The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-04-06

good old Jack, and we would enjoy
many Of his little suppers and theater
parties. Had he not always treated us
this way at least once a month when he
had nothing but his salary? Now that
he had come into money we could ex-
pect many nice evenings at dear Jack IS
expense.
Jack was not well. He did not look
we'll We all noticed it.
'Take vacation, old boy" said the
head bookkeeper. "You are not your
self. You are working too hard and not
giving yourself recreation enough y
could not think of it, old man. Just
little indigestion. Be all right in a
day or two"
But he wasn't all right. He looked
paler and thinner every day until one
morning he did not come down. We all
knew the reason. Nothing but sickness
and serious sickness would keep him
from the Office It was arranged that
we should hunt up his lodgings that
night and have him cared for and proper
medical attention secured. We found
him in a cheap small but clean room
On the table, under the one gaslight, we
found two or three sets of books of small
concerns that did not employ regular
bookkeeper.
Jack had been doing their work at
night.
Jack was ON the bed tossing in the de
lirium of fever.
81 kept it clean, father-I kept il
cleanr' he mumbled over and over.
The doctor shook his head Poorly.
Notwithstanding to him. Evidently
been on short rations. In no condition
to Withstand this attack of fever.
We explained to the doctor that, al.
though his present environments were
needy and poor, he would be paid for the
best attention to Jack and that he must
see him regularly and do everything
possible to save him. The kindly old
doctor assured us that he would receive
every attention, but said, with a shake
of his head: "He's in bad way-brain
fever, brought on by worry and fatigue,
Evidently been burning the candle az
both ends. -
We secured nurse, who was to be
with him every minute and attend to
his every want and communicate with
us in case he grew worse. AS we were
preparing to leave the room he raised
up in his delirium and threw his arms
around wildly. Noticed paper clutch
ed in one of his hands, took it from
him. The mystery was solved. "Oh,
Jack, you noble work of God, you have
kept it clean! God grant that it may
not be at the cost Of your own noble
lifel'
The paper read as follows:
To MY soN-Dying, bequeath you my
name. It's stained. I am thief No living
soul knows it. If could live awhile longer,
would not die with this stain on my soul. We
came of a long race of honorable men, Jack.
It's hard legacy to leave son, but as you
loved me in life keep my name clean in death.
have kept strict account of my populations,
You will find it attached. It's scrupulously
correct. No more nor less do owe the great
institution of which have been the head for
so many years. / have kept this account so
that could delude myself into thinking that
was only borrowing from the stockholders.
They say all embezzlers do this Pay it back,
Jack every cent, at per cent interest, and
believe the good Lord will scratch it off his
books against my otherwise clean name. God
bless and keep you. Your FATHER.
Underneath, written in Jacks own
hand, was the following:
God bless you, father. I've done it. I've
paid the last farthing today. I've kept your
name clean. JACK.
The next day the papers contained ac-
counts of how one Of the city's largest
banking institutions had received a large
sum of money anonymously consigned.
The institution had long known of the
shortage Of this amount, but had no idea
who the thief was.
1t was weeks before Jack was able to
come to the Office again. He never
knew. and no soul shall ever know from
us, Jacks secret. He is himself again
now, and the little tag on the collar of
his fashionable coat was sewed there by
his own tailors W. G. Hill in st.
Louis Post Dispatch.