The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-06-06
Paying for an
Old Wrong
By JUSTIN wENTWooD

By JUSTIN WENTWOOD
It had been matter OF a $50
bill that had disappeared from the
cash drawer 80 years before. The
suspicion had fallen upon Jensen.
Haldman did not go as far as. TO ac-
cuse the young clerk. But until the
young fellow could d!sprove the
charge. which was unlikely In the
extreme, there would be no promo
ton for him. And until the, money
was found Jensen couldn't give up
the position.
Jensen stayed on. In those days
jobs were not plentiful and men
did not shift from one to another.
Jensen remained at his bOokkeep-
er's desk, while the firm enlarged,
became first a company and then
corporation. Other men came and
went, but at fifty-three Jensen was
still assistant bookkeeper at exactly
the current salary.
For thirty years Jensen had
stuck to his job, at first because
Of the suspicion that hung over hun,
and afterwards out of an obstinate
pride. 1t became a sort OF manila
with him to show Haldman lie
would not be driven out, and be-
ing an old bachelor he had no abBD-
lutte incentive TO eari more money.
He became a queer, dogged, elderly
man, perpetually. revolving his
grievance in his mind.
The corporation was successful.
1t was moving to new. premises. The
old furniture was to be sold of and
replaced by new. Jensen's old desk,
mt which he had sat, for the 80
years. was being carried toward
the entrance when it came apart
in the bearers hands. 1t went to
pieces on the flOOr-cOmpletely
wormeaten, the merest shell of a
desk. "A
= At the noise Haldman came. ont
Of his office and stood froWning by. l
Hello, what's this?" he asked.
The desk had once been the till,
when the business was in it's begin
nings. Now, STOPPING, Haldman
extracted from the crevice. behind
the drawer, into which 1t had be-
come wedged. a $40 bill, faded from
age. perforated and mOldy, and
looking like the antique it was, but
still undeniably a $40 bill.
Haldman looked up and saw the
triumph in Jensen's eyes, and sud
denly he remembered. 1t was a
long time since he had thought
about that old matter. His eyes
dropped.
ord like to see you," said Jen-
sen.
:, "Come into my Office" answered
Haldman. !
Through Jensen's triumph there
surged the practical sense Of the !
value Of his discovery. Haldman |
should pay him the value his serv-
ices ought to have received those
30 years. With interest he calcu-
lated this at $4,000 at least. This |
was hobby Of his. At |
any rate he would ask as little as
IS 1000.
Nobody about them understood |
the meaning of the little drama, tor |
those who had been acquainted
with the story had long since
passed Off the scene. There were
only Jensen and Haldman. Jen-
sen followed the president into his |
Office. -. A,u
Haldman turned and held out !
his hand. you've cleared your |
self, Jensen" he said.
At this Jensen's wrath surged |
up and suddenly overcame his pru-
dence. e.
Cleared myself?" he shouted. |
Its you who've been shown up
for what you are. You've broken |
my life. I wish to. God. I had
stolen that d-n twenty-dollar bill.
I've toiled for you these thirty |
years past in the same job, when
| ought to be one of the heads of
the firm!" i. l.
MY dear fellow, 1 know. It's
too bad, and III keep you In mind
for promotion when the head !
bookkeeper leaves said. Hald-
man.
Leaves? Dies, you mean! That
fellow means to stick forever?
And do you think there can be any.
thing that will make up for the
HI you've made my Life, for the
ruin of it,"
"No, no, Jensen" said Haldman
apologetically. "As you say. moth
Ing can make up Tor that. How
ever, want to show my regret in
some practical way. Wouldn't. q
monetary acknowledgment be &C.
ceptable to your. sac, -
Jensen grew calm. "Well-I sup
pose we've got to take q practical
view of the matter. Mr.. Haldman,"
he admitted. Ilyn ~
Exactly" answered Haldman,
With vast reNef. OF course the
things 80 difficult" He hesitated
hen picked up the $40 bill which
he had laid down on his desk.
Here, take this. Jensen, as a little
at compensation" he said,
placing it III Jensen's hand.
60. 1874. western Nsw.na mar un.on, :,