Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk

asked, startled by the deadly pallor on

t I shall be better in a mo

all I do

all be all right in a few minutes. I'll bring down those invoices to-morrow. I bought

great measure from the sudden attack; but he w

ess so closely, I should break down altoge

take a vacation, then," I

ee how I can do it. I have to do all the buying for the concern, and attend to all the finances. Mr. Collingsby, you k

be able to do more to

, that he was buying lumber, or attending to the finances of the establishment, in his absence, for he appeared to have injured his health very seriously. From "the speech of people,"

ave been faithful, and you have kept your books remarkab

I'm stup

ge who had so deep an insight into the science of acco

it seems to me that those invoices, when you bring them, will make it all right. Forty thousan

Phil. Indeed, I think you must be. Yo

correct, but I try to be so," I replied, b

not attempt to do wha

tly competent to make o

"There are certain details of the business which you don't understand, and

iness, and perhaps it would have come out

e Mr. Collingsby had seen your statement, that the

ntend to sho

sk, and a single glance at it would have alarmed him, when, yo

u, and I showed it to you in orde

ent might have happened," said he, walking t

nto a great many pieces, and t

e will make out a trial b

had my rough draft, which I had carefully copied, in the desk, and I intended to carry this home, in order to ascertain at some future time whether my figures were correct or not. When I o

on the lumber book," said I, when the

eve in it; indeed, I had even forgotten that there was any such book. The firm don't reco

urned over its leaves, and glanced at its pages. He was still very nervous,

e placed on this book, and

deal, and says he can tell what stock he has on hand, whe

y way to know what stock we

him into the private counting-room at this moment. He evidently had a

your lumber book," said I, when the

matter with it?

it is not

e other concerns have kept one like it, after askin

t to enter invo

r anything if you neglected to c

' worth of stock on hand more than appeared in the lumber book, when Mr. Whippleton ret

n about his book. Let him keep it

y somethi

What did

u didn't think his

atter again. It will only make unpleasant feeling. Smooth it o

d, but I went on wi

nything to Mr. Collingsby about those in

ly ever speaks to me, and I never do to

those papers at home, but it is all right now. This is a fine da

and actually worked the boat alone for hours at a time. I had been out with the junior partner in some pretty heavy blows, and enjoyed them too. In fact, I considered myself a

than usually kind and considerate, but he appeared to be thoughtful and troubled. He gave me the helm, and went into the cabin as soo

range, but I attributed it to his ill health. We had an abundant supply of provisions on board, such as crackers, sardines, lambs' tongues; and we usually took our supper on board, as we did not return to the city till nine or ten. Sometimes we cooked ham and eggs,

ounting-room all day for the next week, but nothing more was said of my unfortunate attempt to prove my zeal. He did not, however, brin

rrect. They were in the ordinary forms, with the printed headings of the establishments at w

; "I don't believe in that book, and I won't have anything to do wit

ash amounts of these invoices had been paid, and I supposed the lumber had been received in the yard. But Mr. Whippleton was a partner in the

ke twelve, and still I was awake. A few minutes later I heard a knock at my door. Mrs. Whippleton had been sick for a week, and I found t

everybody says so. I want to s

esty had to do with the matter,