Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-03-15

II never saw 1t in my lie until to-
day." protested Charles Baumgarten
"You have been imposed upon"
Mr.. Jephson laughed. In days gon,
by they had been very intimate at tn
university together, and had there formed
a close friendship; though Herbert Jeph
son was the elder by some years. "Stut
and nonsense ~ quoth he, would yol
deny your own signature? Look at it.
Charles had looked enough at it. bu
looked again.
II don't deny that it's clever imita
tion, except in one particular. This is
signed C. Baumgarten.' l always sign
Charles in full. Look over my notes to
you, Jephson, should you have kept any
and see if l 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.
1--WE received it from White, the en-
graver and. jeweler," was the reply. "Some
property White is entitled to got thrown
into Chancery, and we have been acting
for him. The expenses are draining him,
and he had some difficulty to pay our last
bii! of costs. My brother pressed for it;
one can't work for nothing and Mr..
White brought this bill of yours, and ask
ed if 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
snatchins 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.
ut 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. 1 recognized it the moment
I saw it. White is a respectable man
there's not more upright tradesman in
the city of London; he is not one to say
you accepted the bill if you did not. 1t
is most strange that you should disown
it, Mr.. Baumgarten."
"Did White tell you had accepted
it?
"He told Herbert. l have not had
time to see him."
go with me to him now," suggested
Charles. ale will not say to my face
that l have bought jewelry of him and
paid him with a bill. l never saw the
man in my life to my knowledge and new
er was inside his shop"
Godfrey Jephson, his interest and GU
riosity aroused, agreed to the proposal
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. l should
like to watch his countenance. I'll comt
and confront him at the right time"
A smile that caused Charles to kni
his brow crossed Mr.. Jephson's face as
he advanced to the jeweler. The shoI
was brilliant with gas. Charles sat dowr
near the entrance, as if to wait for hi.
friend.
This BILL" began Godfrey Jephson
taking it from his pocketbook, was due
to-day, and presented for payment. Mr.
Raumgarten refuses to take it up. He
says it is a forgery"
But how can Mr.. Baumgarten say
that?' 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; 1 am Charles Baumgarten
There's some mistake here, Mr.. White
that l 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 il
that you deny it? 1 recognize you fully
now, sir. You purchased several articles
of jewelry of me and paid me with this
bill"
II never bought a shilling's worth OF
jewelry of you in my life," replied Charles
Baumgarten. "But if had, should not
have been likely to pay you by bill. II
l had bought jewelry, should pay you
in cash for it."
And that is what you were going to
do, 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
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