The morning call., 1895-01-07
A CONSIDERABLE EMBEZZLER.
This Is a Good Story Even if 1t
Lacks the Element of Truth,


Lacks the Element of Truth.
They were discussing the failure Of a
certain big firm at the club, the embezze-
ments on the part of the senior partner
and the subsequent ruin Of other business
men caused by the entire deplorable trans
action. The senior partners name was
call him Brown.
''Such a mau as that Is worse than a
thief" remarked one of the group. in
. the case Of he thief only one party. as a
rule, is injured. Here the damage ex ends
TO many. One firm loses by the loss of the
other, and, as a result, it is swamped and
10 going down some one else has to suffer.
Such a man has not aredeeming point, and
after so much devas alton be only got
what he deserved when he blew his brains
out
~ think you are mistaken" remarked
young man who WAS o OF the group.
That he should not have blown his
brains Out?"
mo. that was the only thing left him to
do. But you are wrong when you say be
had not one redeeming point"
land can you make Ii out that he had ?"
Yes. II was like this; l was then a
young man, just starting in business. L
had the temerity. after having served my
apprenticeship for many years, to try to
est blish wholesale house. | met Brown.
and he seemed o take a fancy 10 me.
HE was old and grlZzed aud | was
Young and ambitious, win great deal of
push and mighty little capital. de was
then power, and l saw that his patron
age was the one thing that would keep me
shoat.
ceeded very well, and the future looked
dark understanding but debts aud life
OF drudgery to clear them off. Moreover,
| bad been married but year, and had q
sweet wife and child.
''Well, when l almost begged Brown for
his patronage, urging that L could do as
well by him as any one else, he listened
atteniiVely and then finally gave me a
small order. The order was filled and was
satisfactory, aud the money L received en-
abled me 10 turn around.
After that he gave me large order,
and bseouently dealt through me en-
tirely IN that particular line OF goods. HIS
patronage gave me the patronage of
others, and the future looked so promising
that I no longer lay awake, and after that
ouite freouently dropped in at the house
with a rattle or little gold ring or some
other trf1ing present for the little one.
Several years went by and nad pros
pered fairly we'll. No hint OF bis embar-
rassmsnt ever reached me and no one was
thought safer in the city. One day he
dronped In at the Office, not long before
the hanks would close.
"'How much is nv accountp he said.
ga little over $4,000
81 suppose il would ruin you If l did
not,Day it"
'' No danger of your doing that re-
sponded you can have my store il you
want it on credit
But would it ruin you if l should not
pav?'
81 attributed the question to the fact that
be was probably trying to find out how l
stood financially.
Well L said with a laugh. i must con-
TESS that il would ruin me. lam getting
on fairly well, but am not so well off but
that this trfiiDg amount would wreck me
cOmpleely
$50 / thought he said with something
like chuckle 1t don't take much to ui-
set you young fellows. Now, look at me.
How many failures do you suppose could
stand and not vince In the least"
" A good many | responded, with the
greatest respect for his wealth.
OF course; of course. But you Young
fellows are dependent Oh one man. Now,
II be ais, YOU would go under. You are
all alike No caution. No foresight. Don't
YOU know better than put yourself in such
a boat?'
Il laughed good naturally at his whim-
slcality and said: We'll, l feel tolerabIy
safe.'
]" You do. heyP' he responded. Now.
suppose L should prove an old rascalP