Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-06-22
The MYSTERY OF BAKE.

ElL1s LEOGL4EE q AfD=g NJ ~ al . u --Sf
New York. 1t was recognized as an
estimeble and reputable firm in every /
respect except, perhaps-but this
dark cloud on its fair fame was
known only to those officially con- /
nected with tin the selection and /
retention Of its Office boy. Harry Bak- !
er, commonly called Bake; a youth !
against whom every body in the busl-
ness, from President TAFT to old Pat
sey, the furnace man, had cause OF
grievance. Lansing Phillips, an agree
able, good tempered fellow in the
main as one would find from Harlem
to the Battery, nevertheless was
frowning considerable as he hurried
along in the sunlight. Both buttons
were missing from his glove. a fact
which ne felt sure was directly tracea-
BILE to the diversions Of Bake, whom
he had discovered the day before ar
rayed in his tall hat and his best vi
ster (which trailed on the dusty floor,
giving an imitation Of Mr.. Phillips walk
and bearing for the ediication OF the
other clerks at ncheon hour. He
knew, also. that it was quite useless
to complain of the depredations OF
the culprit IN question, and that this
count in the Indictment against Bake
was but one of many. When he re-
fected that the promising youth had
spilled a bottle of ink over the elder
Tatt's new writing desk had dumped
an oil can into the younger Tatt's
box OF choice cigars and gone unpun-
ished, he could but feel the futility Of
warning against fate in this particular
shape 1t was a pleasant enough
shape, too, by the way an active,
1.-the young figure, full OF life and
movement, with brown hair tossing
and falling above an open, handsome
face, whose guileless blue eyes look
straight into yours, with the most
sublime Indifference as to your wishes
or opinions, or, indeed, your exist
ance generally.
For some time the advent Of this
boy and his subsequent outrages hac
been a theme of wonder in the Office
and also the fact that he received fvt
dollars a week and perquisites TO
keeping the place in an uproar. But tn
world learns to respect established
conditions, and the employees a
Tatts' learned, in time that Bake wa
an evil that must be tolerated. No
were there wanting dark hints to tn
effect that the elder TAFT, a bachelO
OF sixtv-hVe, was under soma specis
OBLIGATIONS in the matter OF Bake
Old Patsey even went so lar as T.
trace a personal resem blance betwee
the two, who were about as niue
alike as q huge, numbering NewfOunC
land doc and a little young deel
hound. Bake was only thirteen. q
was in perfect health and in the pOl
session OF small lungs and limbs, an
the house of TAFT Il Co., suffered a.
COrdugly.
On these things Mr.. Phillips, havir
failed to button his glove. pOndered g
he went down town. Suddenly, hOy
ever. the cause of his thought We
checked and changed AS he neared
certain corner he saw coming fro
the opposite side Otthe street asUylis
and beautiful young girl who We
crossing under the horses heads wit
the fearIessness born OF long practI
In n dangerous art. In her daintI
gloved hand she carried a large, rOug
looking basket, which she sat dow
on the curb-stOne as soon as 1T VS.
reached and then returned rapid
over the crossing to a poorly dress5
old woman. whom she took by Il
arm and conducted safely acrOs
Lansing stood still IN amaZemen
The beauty of the girl, her brilhal
smile, the sweetness OF her voice whit
she spoke, seemed to riVet him to &
spot
Never mind, she was saying wi
a sort of imperative kindness, stO
ping a food of thanks from her char
as they stepped up on the pavemeT
s'NOw. where do you want to go? /
sex street? Well, don't try to wal
At the next corner you will find C
to take you therefore" transient
some pieces of money from her velv
purse to the old, withered hand.
would 60 with you and see you safe
on, only I'm in a hurry but-a bl
car, remember
And here her eyes met LansIng's.
was staring az her with undisguis
admiration, but the glance that DIV
on him for a second or two seemed
calmly Indifferent as Bake's OWL
bright, careless, scrutInizing. Then S
turned and went down the street wi
a step like air. It IS needless to 8
that Lansing followed her, but Will
reverent heart, as one might follow
passing angel. When at last she q
appeared through the DOORWAY of
immense office building, Lans
breathed a blessing after her and wt
his way with a strange, sweet warn
at his heart as OF some bright, Z,
kindled flame.
It is not to be wondered at that
often thereafter as he passed o