Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1902 — A Bank Clerk’s Story. [ARTICLE]

A Bank Clerk’s Story.

wjkjj* Y worst fears realized!” I murJhMfll mured as > 011 breaking the seal the packet which I had found on my breakfast table, my letters to In fell out “Her Influence over Mr. ft*li Is not great enough to cause him to overlook my presumption.” 1 took up Eva's letter: My Dearest Cecil—l have told uncle of oulr engagement but I am afraid that we •hall never gain bis consent. He behaved M wildly that I am really afraid of him —I have never before seen him so angry. He vowed that he would never agree to ear marriage, and ordered me to send back all your letters and presents, and Insisted on seeing me do it. So I am writing this at bis study table, and I do not even know whether he will not insist on reading my letter; but I promise you, dearest Cecil, that, if you are willing to Walt for two years, I will marry you a* soon as 1 am of age and the law allows me to be my own mistress. ▲ sigh escaped me. Two years appears a lifetime to a young man of flve-and-twenty. And if Mr. Hall were inexorable we should have to wait those long two years. Whilst I was turning over the letters Eva had sent back I came upon a sheet that had evidently been put In by mistake. It was so brief that 1 read the words before I had realized that the note was not meant tor me. There was no address or date: Morgan has gone to Barton-on-Sea for a week, and I am free. Perhaps Friday would suit you? Yours faithfully, W. CARRUTHERS. I placed this note iu my pocket, Intending to return it to Mr. Hall, although It did not seem to be of auy serious Importance. One of the remaining letters on the table was from that gentleman himself. In no gentle language he rated me for the Impertinence of “aspiring to the hand of his niece,” delicately hinting that a “beggarly bank clerk on one hundred and tifty pounds a year would be making a first-class investment” by marrying a lady who might possess at aome future date a handsome fortune. He apologized with Irritating irony for delaying “so satisfactory a financial arrangement,” reminded me that his word Was law for another two years, and that even when Eva attained her majority she would have to depend on him for a dowry. When 1 Jiad finished reading this pleasant letter 1 decided to wait until I bad returned from the bank and had more leisure. Then 1 could answer his letter as It deserved, and at the same time return the note that had been Inadvertently Inclosed In Eva's parcel. At the bank it was difficult to keep my thoughts from wandering. My fellow clerks rallied me on my unwonted gloominess. It waa about 11 when a young man, whom I knew very well by sight, steppe Into the bank and approached one of the cashiers. “Good-morning,” he said pleasantly. “I’ve got rather a larger check than usual. I don’t know what the old man wants It for, hut he told me to take a cab and draw out the money In gold—l suppose the bank's all right?” “Yes, the bank's right enough," the cashier answered, with a laugh, “and I don’t think that even four thousand pounds will break us.” Having nothing at that moment to do, I idly looked over Freeman’s shoulder and read the check. It was drawn for thousand pounds tj uearer and was signed "J. *£• Morgan,” one of our largest customers. The name struck me as being one I had seen In writing very recently. Whilst Freeman had gone to the manager I worried my brains to think of the connection In which I had last seen the name. "Eureka!” I exclaimed, and withdrawing from the view of the young man, who was patiently waiting for his gold, I pulled out the paper which had been accidentally Inclosed in Eva's letter. Bure enough, the name of the gentleman who had gone to Barton-on-Sea wee Morgan. A curious coincidence, perhaps, but not a very uncommon one. Nevertheless, remembering how the Mayfair and South-Eastern Counties’ Bank had been swindled less than a month ago, my mind conceived a little doubt as to the genuineness of the check.

“What la your name?" I Inquired, taking a piece of paper as though I were going to write. To my aurprtae the man quietly replied: “Walter Carruthers." ▲t this moment Freeman came back. “Isa all right,” be said, with a nod it the other. “It's be ready for you in • few minutes.” Then be was going on to discuss the weather with Carruthers, but, to his evident astonishment, I came forward again. “la Mr. Morgan at home?” I asked. “Of course he Is,” the other replied, without the slightest hesitation. “I thought he was going away—to the seaside," I hazarded, uot knowing but that be had returned again. “There was some talk of It—l don’t know bow you knew of It—but he's still at home. I've got to take back this gold to him.” I was puzzled. If this note In my pocket referred to the same Mr. Morgan—and I could scarcely doubt that It did—lt proved this man to be speaking falsely. “I should not pay this check, Freaman, until we have made some Inquiries,”' I said. “But the manager says It's all right" my colleague replied. “Then I must go to him and explain.

But don’t let a .penny go' out until I return.” Old Fox looked up when I entered his room. “I wanted to speak to yon, sir, about this four thousand. I have reason to believe that Mr. Morgan is not at home.” “What?” shouted Fox, Jnmplng up from his chair. Then he sat dowa again. “What of that? He has drawn the check as usual to ‘self or bearer.’ What has his absence from home to do with it?” But I could see that the old man was uneasy. “I have almost certain information that Mr. Morgan Is at Barton-on-Sea, yet his secretary declares that he has not gone there.” , “Ask him to come In and see me, and you had better come, too', Clifford.” Rather to my disappointment Carruthers showed no trepidation on receiving the portentous Invitation to step Into the manager’s room. "Mr. Clifford informs me that Mr. Morgan is not at home—that he Is gone to Barton. Is that so?” “I didn't know that Mr. Clifford had any knowledge of my employer’s movements. But I can safely assure you that, although there was some talk of Mr. Morgan’s going to the seaside, he was unable, through stress of business, to start.” The manager looked at me. * "My Information Is;” I replied, “that Mr. Morgan has gone, and I must advise Mr. Fox to make further inquiries before he cashes that check.” “By all means,” returned Carruthers, composedly. “What I should advise Is that you wire to Mr. Morgan’s house aud Inquire If he be at home, while I stay here.” I could see that the manager’s unbelief waa giving way. “I’m afraid you have lighted on a mare’s neat, Clifford,” he whispered. “But you had better go and wire at once. Unfortunately, Mr. Morgan is rather peppery, and I fear he won't be pleased with the delay.” I hurried out and discharged my mission with dispatch. In less than an hour the reply was received. I took It in to Mr. Fox. “Am at home. Pressed for money.” Carruthers looked up In triumph at me as the manager read out this message. “I think we need not delay any longer. Mr. Clifford,” the manager said, very coldly. “I must apologize to you, sir, for having detained you so long. You must pardon our cashier’s seal; we bankers have been much troubled of late by clever forgeries, and Mr. Clifford lias been, perhaps, a little too suspicious.” Carruthers smiled blandly. “Oh, It's quite correct,” he sold; "you can’t be too careful, and I don’t doubt that when I explain matters to Mr. Morgan he will forgive the delay—although I had express orders to return as quickly as possible.” I saw that I had nearly lost the game. “Unless there Is another Mr. Morgan with another secretary of the name of Carruthers. I must still maintain, Mr. Fox, that this check has not been properly obtained.”

“But this Is childish," the manager angrily cried. “Are you mad?’’ he continued, taking me aside. “I don’t even know on what grounds you base your suspicions, but do remember that Mr. Morgan is one of our best customers, that tW signature Is undlsputable ” “And tlw»t Mr. Morgan Is at Barton-on-Sea, whilst this man asserts he Is at home." >. “But the telegram?” "Is also cooked” I retorted, In desperation, for this pprt of the business I could not find any Jjther explanation. “Make him write aVecelpt,” I finally urge<J, “and compare hls v signature with this, and I pulled out thd letter and showed It to the manager. \ Very unwillingly Mr. Fox did as I suggested. Pretending that he would hear nothing more from me, he asked Carruthers for a receipt, and In another minute was comparing the two signatures. Ills face changed. “By Heaven. Clifford, but you may be right. These signatures are exactly similar.” “I’ve had enough of this,” said Carruthers, defiantly. “I will ask Mr. Morgan to come himself and get this money. But I can assure you that he will want to settle there and then with you—and. If I have any voice In the matter, your head office shall know all about It” “You will not leave, sir, until wa are satisfied,” Mr. Fox stiffly replied. "What shall we do? How did you get that letter?" be inquired, Id a whisper. “Wire to the hotel at Barton. Mr. Morgan Is almost sure to have gone to the best.” The manager drew a Bradshaw toward him. “Here It Is, Clifford—the Esplanade. We must try It—l am almost at my wit’s end. The directors will never forgive me If we lose Morgan's custom throngh this.” “Nor If we loss the four thousand,” I ventured to assert But shortly after 3 the manager's doubts were set at rest The reply came: “Have drawn no cheque for amount Am coming up by express." The manager nearly danced In his relief. He patted me on the most affectionately. Meanwhile Carruthers mads a bolt for the door.

"Stop that man!” ahouted Fox, and be waa quickly in our grasp. “No, I know nothing about him,” tbs prisoner maintained, when he was questioned. “I fancy he’s the same man that managed those other bank frauds —but I don’t know for certain. He put me on to this Job by getting me appointed secretary to old Morgan. I waited until the old man went to Barton, then I wrote to Mansfield—that's the name he goes by—and he came round and filled In a blank check and forged the signature. We had plenty of copies, and It was well done—l thought we were quite safe. How that beggar there got hold of my letter I don’t know, but he's spoilt as brilliant a spec as ever I went In for. “No,” he said, with a doleful shake of his head. “I’d do what I could to save my own skin, but he was much too cute to put himself In my power. I had to write to him at a little shop where they take In letters. The butler at Morgan’s was also in the know—that’ll explain the wire saying that the check was correct. no doubt Mansfield was watching for me In the street, and I expect he’s levanted safe enough by now. It's just my luck, that’s all!” “It's Mansfield we want,” sighed the detective, who had been sent down from the Yard. “He's been undoubtedly at the bottom of all these bank fruuds. How did you come by that note, Mr. Clifford?” A struggle had been going on In my mind. I was well aware who the archcriminal must be, and I shrank from bringing Eva’s uncle to the dock. But I was forced to answer the detective’s question. He bounded In the air with joy when I had given my explanation. Taking a couple of men he accompanied me to Mr. Hall’s palatial residence. “I thought I had forbidden you the house,” he said sternly, when the servant showed me into the study. "I came, sir, to return this note.” The scoundrel’s fnce paled as he recognized the paper. "Is this the reason why ?” he waa beginning, then stopped abruptly. “I know nothing about this paper! I can’t conceive why you should think that It belongs to me.” But at this moment the detectives came in and arrested him. For several days I did not venture to go near the house, fearing lest Eva should resent the way In which I had brought disgrace upon her kin. Then came a welcome letter from her; "Come to me, dearest Cecil. I can guess your reasons for staying away, but you only performed your duty when you gave up my uncle to the police—but think, dearest, that wicked man Is no uncle of mine! He has spent the Income that my father left me, but h« has confessed he Is no relation to ms. You fairly checkmated him.” Yes, and I was also mated by a check.