Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-14

given TO the Office boy. During this eaforced
idleness Dick Murridgs sat the whole day at
his table by the window, which commanded
visw OF back yards, chimneys and out
houses He amused himself by drawing
girls heads upon his blotting pad in pencil
When one page was covered he turned it over
and drew on the next, so that the pad was
become perfect gallery Of loveliness BY
dint of long practice he could draw a girls
face very well. whether full or in profile, or
a three quarter face. He looked at his watch
good deal and he grumbled good deal.
and il the Office boy made any noise he used
bad language, but not loul enough for his
father to hear, because Mr. Murridge was
one of those parents who reserve certain
vices for their own use and forbid them to
their sons.
The office boy sat at another table, on
which was a copying press He had nothing
to do, as a rule, except to copy letters by
means of the press and go on errands.
But this boy never found the day too
long or the golden hours dull This was
because his table had drawer. Even to an
industrious clerk a drawer is standing
temptation. To the lazy clerk it is an ever
present snare; to the clerk who has nothing
70 40 tne drawer Is neVer-iainng soiace
and resource. This boy, a city-born boy
Win snarp eyes, pasty lace and common
place features was apie' py means Oh ms
drawer, to live all day long in another
world He kept it half-open, so that at the
least movement or SOUND from the inner OIL
fee or change Of position in Mr.. Murridge
who sat with his back to him, he could. by
quick, Forward movement Oh MS chest
smut the drawer suddenly and nolseiessiy,
ana De discovered, SO to speak, In the atti-
tude Oh the expectant' ready and Jealous
clerk, eager 10 do something whch would
lessen the drain OF his three han-crowns
week INSIDE 'he drawer tnere
was always story-one OIL those
spirit-sttrring, exciung ana romantic stories
OF adventure which can De oought Tor a
penny, and which never pail upon the reader.
80 That this boys days were passed IN de-
hcions and oehrious dream OF adventure,
love and peril, tempered only oy the fear OF
being suddenly found out and horribly cuffed
or even dismissed, when ne would eaten II
worse at home under the family cane. III
tne oy = ho' oeiore ions ehao'eu W H'e up
eo ina. uieain anu W oeooii'e roNer, pnaVs
enuss,si VI hSu"ay ihan 'a. " nA'
"noie ,u'uie VIII 'e Sed ANau'e 'l'sie
ne'i.aoiy oo"ies 'iiiie Vi noie w 'ons ue-
.eiIeu, . "uen sne ise'i'Ai''on , ~ y, ~ .'
.nou ~ Po'sioie' ho i'hsef SeniS uehs
,ns 10y az eisn'een' may oeaSe W ue'ire
,ne iA"ies' me- of' n nc puieues ~ ne may
oeool,e mere common 'u ea' io'ser,
long nrhh man conii,en'iai-uose ', nan VI
We.sner-Joy 'ess nioody, apprenshsi'e' sus. ;.
pic,ous anu prone 70 sneiA rounu coine' al
sight of a man in blue coat and helmet.
In the front room-Mr. Murridge's room
the chief sat at a great table covered with
papers. He was not consulting eny: be had
before him half dozen checks, and he was
looking at them with perturbed eyes Some
times he compared one with another; some
times he looked at each separately; and as
he looked his hard face grew harder and
his keen eyes sharper. Six checks. They
were all drawn for the same sum, twelve
pounds, and they were all signed by himself.
One would not think that the contemplation
Of half dozen checks payable to self or
bearer, signed by ones own name, could
take busy man from his work But they
did.
About eleven o'clock the silence of the
Office was broken by a light step on the stair.
The bow shut Nm his drawer with a swift and
silent Jerk of his chest, so tina. he might be
discovered with his elbows ON the table and
his hands clasping the handles of the copy.
ing press a model attitude for the Jealous
unemployed, when the door opened and e
young lady appeared carrying black bag.
This was the private secretary. She nodded
pleasantly To Dick. ard passed through the
room into the inner office But Dick re-
sponded with grunt-
Mr.. Murridge looked up and greeted her
with an ill-temperei snort.
.Yop,rs late .yaj,, " bs said
.Pm mot y sbs ranI;ad sEIsxo, 20 x,r;r.
ING. and / never sm late. and Won know
:. =. = 49,, - =. :.