Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-08-24

ASSsygSSASNA l2S - street,
ESSS@S%sSs@$M Buffalo, N. Y,
&&MS&SsSss% sat in his private
@ANs Office engrossed in
the affairs of one of the largest retail
grocery:stores in Buffalo. He was q
tall, spare man, and to an ordinary
observer his appearance was very pre-.
possessing. His clear-cut, kindly
face displayed character in every line
the face OF shrewd yet strictly
honorable and thoroughly sympathetic
man, : Indeed, Paul Dockfelt was q
man Of high and sincere aims, as well
rs of public spirit, and his numerous
friends, were contemplating move
ment to nominate him ior alderman
from his ward.
At the moment when Mr.. Dockfelt
had dipped his pen to write an impor-
tant business letter, he was interrupt
ed by n loud commotion in the main
store, the character of which he could
not determine, as his Office was en-
closed. After listening impatiently
for moment, he rose and strobe out
into the store. AS he entered the
main room, he observed that the dis
turbance proceeded from the cashier's s
Office. an alteration seemed to be
going ON between the cashier, Fred
Thomas, and the head clerk, Edward
Balfour.
Fred Thomas, although he had
been In Mr.. Dockfelt's employ but
six weeks, was already great favor
lite with his employer. Indeed, it
was whispered among the clerks that,
in time, the firm name would be
Dockfelt & Thomas; for Mr.. Dockfelt
had no junior partner at that time,
Richard Freeman having died some
time before. For the sake Of long
standing, however, Mr.. Dockfelt re.
tanned the old firm name.
Mr.. Balfour was also quite o favor
ite with Mr.. Dockfelt, in whose en-
ploy he had been about three months.
It was with great surprise and re-
gret, therefore, that Mr.. Dockfelt saw
the young men engaged in quarrel,
He walked up quietly behind the en-.
ragged clerks, who were so furious at
each other that they did not notice
his approach, and tapping Mr.. Bal
four on the back, said, in a stern
voice:
'tWhat's the trouble here, Balfour2"
Trouble enough, sir" replied the
head clerk, wheeling around and I'D
dressing his employer. ''I sent q
check for twenty-five cents down here,
together with ten-dollar bill, and
now Mr.. Thomas is abusing me for
sending him an empty carrier. 7"
'sHow's this, Thomas2" demanded
the astonished grocer.
''I'm sure I don't know, sir" said
Thomas. Call I know is, that, just
now, Mr.. Balfour's cash-carrier came
along the wire. 1 took it down, and
finding it empty, thought Mr.. Bal
four was playing trick OF me, SO I
sent the carrier back-empty, of
course. A minute later he comes
rushing up and angrily demands the
cause of my sending him no change.
That's all I know about it."
''Mr. Thomas" said the merchant,
sternly, "give Mr.. Balfour his change.
MIR. Balfour, you may take it the
customer. Then return Immediately,
until we settle this affair. Hurryw
Briefly. the cash system used by
Mr.. Dockfelt was as follows: Each
CLERK was provided with small blank
book, opening at the top. Each page
was perforated in the middle. On
each side of the perforation the clerk
wrote the amount OF the sale. He
would then tear across the perforation
and send the lower half to the cashiers
desk in one of the small cash cups or
carriers commonly used in retail
store. Together with this check, or
"tip," as the detached slip of paper is
called, the salesman would enclose the
money. The cashier would put the
tip on bill file or spindle; and thus
the amount on the spindle belonging
TO each clerk should tally with the to-
tai Of the "stubs" in his book. This
is the method in general use in retail
stores.
When Mr.. Balfour returned, the
merchant said, sharply: ST suppose
you have no objection to being
searched? Each of you may first
describe the contents of your pocket
books. Balfour?"
"Mine contains three silver dollars,
a. SIS bill, some small change, and six
car tickets" answered the head clerk.
"Thomas?"
"Mine contains two fves, one sill
YER dollar, some small change, two
postage stamps and three car tickets.
Mr.. Balfour then produced his
pocket-book, and it was found to con-
tain exactly what was enumerated.
Mr.. Dockfelt searched the clerks
pockets, but nothing suspicious came
to light.
He then went through the same
operation with Thomas-with the same
result. Next, Mr.. Dockfelt examined
the cash-desk, and ascertained that
there were no $40 bills in the drawer.
After instructing Mr.. Thomas TO
charge the missing sum to loss and
gain, the merchant retired to his office
to ponder the mystery. How could it
have happened? He had searched
both the clerks, but he could not resist
the conviction that, if the money had
been put into a cup, it must have
reached the cashiers Office. Either
Mr.. Balfour or Mr.. Thomas was the
ii l..