The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-12-04


nowhere be found. Mr.. Golding glanced
at the clock and froHned angrily.
1t was just ten minutes to the time at
which, their work being done, the clerks
were entitled to leave. Some were already
closing their desks and making prepare
tons for departure, but the sudden APP
pearance of the chief in the outer Office
galvanized them into renewed activity. \
kind-hearted senior in the meantime sur
reptitiously dispatched an office-boy to the
restaurant which Gilbert generally fire.
quented, but the well-meant effort was
fruitless.
Mr.. Golding walked across the office to
the further window, which, the house be-
ing a corner one, commanded the length of
the street, and stood looking out. Sud-
denly he uttered a slight exclamation.
Which drew all eyes, with glances more or
less %furtive, to the window. There. at some
little distance, quietly strolling along, was
Gilbert Renshaw. Unconscious of those
watching him he paused at the corner,
looked at his watch, and after a moments
hesitation as if uncertain what course to
pursue, turned into a side street and disap-
peared.
Monday morning came. and to the
amazement of each and all Mr.. Golding
was the first at the office. The juniors,
who We're naturally among the earliest,
were warned by the housekeeper in a mys-
terious whisper that ''the governor was
there" A greater degree of order and
silence reigned that morning than was
usual.
One by one as the clerks came in, the
various posts were taken up. BY the sen
Tor clerks desk stood Mr.. Golding, a hard,
pitiless expression on his face. TIE clock
was just Ginning 0 when the door swung
open and Gilbert Renshaw walked in. He
glanced round, evidently rather surprised
at seeing Mr.. Golding, and then walked to-
ward his desk. Ere lie had taken three
steps the principals voice checked him.
You need not trouble to open your desk,
Mr.. Renshaw.'
Gilbert turned round, still more surprised
at this intimation.
Mr.. Golding had walked across the office,
and the two men stood facing each other.
One glance at the stern face, those cold,
keen eyes before him. and Gilbert saw the
others purpose in a moment.
Every one in the office looked on, either
stealthily or openly, with increasing inter
est, and every one was pnzzled by the way
in which the young mar maintained his
usual air of easy indifference. But Mr..
Golding gave but little time for specula-
ton.
"You left before the time on Saturday,
Mr.. Renshaw >"
'About ten minutes before two" answer
ed the other.
"And your reasons for doing SOP"
My work was finished, and | had an
important engagement.
"Indeed?' sneered his employer. Butt
do not allow any one of my clerks to keep
important engagements till the office is
cloStb. dIiu do Nou nave bithIhl III 70
leave at your own time, you viii not be
surprised if l inform you that | shall not
need your services longer. This is the
amount due to you" and Mr.. Golding held
out a slip of paper, but Gilbert made no
movement to take it.
Il understand you, Mr.. Golding. and |
IN, &c raa1yy IN 1aaya Vn.-r SarVica a { yo1I
are to require me to do so. Technically,
you are in the right, and | therefore apollo
gize for having deprived You of ten minutes
on Saturday. My presence, doubtless, is
not very agreeable to You, but We may
meet again before long: should such an
event happen, you will please understand
that the interview is not of my seeking.
Good-day, gentlemen" and, with a COM
prehensive glance and bow to the amazed
on-lookers, the young man turned and
quilted the office. leaving his employer
standing, as much a~stonished as anyone,
with the unheeded check still between his
fingers.
".
Elinor Cragsby sat with her Trend and
companion dreamily gazing into the fire.
After a while the elderlady looked up from
the book she was reading.
"A penny for your thoughts, Nell!'
The girl started at the voice, and the
words had to be repeated before she seemed
to understand them.
'T'm not sure" she said meditatively,
shat they are worth the sum
"Then," said her friend, with a smile,
''without wishing to be uneomplimentary
to the subject of them, | think l can guess
their direction"
Il wish could make him see how use
less it is the girl broke out, apparently
i~rrelevantly.
'He doesn't wish to see that. . said her
companion. "As ] have often told You, ii
appears to me that he has deliberately re-
solved to succeed in the attempt to win
your regard, and he is not a man of fine
feelings. Nothing short of absolute dis
| courtesy or rudeness would repel him, I'M
less, indeed, it were the presence of a sue
cessful rival" she added in a lower and a
meaning tone.
There was something in the last sen
- al Al 4. INf:.a. 49,