Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-11
A CONSIDERABLE EMBEZZLER.

A CONSIDERABLE EMBEZZLER.
+ They were discussing the failure Of
q certa in big firm at the club, the EN-
bezzlemenrs on the part of the senior
partner and the consequent ruin OF
other business men caused by the en-
tire deplorable transaction. The senior
partners name WaS-call him Brown.
''Such a man as that is worse than
thief" remarked one of the group.
''In the case of the thief only one
party. as a rule, is injured. Here the
damage done extends to many. One
firm loses by the loss of the other,
and, as a result, it is Swamped, and in
going down some one else has to Suf-
fer Such a man had not redeeming
point. and after so much devastation
he only got half what he deserved
when he blew his brains out"
Il think you are mistaken" re-
marked a young man who was one Of
the group.
''That he should not have blown his
brains Out?"
NO; that was the one thing left him
to do. But you are wrong when you
say that he had not the redeeming
point"
And can you make it out that he
had?"
Eyes. 1t was like this: 1 was then
a young man, just starting in business.
T n tha lor
my apprenticeship for many years, to
try to establish a wholesale house.
met Brown, and he seemed to take
a fancy to me.
''He was old and grizZled and | was
young and ambitious, with a great deal
Of push and mighty little capital. He
was then a power, and [ saw that his
patronage was the one thing that
would keep me afloat.
81 had struggled along. but had not
succeeded very well, and the future
looked very dark, matchmaking but
debts and life of drudgery to clear
them off. Moreover, I had been
married but a year, and had a sweet
wife and child.
'Well, when | almost begged Brown
for his patronage, urging that | could
do as we'll by him as any one else, he
listened attentively and then finally
gave me Il small order. The order was
filled and was satisfactory, and the
money l received enabled me to turn
around
after that he gave me a larger
order, and subsequently dealt through
NE entirely in that particular line Of
goods. His patronage gave me the
patronage Of others, and the future
looked so promising that l no longer
laid awake, and after that quite fire.
luently dropped in at the house with a
rattle or little gold ring or some other
trifling present for the little one
Several years went by and [ had
prospered fairly We'll No hint of his
embarra Ssment ever reached me and
no one was thought safer in the city.
One day he dropped in at the office. not
long before the banks would close.
How much is my ACCOUNT he
said.
"A little over $4,000
81 suppose it would ruin you if I
did not pay it.
"'NO danger of your doing that I
responded. You can have my store if
you want it on credit
" But would it ruin you if l should
not pay?'
Il attributed the question to the fact
that he was probably trying to find out
how [ stood financially.
Well I said with laugh, I must
confess that it would ruin me. I am
getting on fairly well, but I am not SO
we'll off but what this triiing amount
would wreck me completely
so 1 thought he said with some
thing like a chuckle. It don't take
much to upset you young fellows {
Now, look at me, How many failures
do you suppose l could stand and not
vince in the leaSt?'
of course: Of course. But YOU
young fellows are dependent on one
man. Now, if he fails, you would 60
under. You ere all alike. No caution.
No foresight. Don't you know better
than to put yourself in such a boat?' +,
Il laughed good naturally at his
whimsicality and said: "Well, I feel
tolerably safe.
You do, hey?' he responded. Now,
suppose I should prove an old rascal?
Suppose 1 shouldn't pay you that
Suppose you wouldn't get a
Id red? What would you do then,
my young bantam? You're mighty
careless about your accounts, and
some day you'll get nipped.
%, 1 know you young fellows. You
Chlnk that you are good fellows be-
cause you run an elastic credit &C
count. You take no stock in the future