Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-03-23
THE CIPHER DISPATCH.

One morning after breakfast th'
front bell rang violently, and i'm
mediately afteaward servan
made his appearance at the dool
of my private apartment, and dn
nounced that a visitor wished t(
see me.
"Who is it, Thomas ?" / asked
Il don't know as wboDit is, re
piled the servant. "Ile's dressed
fashionable, and didn't say biz
name, sir, and is young chap
| think as maybe it's young tel
Ter for the clerkship as you wan
ted. Hows'ever he didn't say.
sir" --r. +. - "
every well, Thomas" said l
"You may show him into the par
lor, and | will be down presently
The servant accordingly with
drew, and soon afterward | de-
scended into the sitting-room,
where sat a looking yonng
man, aged % or thereObouts, who
Immediately arose upon my en-
trance and stood by his chair in an
attitude of the most profound
respect. .a 81 s-.a b-2 les :
Good morning, sir" said l.
"You wish to see me, believe.
"Yes, sir" said he, becoming
seated again as | took a chair;
Il owe an apology for the incon-
venience to which | have subjected
you by so early an intrusion.
"The inconvenience is SO light
as not require an apology" said L.
"pray proceed" 1s. -
Il saw your advertisement for
a book, keeper, and, wishing TO en-
gage myself in that capacity,
called to see about it." he said.
Il can give unexceptionable refer
ence as to my ability, and with
me large salary is not SO much
desired as good straightforward
situation" t-l.y Jul
1t came over me as he sat there
with bis eyes rowing all over the
room, talking in the same even,
unchanging voice as he did, that
this man had learned his speech
by heart, and was delivering him
self of certain prescribed form
without any idea what it meant,
while his mind was busy with an
inspection of the contents OF the
apartment-cr that he was like
some wooden-talking machine
with no feeling in what he said,
and he himself entirely discon-
nected from from it. .a.aa.l.5
"Who are your references |
asked. sa..
Lindsay, Weed, Storms & Co }"
he said, giving his handkerchief
another turn. Il was their assiss
tant bookkeeper for six mouths,
and during that time filled the
position W tn ability and to the
credit of those concerned" -'
every well" said |, rising; "you
may call around at my office at
nine o'clock, and perhaps we may
effect some arrangement"
With a parting glance all over
the room, which included every
thing but myself, be bowed him
self backward out of the door and
vanished.
That morning on my way to
business, / called on the importing
establishment Of Lindsay, Weed,
Storms & Co, and ascertained
that what the young man had said
| in reference to himself was strict
Ily true therefore when be made
his appearance at my office at
nine o'clock, l engaged him and
be entered upon his duties forth
with. -- "a &c.
He was, l confess, the best pen.
man | had ever seen, and being
thoroughly acquainted with the
art of double entry bookkeeping,
filled the position for which ]
had employed him with entire
satisfaction to myself. Aside from
his work, there was something a,
bout the young man did not ex.
aetly Ikea peculiar, reserved
way with him that, during his
stay with me, / never understood,
and / suppose / might always
have remained in ignorance con-
corning its meaning had not the
circumstance I am about to relate
thrown some light upon his true
character. ' ~ .--
One forenoon about two weeks
after the engagement of my new
clerk | had occasion, while he
was absent, TO go to his desk and
saw, lying on the floor just be
meath it, half sheet of foolscap
paper on which were inscribed, in
my book-keeper's handwriting,
the following characters, which
appeared to constitute a key tC
some secret record or correspon'
.dence .t#s 81 EoF.S