The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-01-31

never saw IL IN my LAG uneh "
DAY." protested Charles Baumgarten.
.'You have been imposed upon"
Mr.. Jephson laughed. In days gone
by they had been very intimate at the
university together, and had there formed
a close friendship: though Herbert Jeph-
son was the elder by some years. "Stun
and nonsensev ~ quoth he, "would you
deny your own signature? Look at 1t.
Charles had looked enough at it. but
looked again.
II don't deny that it's clever imita-
ticn, except in one particular. This IS
signed C. Baumgarten.' always sign
Charles in full Look over my notes to
you, Jephson, should you have kept any,
and see IL ever signed myself in any
other way"
''If you never did it before, that's no
reason why you might not have done II
on this OCCASION" was the unanswerable
response
How do you say it came into your
hands, Jephson?" he asked.
I'VE received it from White, the en-
grayer and ieweler," was the reply. Some
property White is entitled to got thrown
into Chancery, and we have been acting
fo- him. The expenses are draining him,
and he had some difficulty TO pay our last
BIZ! of costs. My brother pressed for 1T;
one can't work for nothing; and Mr..
| White brought this bill of yours, and ask
| ed IL we would take it in payment. God
| frey did so, and handed White the ba,-
ance."
''You ought to have doubted how a
| bill of mine should get into jewelers.
| hands"
| They came to no satisfactory conclu-
| sion. And Mr.. Jephson departed, taking
| the bill with him, declaring to the last,
/ in his idle, joking manner, that the bill
| was undoubtedly Charles Baumgarten's
and might have been accepted in his sleep.
Charles was busy all day. After
snatching his dinner in the evening, he
went out to call upon the elder of the
/ two Jephsons; for, in spite of his asser-
! tion that he should do nothing the affair
was giving him concern, and he deter
mined to look into it. Godfrey Jephson
was in his dining room, but came out OF
| it at once to Mr.. Baumgarten.
"It is incomprehensible to me how you
can deny the signature" he said, enter
ing upon the matter at once. "If you
saw my signature or Herbert's, you would
| know them. And we in the same way
| know yours. / recognized it the mon1 ent
] saw H. White is a respectable man !;
| there's not a more upright tradesman in
the city Of London; he is no. one to say
| you accepted the bill if you did not. 1t
is most strange that you should disown
| it, Mr.. Baumgarten."
4 aIlid fyhita foil vn, 4 had oooaptad
iti"
"He told Herbert. 1 have not had
| time to see him."
Go with me to him now," suggested
Charles. "He will not say to my face
that I have bought jewelry of ahim and
paid him with a bill. never saw the
man in my life to my knowledge and new
eli was inside his shop
Godfrey Jephson, his interest and GU
riosity aroused, agreed to the prep osal !;
and they proceeded in the dusk Of the
evening to the jewelers., in one OF the
leading thoroughfares.
| "You go forward first" whispered
Charles, "and enter upon it. shoGld
like to watch his countenance. I'll come
and confront him at the right time"
| A smile that caused Charles to knit
his brow crossed Mr.. Jephson's face as
he advanced to the jeweler. The shop
was brilliant with gas. Charles sat down
near the entrance, as If to wait for his
friend.
This BILL" began Godfrey Jephson,
taking it from his pocketbook, was due
to-day, and presented for payment. Mr..
Baumgarten refuses to take it up. He
says it is a forgery
But how can Mr.. Baumgarten say
thatw returned the jeweler. "He ac-
| cepted the bill in my presence"
Mr.. Baumgarten says that he does
| not know you, and that he never was in
your shop to his recollection" continued
the lawyer
Charles Baumgarten walked slowly for
ward, and the jewelers. eyes fell upon
him. "Why, that-that--is Mr.. Baum
| garten!' he uttered, though in tone of
hesitation.
"Yes; am Charles Baumgarten.
| There's some mistake here, Mr. White.
| that / cannot understand How is it that
| you told Mr.. Jephson we have had deal
| ings together?.
Because we have had them," returned
| the jeweler. "The question is, how is it
that you deny it? recognize you fully
now, sir. You purchased several articles
OF jewelry of me and paid me with this
bill.'
Il never bought shillings worth of
jewelry of you in my life,' replied Charles
Baumgarten. "But If had, should not
have been likely to pay you by bill. If
| had bought jewelry, l should pay you
in cash for It,"
And that Is what you were going to
20, sir" returned Mr.. White. "You ask
ed me to make the account out, and did
so. You laughed when you looked at the
sum total, it was so much more than
you had thought for; and you took out
YOUR nnckethnok and count tad tha hall