The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-03-19
An Expert
Accountant.


Not until the senior partner had done
q little thinking. however. Her state.
ment that she was an expert account
ant and that her charge for overhaul
ing the books would be very moderate
seemed to give him an idea He
thought over II for a week and then
wrote her he would call An hour
after he had written he invaded the
den OF the old bookkeeper. and after
fussing around for eve minutes be
got up the courage TO remarks.
stephen. do you know that this
hrm has been systematically robbed
for the last ten yearsT'
"Impossible~ gasped the old man
as he looked up.
"CraftIly and systematically robbed.
sir. and the loss will foot up thou.
sands OF dollars"
us II the shipping clerks-the sales
meni don't see how they could have
robbed us"
senior partner az he looked the per
turbed and trembling slave in the eye.
MY God. but you can't suspect me!
You can't believe that ever touched
penny OF your money!
who else is there 10 snspecff Yon
have had sole charge OF the books
This is horrible"
Il am sorry for yen. must leave
you. for other matters are awaiting at
tentiOn."
Half an hour later the old book.
keeper left his employer andsrent out
without n rny Of hope In his heart.
Miss WIlloughby scarcely Hoped for
call FROM Mr.. Jansen that evening.
but hn presented himself nevertheless.
II had been discovered, he explained
without emotion. that the book keeper
had been robbing the firm. Ills peeu.
latlons would probably amount 10
Thousands of dollars lie had run
away aud might escape arrest, but she
was 10 go ahead on the books Just the
same. Her salary would be $50 a
week. and OF course her relations with
the firm would be confidential. She
could depend upon them TO recon-
mend her 20 others IN case her work
was well done. The girl wondered
that the partner was 10 quiet over the
reputcd loss; but. thinking II was his
way, she promised 10 appear at the
store In the morning and begin on the
books. When morning came and
when she was within a block OF the
store she encountered an old gray hair
ed man With such a look Of trouble ON
bis face rs caught her cttcniion at
once. lie blocked her way and halted
her and tried 10 say something. hut
choked up, raised bis hands IN despair
and stepped aside
"why. that is the old bOokkeeper
saw at the store the other day through
the partitionT she exclaimed ms she
turned TO look after him. "Cnn II be
his books I am TO oyerhaulf / can't
bsIeve that he has been robblng the
firm"
stephen Cato, the old bookkeeper.
had been neat and accurate and palms
taking. When the first day had come
20 a close the girl expert failed 20 1nd
the slightest cause for suspicion. She
20 reported. aud. with n frown. the sen
for partner replied:
But you must remember that ste.
phen was sly and crafty" he replied.
Don't be deceived. You claim to be
an expert. and you must sooner or
later come upon the evidences OF bis
guilt"
Nothing was discovered on the sec
ond day-the ;hlrd-Dothlng during the
whole week. Miss willoughby's repu-
tatIon as an expert was at stake. but
not the slightest flaw could she fiDd.
II there had been robberIes no attempt
had been made to cover them up by
false entries.
But you will make discoveries next |
week." said Mr. Jansen as she reported |
aud he handed her her salary. Per
haps you have not taken bis craftlness
into account We have lost at least |
$4,000 by him. ana rs an expert ac-.
connfant we shall expect you 10 un-
cover his system. Another week must |
surely bring you the clew."
When another week had passed moth !
ing whatever had been found to con
Wet stephen Cato. lie had been hon,
est 70 a penny. The girl was glad TO
90 report His troubled face had
haunted her ever since the first morn
Ing. and the senior partners iDsistence !
bad bred suspicion IN her mind. I,
Miss willoughby." replied Mr.. Jan.
sen when she had reported. I'VE EN- \
ployed you as an expert accountant.
Our loss Is $1,000. Our late bookkeep-
er Is fugitive from Justice. You have
done your work well. Here is $500
over and above your salary. and We
shall be glad TO recommend you to any |
ether house. Ia such affairs as this
one OF course Is expected TO keep ST.
lence."
The girl looked at him for a mo-
ment with puzzled expression on her
face. Then It began to be plain that
there was something wrong. The 6rm !,
wanted TO make out loss when there
was no loss. Il had reasons for calling
on honest man thief She slowly
picked up the amount due her as sal
airy for the week. and. stepping back.
she looked the man square IN the eyes
and spid. ~