Commerce High School - Commerce Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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There, the same thing happened. The other directors wanted to let the Cashier have his way, but the power of Mr. Morganheimer was so great that they had to side with the president. The Cashier became angry at this and threatened to resign. The directors began to rebel also, at seeing this turn of affairs. The president then made a frantic attempt to get the place for his son. In this he failed, and now he saw his designs in danger of being utterly frustrated. He made a final effort to prevent Frank from being advanced to the position, but in vain, for the Cashier would not yield in the least, and Frank was advanecd. While Mr. Morganheimer was obliged to accept for his son the place vacated by Frank. However, that is another story. Let us return to Robert Morganheimer. He is sitting at his desk brooding and mumbling to himself. If we listen closely, we can make out what he is saying: “I'll get even with that fellow, Frank, for doing me out of that place. The nerve that the beggar has shown by playing on the sympathies of the Cashier and getting the place when my father is the president of this bank! I'll get even with him all right. The question of how I can do it alone remains to be solved. He sat there, his head in his hands, a frown on his face, brooding and thinking. He looked the part of a perfect conspirator. “I have it, he almost shouted as he sprang from his chair, shaking his fist, with a look of devilish glee on his face. “He signs all Cashier Checks. I’ll forge a check, payable to bearer, with his name and he’ll get caught, appropriating money after it is cashed. But, he hesitated, “I might get caught. He considered the full import of his last words. However, such a plan of getting even, appealed to him too much to be given up. “It’s a good idea though. I’ve got to get even with him. O. he suddenly cried, as a new thought struck him, “I can get the check cashed and pay my ‘private’ debts with the money. I am hard-up at present and the old man is getting tight-fisted, so I can kill two birds with one stone. I’ll make it safe enough so I can’t get caught. IV. “Frank, come here just for a second, the Cashier called. “Yes, sir, what is itf he asked as he came up. “I have here a Cashier’s Check, signed by you, for $2,000 that is recorded in payment of a draft, record of which I cannot find in the files. Have you any idea where it is or whether it was received at allf “Let me seek the check, Mr. Winthrop, and I may be able to tell you, Frank said as he took the paper from the Cashier’s hand and scrutinized it carefully. “I don’t remember ever giving out such a paper at all, but it looks like my signature though. he said after a while. “Is it recorded in all the books T 121

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I have found him no better than when we first ran up against him. In fact he has become a great deal worse. He has entered “Society” as he calls it. That is he has fallen in with a bunch that play cards almost every night till 1:00 A. M., and when they get through, the street is most of the time, to them, like a small boat on a stormy sea. You get me? In other words he is speeding above the limit on the high road to perdition, and not a policeman on the beat to stop him. The other night I was at a “frat” entertainment, and he was there too— one of the few times that has found us on the same stamping ground. We got to talking about old times, for here friendliness is the fashion, and he asked me if I knew what you were doing. I told him you were working at the First National Bank of New York. “0, is that so?” said he. “My old man is president of that bank,” and at this his chest stuck out about five feet in the air, as if he had put his father there. I then broke the news to him that you had just been advanced, and maybe I was not some chesty too. He turned up his nose and said sneeringly, “I suppose he must have bribed the Cashier to get there.” Well, was I mad? You couldn’t express it. I couldn’t control myself. I made a swing at him, but the fellows just caught my arm and held it. I tell you if this had happened in any other place, he would have been sorry all his life for it. The boys saved him. I had to cool down as we weren’t in the ring. He was as pale as a ghost. I told him to take it back, or I’d make him swallow his words, and he apologized. He won't say anything like that again, to my face, no knowing what he will do, though, on the sly. If you ever meet him, be on your guard. Well, I suppose, I have bored you enough and will have to close. Congratulating you on your advancement and hoping it will become a frequent occurrence to you, I remain Your friend. Will Thompson “That cad doesn’t deserve to be hit,” was all that Frank exclaimed and, folding the letter, he quietly went back to his work. III. A glance at the First National Bank of New York, five years later, shows us Frank Webster occupying the position of First Assistant Cashier, to which he has just been advanced. But whom do we find in the position just below him. It is Robert Morganheimer occupying the position of Second Assistant Cashier. Frank deserved the position he had. The Cashier was an honest man and worked for efficiency in every way possible, ne knew that Frank was the best man for the position and he fought for that idea. When he tried to advance Frank to the position, however, Mr. Morganheimer intercepted and overruled him. A heated discussion followed. President and Cashier cooled down only after they agreed to take the question up at the next meeting of the Board of Directors. 120

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“Yes. The issuing of the check is recorded, but there is do entry of a draft such as is mentioned iu the records.” “We’ll have to ask Mr. Morganheimer, Jr. He attends to the drafts.” Frank said. “All right,—Robert, I want to see you for a while.” “Yes, sir,” Robert Morganheimer said as he came up. His knees suddenly became weak, his face pale, as he said to himself, “It’s coming.” “Here is a check that has been issued in payment of a draft of which there is no trace whatever. Do you know anything of it?” the Cashier asked. “Just a minute, I will look in my books,” he answered. Hoping to strengthen a suspicion that he felt sure was resting on his rival, he made a show of looking carefully through his books. “No, sir, I can’t find any trace of it?” he finally said, “and I am sure that I have recorded everything, according to your directions. The Cashier looked worried. He knew that Frank’s honesty was unquestionable. But everything seemed to point to Frank as the guilty party. “Well Frank, we have made a thorough search for it before and can’t find it. It throws a suspicion on you. What have you to say.” “Sir,” he answered, “I am absolutely innocent.” “I am sure you are innocent. However, we will have to see Mr. Morganheimer. Somebody must have been a little careless. I cannot see how this turn of affairs could have happened otherwise. You had better come along also, Robert.” he said as they walked toward the president’s office. “Well, what is it?” Mr. Morganheimer asked as he looked up. The Cashier then explained the whole matter to him. The president’s face became grave when the Cashier finished. A look of anxiety, that had swept over his face at hearing the account and seeing his son, gave place to one of hope as he glanced at Frank and felt that he read guilt. “Well, what do you make of the matter?” he asked Mr. Winthrop. “Appearances are against Frank, but I cannot believe he would do anything of such a nature.” Mr. Morganheimer studied for a long time. Meanwhile Frank was as pale as a sheet. Ilis knees shook. Visions of the penitentiary flitted before his eyes. Who could have written this check, and, how had this state of affairs come about? These questions passed through his mind one after the other. Had he forgotten that he had written it? No. Besides, he always kept records of the checks he wrote, and he had none of this one. Had he let somebody else write it and then signed it himself? But, no, he never did that, and his memory was not conscious of doing it. He racked his brain for ways in. which this check could be accounted for and then turned down every one. At last he gave up in utter despair. Then he saw his mother, a widow, weeping for him and hiding her face from the world because of the shame that had come to her innocent son, for she would feel sure he could be nothing but innocent. How she, who had struggled in his boyhood so fiercely to drive the wolf from her door and to keep the 122