The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-24

l felt much relieved that matters were thus
ended; but though | doubt whether / should
have taken my opportunity, even If IL had offe ed
itself, was conscious that the whole affair had
somehow GZZed out. III L had denounced The
manager, should probably by this time have
been agOnlZed by remOrse; II had SAID nothing
of The position in which | had found him, l
should have been reproaching myself, 10 doubt,
with disloyaliy 10 my employers; but now that
had taken The middle course, IL seemed some
thing ridiculous, aud indeed contemplate. When
l got home and found Sptiggins with his pipe
wakeful and inquSitve, l felt not the least
temptation to tell him anything about what old
Apsley had sent for me about"
] said q" it private matter" which made
him wild with curiosity, and my refusal 10 crafty
IL caused quarrel between us. My expedition
10 Horton may have had its dramatic attractions,
but from 4 social point OF view II certainly did
not seem 10 have been a success. The next
morning when | saw our manager In his bus-
ness coat, tOtting up the accounts as usual,
could hardly believe HIM to be the esquire
jones' | had called upon not twelve hours be-
fore. He made not the smallest alusOD 10 my
visit; nor did Mr. Apsley TO the erTand on
which lie had sent me.
There happened to be great excitement at the
office that morning, consequent on the resigna-
ton Of Mr. Roberts, the third clerk, who lucky
dog bad "cOme in Tor money" and IL whirled
SprIggins away with it like the rest. He forgot
all about our last nights uaTrel and my injuri-
Gus treatment OF him.
The unwonted agitation of the previous even
ing had had Its effect suppose upon my nerves,
for l had a splitting headache. which grew worse
and worse; and upon that plea, which do not
remember TO have ever used before, obtained
leave OF absence from my immediate chief and
went home to bed. l slept for some hours, and on
awaklng, much refreshed, found Spnggins stand
ing by my bedside.
"Sorry TO disturb you. old fellow" he said,
"but am fairly bursting with intelligence (he
meant information, the other thing was incTed-
iblel. There's been such scrimmage at the
ofnee as was never heard Of Jones has boted"
Bottled? The manager? Then he's got
away?''
tWell. yes for the present. though I don't
you seem to De. However he missed his tip this
time as regards the swag -"
DO for heavens sake speak English. What
tip? What swag?"
TO be sure you have been asleep. While I've
been talking about nothing else for the last three
hours. There are delalcations-hfty thousand
pounds they say-eXtebding over a long series Of
years but there would have been ten thousand
more gOne-all negotiable securities-but for
their opening the safe where they we've found
neatly made up 10 go IN his bag this very night
you remember his black hag?" nodded eagerly,
but with sinking sensation TOO L knew more
about Jones than Spriggins did; the catastrophe
seemed 10 have something personal as well as
shOcking about IT, AS | sat up IN bed, saw the
bag lying in the corner OF that gorgeous room al
Horton Hall; 1 heaId the ciatter Of talk from the
dining Dom; l saw the LADIES trailing their fine
dresses up The stairs; and l heard once more
Jones hOuSekeepers contemptuouS voice saying
"Oh, from the office ~
They found II out while he was at lunch,
and the detectives sat in his room with The war
rant for him. only he never came back. The old
fellow smelt rat l suppose"
think his highly probable. / think he read
something he was looking Tor In my face that
morning, and coupling II with my unusual dis
appearance (fOr lie had asked for me II seemeD
bad decided as he sat over his chop at the eat
ing house that he had better be of at once. To
lake The bag away with him at that early hour
would have brought suspicion, II suspicion there
was, 10 a head Immediately. He did not dare TO
risk H. and in lis case the better part OF yaor
had certainly been discretion; for five minutes