The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-05-07
I'LL, +bn rot,rne1 checks,

81 see. Has he appeared to you
lately to be in want Of money!" lie
for moment, and then said:
"Well, yes; now come to think OF
it. Only week ago he asked me 1or
an advance Of salary"
"That may or may not mean any-
thing. Aman may be hard up and de-
sire on advance, and yet hesitate
about q deliberate forgery. Have
you any Of lis writing that I can look
at?"
"Plenty. How will this suit you?'
He handed me note from the clerk
in which the latter made some un-
important communication. AS [ was
something of grapholoSist, I thought
that doubtless the youths calligraphy
might give clew to his character, but
q shade of disappointment crossed my
face as I scrutinized the letter. 1t
was the stereotyped commercial hand
which is the bugbear of the handwrlt-
ing expert, and which gives absolute
ly no clew to the writer's tendencies.
l tossed the paper from me, and said:
sThat won't help us bit. Is the
young fellow here to-day?'
ooh, yes. I could ring for him,
and you could have a look at him with
out his knowing your business. Shall
l do 500"
Ho rang the bell, and tall, thin
young fellow answered it. From q
sign made by Mr.. Pennythorpe | knew
that this was the clerk in question,
and [ watched him narrowly while his
employer gave him some instructions
invented on the spur Of the moment.
When he was gone the other turnedto
me.
"Well," he asked, "what do you
think Of him?"
"He looks a simple, honest young
fellow" I returned, as I rose to go;
"but of course appearances are not
often reliable. My next move will be
to 90 down to the bank and interview
the cashier who paid tho $500 over
the bank counter"
Mr.. Pennythorpe rose and held out
his hand. 81 nm sure you will do
your best for all Of u.s." he said, as 1
took my leave.
Arrived at the bank, had to wait a
few moments before I could see the
manager, as he was engaged with o
customer. At length, however, the
visitor departed and I was ushered il
to his room.
"Glad to see you, he said, heartily.
81 presume you have just como from
Mr.. Pennythorpe's office, as no wrote
us that he was communicating with
Scotland Yard?"
eyes, I have seen Mr.. Penny
thorpe" I returned, "but the inter-
view has elected very little. He seems
much agitated about the loss, al
though it is the banks, I presume,
and not his"
"Quite so" returned the manager,
gloomily. GAS you know, the law
provides that in case Of forgery the
bank and not the customer suffers. As
to the justice or injustice Of that low I
will not speak now. Our object is to
find the culprit."
(which may be far moro difficult
than you may Think said. II have
always found cases Of this kind the
hardest to unravel. At least fifty per
cent. of modern forgers are never
brought to justice"
'Let us hope" he replied, quickly,
''that this case will belong to tile other
fifty"
"With all my heart" I said; "and
now, if you will allow me, I. should
like to have a chat with the cashier
who cashed the check in question,
which I have brought with me from
Mr.. Pennythorpo's Office"
The managers face fell. 1T is
rather unfortunate" he said, ''but
Wilson, the clerk who paid over the
money, is laid up just now with in
luenza. Still, you might go down te
his house and interview him."
"What is his eddress?" asked
promptly. II will go there without q
moments delay"
The clerk, it seemed, resided a.
Clapham, and few minutes later
was hailing cab outside the bank.
"Fern Villa, Melthorpe road, Clap
ham," I cried, and presently we were
bowling along in the direction Of the
southwestern suburb.
After nearly three-quarters Of al
hours drive, the cab turned into {
shady street made up of tiny houses
Fern Villa being the last on the RICH
hand side. Here I alighted and rang
the bell, having previously told thu
cabman to await my return.
A small, white faced woman: whom
I took to be Mrs. Wilson, opened the
door ginger]y.
'What can I do for you, sir?" sht
asked, timidly.
els Mr.. Wilson able to receive {
visitor?" I asked. IT have just come
from the London & Suburban Bank
the manager Of which place tells mt
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