The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-08-28

of life We find Naumee Martin plying
the seamstress' needle, or giving lessons
in music to few children whose parents
sent them to her because she taught
cheaper than regular preceptors.
BY and by the house which they occu-
pied was sold over their heads; but the
new owner-a great middle aged, but
somewhat handsome man-assured them
that they should not be turned out.
The new owner was a stranger in st.
Joseph, but Immediately after purchas-
ing the property above mentioned, he
opened commission store, and at once
drew thriving patronage about him.
Andreas Harley, for such was his
name, came often to the house of the
Martins, and reports went abroad to the
effect that he intended to wed the bank
rupt's widow.
"My chances are decidedly good, .
said the merchant one evening, as he
bent over the counting-room desk. ''The
girl appears coy, but she will come about
in time. People think that I am after
the widow, but [ never entertained q
thought in that direction. The beauty
of the daughter would draw the widow s
most devoted adorer to her side. That
girls beauty, she must become Mrs.
Harley: she shall! Yes" after long
pause, as he slowly turned from the
desk, Harley, your chances are good
decidedly good. You own their home
and in the depth of winter you can turn
them out. if Maumee becomes stubborn
and says No"
He was the sole occupant of the count
ing-room, but as he crossed the thresh-
old and turned to lock the door he heard
a footstep and voice down the dark
aisle.
"Hold mome-t, Mr.. Harley. Re-
open the counting room door, please. I
wish few words with you
He did not reply, but stepped into the
cozy counting room closely followed by
Philip Lee.
"Well 2" he inquired, turning sudden
ly upon the handsome young clerk.
''Speak quickly, Lee; must be going. .
"All I desire to say is that some of the
funds of the house have mysteriously
disappeared"
"What?" cried the merchant. "Say
that again, boy"
The young man repeated his words
and added:
zone afternoon while you were absent
East, [ placed $3.50 in the safe, and the
following morning $45 were missing"
"You have committed an error in
counting possibly.
eff [ cannot count money correctly
when it is before my eyes l deserve to
be thrown out of employment, said the
youth in an insulted air. "Several times
during your absence have ] noticed the
peculations of some unknown person"
w llo Dsiit tCNCSo W tilO fottlS'
81 held the keys, sir" answered Phil
ip quickly. 81 have not missed them
for a single moment. But the safe has
been opened by keys"
Andreas Harley dropped his head in
deep thought, while the clerk stepped to
his desk and summed up various columns
of figures on the back of the envelope
which he drew from an inner pocket.
"Three hundred dollars have been
purloined within four weeks" said Lee,
turning from his desk.
"lt staggers me-" returned Harley.
"But we will watch the thief, and if we
catch him he shall have his reward"
The merchant began buttoning up his
great coat, and the clerk walked from
the room. Andreas Harley heard him
close and lock the outside door, and
then stepped toward the desk, his dark
eyes fixed upon an object which lay
thereon.
IL al WHICH Lii
Lee had been figuring.
''I'll look at his figures" he murmured,
but the next moment he turned the en-
velope and stared at the suporscrirtion.
1t was merely "Philip Lee, Present, y
but the chirography startled the mer-
chant. Those delicately formed letters
he had encountered before. And, after
closing the counting-room door, he half
fearfully drew the letter from its hiding
place.
For moment his eyes remained fixed
upon the brief communication, when he
started from the desk, while something
like an oath fell from his lips.
$50 Miss Maumee Martini" he cried
hurting the letter to the floor, and gazing
angrily at it, "you possess lover beside
Audreas Harley. Girl-woman-I will
not submit to this. If you prefer the
employe to the employer, You must hunt
another home. But, by heavens you
Sniill not WbU uilu stS lie SlstHtS before
the world now. He has held the keys
to the safe. He has robbed It'll The
crime shall be fastened upon him. Har-
Iey's chances do not look so bright now
but fancy a little sternness will bring
the girl to terms. She's beggar now,
almost. Does she want to marry an
other %
Then he picked the letter up, read il
again, and placed it on the desk where
the youth bad left it.
The contents of the missive did no.
amount to much. It was merely reply
to one which, during business hours,
Philip Lee had sent to her; but the ap.
pellation of dear Philip had opened s
mine of Information to Andreas Harley.
He had never encountered his clerk al
the home of the Martins. They had