The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-06
JOHN sEIDEN's DOG.

For ten years, or from the time he
was twenty to thirty. John Selden had
been the cashier of Henderson's private
bank. People said it was very re-
sponsible place for a young man of TWEEN
ty and some shook their heads and pre-
dicted that temptation would get the
better of him. but Henderson smiled at
their fears and replied:
John has been a clerk here for four
years. I have tried him out over ana
over. There isn't a dishonest hair in
his head, and you couldn't put money
enough before him to tempt him. TO
steal"
Young -Selden did not marry. He had
no vices. He was pleasant and friend
ly with all, but it was seldom that ne
went out of an evening. At the bank
he was called CLOCK Work" A more
diligent, reliable man never gave his
services TO another. At twenty-five ne
had the banking business at his fingers
ends. Between that age and thirty he
had as many as ten offers from other
financial Institutions. In the ten years
his salary was increased five times.
During these ten years, as Selden him
self stated, he was never under tempta-
ton for q moment. He had no extraVa-
CANT habits and he saved money. One
evening as he sat in his room making
some financial calculation the tempta-
ton came to him like a fash. He was
so frightened that he sprang up.
W ny QOn YOU u6ip yOuIS6ll ~ q
part of the money you have aided Hen
derson to make? 1t morally belongs to
you. You have toiled early and late and
had few pleasures. Why deny yourself
longer? It won't be stealing, but sim
ply taking part Of your own"
The words seemed to be whispered In
his ear, and he found himself trembling.
Selden gave himself a shake, uttered a
laugh of contempt and sat down. He
tried to go on with his figures, but he
could not He put on his hat and went
out for a walk, fEt he could not drive
the thought from mis- mind. For almost
the first night of his life he lay and
tossed on his bed. When he entered the
bank next morning he had to make a
strong effort to meet the eye of his
employer. He had said TO himself over
and over again:
Rob! EmbezzIe! Betray the con-
/ fidence of the bank Make myself a
fugitive and an object of contempt!
| Mo- I'd cut my throat first.''
When we read of men who betray
their trust we seldom learn Of the
temptation held out to them. It is gen
orally credited to wine, women and
horses. There were none of those fea-
! lures in this case. There was not even
greed or avarice. It was something
that only the victim himself could feel
and understand. He fought like giant
to throw 1t off. but 1t would not down.
| It followed him with the persistency of
! bloodhound. It held out allurements
one hour and threats the next. No
human being could have tempted the
cashier as this unknown thing did, and
1 after a month it began to tell on his
health. The banker noticed Il and in
sisted on a vacation to set matters
right. It was then that the unknown
triumphed.
After being trailed for a month. and
after a dozen almost sleepless nights
John Selden agreed TO do as the I'M
| known wished. He set out without
loss of time and with feverish anxiety
and it seemed as if Satan aided him
He packed up $780, 600 worth of bonds
and cash after banking hours. walked
out of the town with a satehel without
| being particularly remarked, and wher
| six miles away took a train He had
| made no plans as to where he should
go. Where he did go was to a village
/ forty miles away. He was i'll when he
got off the train, and i'll for a month
| at the hotel. When he recovered hs
/ stayed on. He was quiet, minded his
| own affairs. and somehow the yillager:
came to believe that he was detective
| who had been sent TO watch for GER
tain things, and stood too much in awe
to question him
It so happened that Banker Hender
son was the first to discover his loss
No one could have taken the monel
but his trusted cashier He was stun
ned for a time by the blow. Then h
made up his mind to a certain thing
and not word regarding the MISSING
money passed his lips He said tina
Seiden had gone on a vacation. H
spoke always in his praise. It put hin
to great straits to make the shortag
good. hut he accomplished it, and no
breath of suspicion was raise
| against the cashier. The money wa
gone and the cashier was gone. but tn