The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-10-17
The Check.

pers are filed with photographs and
descriptions Of them. Col. Hutchinson,
who never fails to tell one "on him.
SELF" shook his head and said:
well, I don't know, I'd hesitate a
long time before accusing stranger
on the strength of descriptions or
photographs. / remember an expert
ence l had when / was young man
yes, q good while ago-that pretty
nearly convinced me that there are
such things as "living images"
went over to the bank to make the
deposit, and 1t happened that just in
front OF me was very handsome,
aristocratic looking young lady. When
she presented the check-the receiving
teller was also the paying teller--the
young man behind the grating told her
she'd have to be identified. She ex-
planned that she was q stranger in
town; on her way to Cincinnati. l
think she said the check was her faith
er's, and that she could prove 1t be-
cause she had more of them. The tell
er, however, was obdurate, although
she had about six or seven similar
checks, and looked terribly injured
when he did so.
''She was such dainty, pretty spir-
tied creature that I couldn't help
watching her. She went TO the pres
ident and to the cashier, and made an
earnest, and guess pretty sincere al,
tempt to convince them she was all
right, but they both politely refused
to cash her check unless she could
be identified, or get some one known
to the bank to endorse it for her.
"hnn xpo onino <,,,t al M sfo r,h l.
ing In the vestibule a picture of fe-
male loveliness in distress. saw the
little tear at the end of her delightful
nose, and I determined to accost her.
Madam began is there anything l
can do for you?" She frightened up
at once, and related what had happen
ed in the bank. most of which 1
knew already. She was making lit
tie trip and, for safety, was carrying
about q hundred dollars in checks of
$40 each, made payable to herself, and
signed by her father, who was, she
said. respectable merchant of Adrian
Mich. She was unaccustomed to trav-
oil, and supposed that a check would
be that just as easy to cash in Chicago
as at home. almost smiled at the in
genious simplicity of this explanation,
and readily consented to endorse onc
of the checks. My one wife Is SO ut
terly mystified by what she calls the
red-tape of business matters that I
quickly appreciated the embarrassed
young woman's position.
The payee on the check was Miss
Ada Topping, and it., was signed
'Theo. ]. Topping all plain enouggh
She was SO evidently and sincerely
grateful and / was so impressed by
the childlike trustfulness of her de-
meanor that / took her over to the
railway depot, looked after her lug
gage bit and advised her to get New
York drafts or postoffice notes from
her father before she needed any more
money. She was quite gay by this
time and laughingly promised to do
as bid her. And so we parted.
Yes, ! see you SMILE" confined the
old gentlemen, anticipating Interrupt
tion. You are right! About three
or four days later / got notice from
the bank that Theo. j. Topping's check
was no good and l went down and
took 1t up. admitted to myself that
l was fool, but must say that l
would have risked my life upon the
honesty and good character Of that
young woman. She was one of the
most polished, best spoken and alb
soluteiy lady-like women / ever con-
versed with, and so strikingly hand
some, so well attired. and so dis
tinguished in appearance that I'd hav,
sworn l would know her again any
where under any circumstances.
We'll, about two years ago young
woman, plainly but neatly clad, came
into my Office to sell me a book. I
could have fallen through a knothole
with astonishment, for IL 1t wasn't
Miss Topping, 1t was her double. &
thought was very shrewd, for as
soon as saw she didn't recognize me
bade her sit down, locked the door
and pulled out that worthless check.
Remember anything about this Miss
Topping?" l said with pretty caustic
sarcasm In my tones. She looked at
me in be wildered surprise. Ididn't
understand at first, SO pointed to the
lead pencil notation on the back of
the check over my Endorsement No
such account at this bank, It said.
But she seemed more at sea than ever.
Aren't you Miss Ada Topping, and
didn't you get this check cashed on
my endorsement" grpwled. But
she only smiled the innocent, discOn-
certed, mystifed smile Of absolute ig-
nOrance. Y
"Some mistake, SIR she said with
a slight German accent that at once
convinced me of my mistake 4 wish
to Zell desc book. ct Is especially
gotten up for attorneys and SO forth
and SO forth. let her take her own
time, for / was visited with occasion
al suspicious that perhaps she might
forget herself and re-appear inthe true
character Of Miss Ada Topping. But
when she stood up was sure that my
fair swindler haa been much taller
than this poor girl. l even became 80
interested that I asked the simple
minded book agent where she lived
and whom she was supporting, and
she answered my questions with such
frank and even confidential candor
that felt like pickpocket to have
suspected her. Her black wooden