Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-06-27

iHcy duuilcu every DuTtdu Oh lntlT
department, and only last Tuesday
they reached the arrears of street
assessments. This here Ed Walsh is
the head of that bureau, and Tom
Regain, civil service guy, wife and
four children, with a twelve-hundred
dollar job, is cashier.
"They found everything all right
until Billy himself examined the
ledger. Now, | don't know enough
about bookkeeping to give you the
how of this thing, but, the way | get
it, Billy found a shortage of three
thousand dollars. He took the book
at once to Ed Walsh.
MIR. Walsh he said, how about
this?'
BILLY had never spoken to Walsh
since he got back on the job, and it
was only a matter of fortnight be-
fore Billy got sick that Walsh had
his appointment, so that Billy and he
were pretty near strangers. 1t
seems that Walsh was very strong
with the organization, and when old
George Grady died last spring-he
had been chief of that bureau for
years-why, they snapped up the job
for Walsh.
"Well, to go on with the story,
Walsh grabbed the book from Billy
and pretended to examine it care
fully.
THAT he said finally, lis up to
George Grady
"And George is dead Billy added.
"Walsh was pretty white above
NxrEi 10 hn rAln
hard on the floor to keep his knees
still.
cts three thousand dollars
Billy said.
al don't care what it is Walsh
burst out. You've got nothing on
me there. What are you trying to
do-break me? Pm a married man
i suppose you know that-and' he
concluded significantly, and III soon
be a family man, toop
"Billy turned on his heel and left
the room. Pm not given to remark
ing on mems actions, for I'm none
too good myself; but if | could do
what Billy did, | needn't go near a
church the rest of my days, and yet
I'd feel sure of salvation at the end.
the collector OF arrears of street
assessments for three thousand dol
lars, and had it certified. Before
two o'clock he was in Ginning with
Tom Regain, the cashier.
"'Tom, he said, old George Grady
died last April. Did he leave any
thing to his widow?
tom looked up, surprised like.
We took up a collection he
said, 'and | gave five dollars myself.
He got a decent burial in Calvary,
and there was fifty left for the
widow. She's living with her
brother, the priest
"'What did George do with his
money! Billy asked.
"'What did he do with it?' says
Regain. Why he lived on the most
of it, and the rest-well, George had
a heart. and there's many poor
boy m the Fourth Ward as owes and
will never pay back.
Tom Billy went on, I'd take
your word for anything, and you
know it. Give this TO me straight,
in Gods name-was George on the
level with the city's money!
Mr.. Wagner, believe me what |
tell you as if this was the last word
! ever spoke says Tom. George
would no more take a cent of the
city's money than he would commit
murder.
"'Then, Tom Billy cries at last,
flashing the certified check, credit
this on the cash book and keep your
mouth closed I've charged it on
the ledger
BILLY went back to his desk, and
at four o'clock Louis Schultz came
up to him.
"'Mr. Wagner he said, the chief
wants you.
The fool Billy said to himself.
He hasn't seen that credit entry. |
suppose he thought he'd beat me to /
it and braZen it out!
We'll, Billy went up to the front
office at once
Wagner said the chief, have
you seen this book before?' 1t was
the street assessment ledger.
"I certainly have, said Bill,
Walsh was down here a fey
ago. He told me that at to
o'clock this morning you discovered
1 defalcatiOn of three thousand do.
lars IN his bureau There's a ru
Of this department that a defalca
ton or n difference must be reporte
to me-immediately, I
Wagner. 1t is now four o'clock
"Billy smiled the old smile tina /
used to spread Now it only /
wrinkles.
cts all a mistake, chief he sale
,heerfully. There isn't any defalca
ton
But, man, the book shows it
the chief cried.
Billy looked over his shoulder.
Turn over the page he said.
"The chief did so, and on the credit
side Of the ledger appeared, IN /
3illy's handwriting, under that vers
lays date:
bN WSN ''''.'..... ...... JUL.
Walsh doesn't know thisv tho
chief exclaimed. What does it al
mean p
"Billy sat down opposite the ole
nan, and looked him squarely in the