Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1890 — MARKED BANK BILLS. [ARTICLE]

MARKED BANK BILLS.

A STORY FOR OLD AND YOUNG. ________ “Marshall, won’t you do me the fa, for to keep this five dollar bill for me? I want to taike my holiday soon, and I’m afraid, if I keep it myself, I’ll be tempted to spend it.’ 1 ■< “Why, certainly, Edward, I’ll keep it for you with pleasure.” And the youth who had been addressed by his companion as Marshall, too* out his poeketbook and put the bank note carefully in it by the side of one of the same denomination that was already deposited there. Arohie Marshall and Edward Franklin were fellow clerks, in "the lar'gg wholesale house of Zimmerman & Co., and being- about the same age, and formerly schoolmates, were very intimate, both in and out of their businoss associations. ~ Marshall lived with his parents, and Franklin was an orphan, but both were boys of excellent character, and served their employers faithfully; yet, while Archie was economical in his habits, Edward was just the reverse, and spent his wages freely. This explained the request made of his friend. While the two boys were talking about the money, Mr. Zimmerman, the senior partner of the firm, passed by on his way to the counting room, and scanned them closely as he noticed the transfer of the money to Marshall’s poeketbook. A few moments later an errand boy told Marshall that Mr. Zimmerman would like to see him in the counting room. Dropping his work, the young clerk proceeded at once to see his employer, wondering at the strange summons; for he had never had one of the kind before... - - - "~ J , He found Mr. Zimmerman alone in his private office, and looking unusuals ly severe and serious. As Archie knocked at the door, the merchant without looking up, told him to come in and be seated. After a few moments’ silence Mr. Zimmerman looked up. “Marshall, said he, “I’m a plainspoken man and will not beat about the bush at all. We have lately been missing small sums of money from the cash drawer, and, while I am loathe to suspect you, I would like to examine that five-dollar bill whioh you have in your pocket.” “Certainly, Mr. Zimmerman,” replied Archie, promptly handing his employer his pooket-book; “but, exouse me, sir, I don’t think I quite understand yon sir,” he continued with hesitation. Mr. Zimmerman looked at the trank face of his young employe a moment, and said, with equal hesitation: “Well. Marshall, it is just this. As I told you before, we have been missing money, and I took the precaution to mark some bills with a private mark in the eflort to trace the guilty person. As I passed you in the store a little while ago, I saw Franklin give you what I thought I recognized as one of those marked notes. Ah, here it is now!” continued the merchant; ••and here is the mark!” ; Saying this, he drew forth the note whioh Franklin had given Marshal, and pointed to 1 an ‘X’ in one corner, which had apparently been made in red ink with a quill pen. “And here is another!” he exclaims ed a moment later, as he disclosed the other note belonging to Marshall, which also bore the guilty mark. The young olerk was too much shocked and surprised for a time to make any answer. His face flushed and paled by turns, but it was not with emotions of guilt or fear; and he gazed squarely into the merchant’s face as he strove to collect his scattered thoughts. “I cannot imagine how this can be, Mr. Zimmerman,” he finally gasped. ‘.‘The first note you saw belongs to Franklin, and the other I got as part of last week’s salary. Franklin cannot save money, and he asked me to keep his five dollars for him.” “I am very sorry, Marshall,” responded the merchant, • ‘but the proof is too plain. Your resignations will be accepted, to take effect at once. Of course it will bo impossible to keep you or Franklin longer in our employ afte? this evidence of guilt on your part.” “But you will allow me to call Edward, will you not, Mr. Zimmerman?” pleaded the young clerk. “Oh, yes, but I cannot soo what possible good that can do,” replied his employer. ‘ ‘He can tell where ho got his note, ” explained Marshall. When Franklin entered the office in response to the summons, his fellow clerk asked him: “Where did you get that five dollar bill you gave me to keep for you, Edward?” “It was a portion of my last week’s salary,” replied Frank, at a loss to understand the query. “There is some terrible mistake about this, Mr. Zimmerman,’’protested Arohie. “I never stole anything in my life, and I certainly would not be*, gin now, when I have everything that I need and am getting well paid for my work, You hear Edward say he got his note in his salary, and that is where I got mine.” “That will do, Marshall,” said the merchant coldly. “You and Franklin will hand in your resignations immediately. I could make it go a great deal harder with you, but I hope this will serve as a salutary lesson to you in the future. On this account, and in consideration of your youth, I feel disposed to be lenient toward you.” Arohie turned about with flaming cheeks and trembling lips, and was in the aatof leaving the office with his fellow-clerk when Mr. Ford, the junior partner, came In.

“Helloo, Marshall ! what Is the trouble?’’ Mr. Ford asked, noticing. Archie’s unusual appearance. It was as much as the young clerk could do to keep back the tears as he answered, falteringiy: “Mr. Zimmerman has accused Franklin and me pf stealing, and we are discharged without an opportunity of self-defense.” “How is that, Zimmerman?” asked the junior partner. “Simply this. Ford; both of them had marked notes in their possession, and acknowledged them to be theirs.” ••Let me see the notes,” said Mr. Ford. ’ . Mr. Zimmerman handed him the marked bills, and he examined them very closely. • ... ' ... - “1 don't know, Zimmerman,” he said, “those crosses look dull and blurred, as though they were part of the notes. Perhaps they are all'engraved in this way. “No they are not, rejoined hiß partner angrily. “Look at these,” and taking a roll of bank notes out of his pocket, he threw two five dollar bills carelessly over to his partner. Mr. Ford scanned them for a moment, and then laughed heartily.“Why Zimmerman,” said he, “these are the very notes we marked.” ‘.What!” cried the merchant, “they are the tame?”:. .« “Yes; and these of Marshall andj -Franklin are merely impressions of j them. You know I told you to use the blotting pad when you were mak-‘ ingthem, and you said it was not nec-j essary. the ink would soon dry! It didj not dry, and the consequence was: that the imprint was left on the notes; you put on top of them.” ; “I really believe you are right,”’ acknowledged the senior partner, examining the four notes in turn. •T; recollect mixing the marked notes with others of the same denomination, and putting them all in the cash 1 drawer together. Afterward, I went: hurriedly to the cash drawer and took out some for my own use, and must have taken the marked bills without! noticing the fact. Boys,” he continued, turning to the young clerks, j “I owe you an humble apology, j Consider it made, in part, until Sat-1 urday night, when an increase in! salary will complete it. I am truly glad your increase has been so quickly and thoroughly established-” Marshall and Franklin received the promised inorease at the end of the week, by which time the guilty person wa3 detected and punished. The two young clerks afterward became the successors of Zimmerman & Co.. and among the first things they did was to hang in their oountlng-room a modest placard bearing the legend: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”—Atlanta Constitution.