The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-03-24

ASKED HIM TO TAKE THE MONEY.
est man | handled a great deal Of
money, but can truthfully say | was
never tempted in the slightest. don't
claim to be peculiar in my ideas, but
do say that have always been bit of a
philosopher on the subject of honesty
To carry burden of guilt; to be sus
pected; to leave home, friends~and coun-
try; to be obliged to admit to yourself
that you are thief; to be tracked and
published, even if not arrested and i'm
prisoned-why, | could never figure out
value received. no matter how large the
sum.
Mr. Burke could enter the Office any
hour of the day and count my cash or
run over my accounts without causing
me to change color. Every three months
an expert looked over the books, and
could leave him in the Office and go
home whistling. On one occasion he
kicked up quite an excitement by find
ing a shortage of So, 100. didn't trem-
bic and turn pale. neither bolted nor
broke down and confessed that had en-
bezzled the money to speculate in stocks
or play the races. just pulled off my
coat and went over the figures with him.
and within an hour we found the error.
Expert that he was he had made mis-
take in his footings.
| had held the place for two years
when young man named Henry Devon,
who was cousin of the Burkes, came
to take place in the store as manager
Of a department He did not create
favorable impression on me, though he
seemed to make an effort in that direc-
ton. He was what they call a ''goody
goody" man. He wore sanctimonious
look, pretended to be possessed of all the
virtues, and a great many people were
deceived in him. In a couple of months
after his arrival he was steady church
goer, had a caller or two every day from
the congregation and was always taking
up a collection in his department for
something or other He discharged two
salesgirls who refused to contribute to
buy Sunday school books, and he prompt
ly bounced an elevator boy who burned
the heather" when asked to chip in 25
cents. Being "a relative, Devon was not
looked upon as he otherwise would have
been, although the only advantage he
seemed to take Of the circumstance was
to hang about the cashiers Office rather
more than | thought was proper and to
force his friendship on me. treated
him civilly, of course. but | never liked
him One day-when Devon had been
in the store year or more-my assist
ant was taken i'll at noon and had to go
home 1t was not only busy afternoon,
but Mr.. Burke gave me two or three ex-
ira things to do, and when it came time
to make our bank deposit had half a
dozen irons in the fire. My assistant had
always gone to the bank but on this oc-
casion / must make the deposit myself.
Trade had been rushing and sales heavy,
and it so happened that everything was
cash. think the sum was So, 800. and I
had just counted it when Devon came
into the Office to ask about check which
had been mailed to us by country GUS
toner and had never turned up was
in a hurry to get out the items for a
statement of account wanted by Mr.
Burke, and as Devon had his hat and
coat on and was evidently going out
asked him to take the money and our
book and make the deposit for me. l
did not see him when he returned |
found the book in my desk and placed it
in the safe without opening it. 1t was
not until 10 o'clock next forenoon that
made the discovery that no deposit had
been credited to us the day before. at
once went up stairs to see Devon and
ask for an explanation.
why, what do you mean?" he asked
in reply, seemingly much surprised.
81 sent s., 800 by you yesterday to de-
posit. The bank has given Us no
credit"
Sent $500 by mel Why, my dear
boy, you must have dreamed It'll You
never gave me dollar to deposit. Had
you asked me to do such a thing
should live promptly refused. as you
are employed to see to those matters"
Well, to be brief, he stood right up
and denied everything. He even proved
that he did not go out on the street. It
so happened that no one had seen him in
the Office, and so it was a question of
veracityss My accounts showed the re-
ceipt of the money, but as to its-ed dis
posal-well, that was different. had
seven or eight years of faithful, honest
service to my credit. Devon was rela-
tive, a church member and considered
above reproach. He was too sharp to
ever hint that l had embezzIed TIT
sum. he merely COMMENDED that
had made a mistake in some way. HI
denied asking me about the check o.
of being in the Office, and he he'd 81
easily and gracefully that everybody
was deceived. The idea he carried wa
that I had given the money to some
other employee, or perhaps to a stran
ger, and he had only soft words and sor
rowful chances when / continued t.
affirm that he was the guilty man. /
was a great mystery. | had every rea
son to believe that Mr.. Walter Burk,
believed my statement, but his twt
brothers and the go. were doubtful