Perkins place sooner or later, leaving me just where was. He aimed higher than 1 thought, however, and his ambition was just what gave me the place. Coming from the local staff but 8 year or two before. he displayed more of an aptitude for secur- ing advertising and for general manage ment than he did for the position of helper to Perkins, and as a result was worked in. Perkins liked it best that way, too, and declared to MT. Medbury that he had rather have, me and also praised Mr. Elites capabilities as an ad- vertising manager. It therefore hap pened that 1 was bookkeeper through Perkins last sickness, being called in off the road, and my son was given my place. Meanwhile MT. Bite kept gaining in favor and the balances showed that a business manager paid. He was there fore finally given almost entire control and had arrived at his present position about six months before MT. Medbury's death. l relate all this that you may know how it all came about, for you were in the business office very little and may have wondered why Bite was placed over all of us. The fact is l would rather today do clerical work and only hope some man will be found to take MT. Blite's place at once. don't want the responsibility.
 'That's all settled, suppose" said Jack, blushing, and the old man went on.
 "Mr. Arthur was always very respect full to me, but to the others, as you know, was at times very overbearing and disa- greeable. 1 was somewhat surprised, therefore, when he came to me one day last week and informed me that, while his brother would have full charge of the editorial force as heretofore, he (Mr. Arthur would manage the business end, and warned me not to have so much to say to the men. Iknew that this charge was so unfounded it must be for pur- pose, and suspecting that he was seek ing some pretense to discharge me kept perfectly quiet. l only wanted to hold my position long enough to see him go, and I guess l shall-maybe to states prison. Only day before yesterday he came in and found me looking over the cashbook he stole tonight. was look ing up an old account claimed to have been paid, but he gave me no chance to explain, for he walked up, banged the book together, and in his overbearing way said 1 was not to study ancient history, but to go on with my work. could see by his manner that he was suls- picious of me, and as a result became at once suspicious of him. What he was afraid of don't know for certain, but have theory"
 ''So have l" said Jack, "and I've had it since heard that interview this after noon. If I'd been Miss Margaret shouldn't have lost my temper so easy, but would have seen those books before went home"
 ''That's the very thing" agreed Sim mons. ..Those notes are forgeries. and he knows the cashbook, which shows the receipt and expenditure of every cent would give him away. You see, knew nothing about the note dodge, and while was suspicious of theft should have been on the wrong track till too late. You say, then, he produces notes for twelve thousand dollarsy'