I was so raging mad that I was prepared for almost anything.
"Now, damn you!" I said with a snarl, "turn out your pockets quick!"
He did so, and I found $37.00 there.
"It's my money," he said surlily. "It's my money! You touch that money and I'll have the law on you!"
I picked up the money, put it in my pocket, and said:
"Now, I'll give you just five minutes to get clear out of my sight! Before you go, let me tell you that customers have seen you putting money in your pocket, and I have seen you also. Just let me have one peep from you, now or any other time, and I'll have you in jail! Now, beat it!"
I opened the door and he slunk out.
"I'll get you yet," he growled as he left.
I had lost my temper, I knew I had; but I was mighty glad I had; for I felt if I hadn't I wouldn't have given him the lesson he deserved. And incidentally, I had learned another lesson, and that is, never rehire a discharged employee. Then and there I determined that, so long as I was in business, if an employee ever left me for any reason whatever, I would never reinstate him. He would be through forever.