The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-30
JOSEPH YATES TEMPTATION.

deposit money all right? Fifteen
minutes to closing"
Twenty-Five" said Joseph Yates,
looking up at the dusty old clock that
never varied five minutes the year round.
" And here it is in four packages"
Peter Gale ran it over briefly. Yates
could not tell Why but these were always
times of trial for him. If he should
make a mistake some day. And it al.
ways seemed as if Gale suspected him
of keeping something back.
A hard, sharp, shrewd man was Peter
Gale, though there wasn't firm in the
city that stood higher than that Of Gale
& Co. Mr.. Fielding, the company, trav-
eled the greater part of the time, and
Gale managed the indoor affairs. 1t was
all right. Gale gave brusque nod
There's those invoices must be made
out tonight"
" Yes, SIR"
" There's no sense in such an endless
string of holidays, that stop business and
get men into lazy habits"
Yates glanced at the clock again. Per-
haps the master understood the hint, for
he went Oft grumbling; and the man was
left with a good half.day's work before
him; for on Saturday as well, everything
must be readp for the morning He was
a rapid and true accountant. Peter Gale
knew his value we'll He felt that he
was worth higher salary, but business
had not been overbrisk for the last year
or two, although cold Gale" was max
ing money fast enough.
Something fluttered down to the floor.
Why, what is this? Barton Casey's check
for e100. Yates struck his hand to his
forehead in terror. How had he forgot
ten it? Right in the press of business
an hour ago Casey had rushed in on his
way to the railway.
"Tm off to Ireland" he exclaimed;
&" and, though that bill of mine doesn't
fall due until the I'd of January, I'd
rather take it up and have it off my
mind. Here, receipt this, Yates, Quick
as lightning, man"
He had laid it aside to explain to Mr..
Gale. Then in the hurry of making up
the deposit it had slipped out of his
mind.
He was tired out mentally and physic-
ally. Every nerve had been stretched
and strained. The days work was hard
enough, but to do two in one was dOubly
severe. So his thoughts were slow and
half terrified as he stood moment think
ing what had better be done. To con-
TESS his negligence would be to almost
ruin Gales estimation. And just when
he needed to ask favor, too! He went
on with his figures, trying to think of a
plausible way out of the difficulty, but
Gale returned and night was coming on.
He slipped the check in his pocket; there
was no entry made of it in the days
ledger. He must trust to luck to make
it right on Monday.
Gale went round in his stealthy, suspi-
ciOus fashion. Yates balanced his long
lists, made entries, sorted papers. His
master chuckled a little under his breath
at his slaves rapidity. 1t would take
him week to get through with that
amount of work correctly. He stood
with his safe door open waiting for the
books.
Joseph Yates had meant to get the
check in the safe somehow. A cold per
spiration broke out on his forehead. for
it now hung over him like a horror. The
door shut with its sharp, mysterious
click. Yates reached for his overcoat,
fumbled awkwardly, then turned
"Mr. Gale"
"What now?" was the gruff rejoinder
" Mr.. Gale" and Yates cleared his
throat-"I want to ask you if you could
or would-advance me tritle from my
months salary?"
His avns wnrn doUnoact ppm on1 tho
lines round his mouth twitched nervously
under the soft, brown mustache. He had
nerved himself to ask the favor for the
sake of his wife and children. For him
self-well, he would have starved sooner
I" ! don't do those things, Yates, and
you know it, | pay a man fairly when
his work is done, and not a day before,
and | never ask any man to pay me until
my money is due. / know you want it
for some stupid nonsense, but poor men
like you had better save their money.
This holiday business is bad for poor
men ike you"
Yates turned without another word.
Outside the street lamps were burning
dimly. The storm was just beginning -
fine sleet that blew out of the clouds in
spiteful gusts. He pulled his coat-collar
over his ears, for the bitter wind nipped
them, and almost dayed the skin on his
cheeks where the curling beard did not
keep him warm. He went stumbling
along, thinking. What had he done that
misfortune should follow him, while such
men as Gale, who wrung the life-blood
out of their fellow-creatures, prospered
and boarded their wealth; Gale, without