Year: 1861

Va s1o euDJCCl Vi lAC PoutC, lew evenings
since. Suspicion is like the assassin in the
dark. 1t stabs the victim and he knows not
whence the blow comes. But believe never
told you the only time that suspicion of evil
was ever fastened upon me.


When mere youth l was placed in the
store of James Warton, who was merchant
doing good business. was frugal, industri>
Gus and faithful. and at the age of twenty>one
l was advanced to the post of book-keeper.
with good salary. had charge of the books
and safe and all the money left over after bank
hours was also in my care. tried to do my
duty faithfully, and think succeeded. Mr..
Warton was a close methodcal man, with a
quick eye and ready understanding of business,
and as fancied he was satisfied, felt much
pleased.


had been book,keeper a year when I
thought my employers manner towards me
began to change. He seemed to treat me
more coolly, and finally was sure he watched
my movements with distrustful glances.
became nervous and uneasy for feared had
offended him. But the thing came to head
at length. One evening, when l was alone in
the store, engaged in making up my cash ac>
count Mr.. Warton came TO me with a troubled
look, and spoke. His voice was tremulous,
and l could see that he was deeply affected


George" said he, " am sorry for the cons
viction that has forced itself upon me. fear
that you have not been treating me as YOU
should"


asked in astonshment what he meant


Il fear that you are not honest" was his
reply"


Had thundcrbolt fallen on me I could not
have been more startled. Not honest And
there had been for years, making it my chief
aim and study how to serve him most faiths
fully. do not remember what / said at first
| only know that tears came into my eyes
that my lips trembled-that my Inference was
almost checked. How long had he held such
suspicious l asked him, and he told me for
more t0an TWO months


Good God You have suspected me thus
and still left me in the dark After serving
you so long-after giving to your interests all
my energies-after striving for faith and hon>
or that | might win your love and esteem-to
look upon me as thief and yet not tell me l
would not have believed it."



Let us talk the matter over calmly" said
the merchant, his old, kind tone coming back
He was touched by my agony, and could see
that he was wavering


you have spent considerable money of
late" said he.


How?"


"Have you not built house ?"


"Yes, sir, and paid for it, too, and have
thus given to my mother comfortable home"


Mr.. Warten was staggered for moment by
my frank and feeling reply ;ebut he asked:


"What did the house cost you?"


"Just fifteen hundred dollars. My mother
owned the land. And 1 suppose you would
know where l got the money. You, sir, taught
me how to save it. have been with you six
years. The first year you paid me fifty dol>
lars, and l laid up twenty-five of it. The se>
cond and third year you gave me hundred
and of that laid up sixty dollars year. The
fourth year you made me clerk and gave me
FIVE hundred Mother was able to feed me,
and as our little cot answered for the time, l
got along that year at an expense of seventy
five dollars. The next year you paid me six
hundred on condition that would keep your
books | saved FIVE hundred of that. This last
year you paid me one thousand dollars, and
have only spent the interest of what had
previously invested, so that the thousand was
not touched. OF course, my mother had work
ed, but she wished to do it. l have paid fif-
teen hundred dollars in cash for my house,
and have over five hundred dollars in the saw
ing's bank. This is q plain statement of af-
fairs"


My employer seemed more puzzled than ever.


"Now," said l, 81 have given you an hon
est account, and will you be equally frank and
tell me all that has happened to excite this
suspicion ?"


al will" replied he, taking a seat near me.
"Within the last year | must have lost over
two thousand dollars l know this, for know
the amount of goods which has been sold, and
know how much cash have received. | be-
gan to be watchful four months ago. Two
months ago a man paid me in the afternoon
FIVE hundred dollars. put it in the drawer,
and on the next morning before you came, l
looked at your cash account, and found only
two of that set down. From that time have
been very watchful, aud have detected dozen
similar cases. l have noticed every dollar
that has came h after the bank account was
made up, and have also taken note of the
amount entered on the book and during that
time there has been a lacking of over seven
hundred dollars Now, who has access to
that drawer ard that safe ?"


was astonished. could only assure my
employer that knew nothing of it and l
saw that be wanted to believe Ine. l asked
him if he had spoken TO any one of this but
me- He said no. | then said:


Mr. Warton, could | be made to believe,
d ~ T IL ~