Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-09-16
AN OFFICIAL SCANDAL.

A terrible discovery was few year
ago suddenly made in the Talkto
Aerial Cockboat Construction Office
Somebody or other had been guilty
treachery Some Of the most import
ant secrets Of the art Of aerial COCK
boat building, together with a reclp
for manufacturing a noiseless eN
plosive, had been sold tC the agent o
agents of a foreign power.
Every one was justly indignant tina
such gross breach Of trust SHOULD
have remained undiscovered for s.
long, it being evident that these I'm
principled transactions had been car
ried on for several years. Peter Mac
brag, one of the senior officials, re
ceived peremptory command from
headquarters to institute a rigid IN
curry into the matter. Accordingly
he repaired to his Office one morning
looking very big, red, and angry anG
addressed to the assembled draughtS
men brief harrangue, setting forth
the Nervousness Of the offense com
mitted by some persons unknown.
AS he uttered the last two words Mr..
Macbrag'S eye rested on a certain
young man named Simeon Sleek, who
was somewhat unpopular among his
fellow workers in the aerial cockboat
construction Office. The appearance
Of Mr. Sleek Was not prepossessing;
ne was thin and pale, and never looked
any one straight in the face.
"'Bet you what you like that fellow
knows something about it," whispered
Jack Silhouette to his particular
cronE. II never liked him. Old
Macbrag, too. l believe, suspects him.
In fact, I'll stake my next months
screw that there will be a jolly row
before we are a week older"
AS the inquiry proceeded it became
evident that Simeon Sleek was i'm
plicated. Mr.. Macbrag had long
interview with him in private; there
was much sending Of letters and tele-
grams to headquarters, and, finally,
Simeon Sleek was publicly dismissed
from his post. A long and loud
chorus Of execration sounded through
the country The guilty official was
branded as a traitor and a spy, and
the popular verdict was that his els
grace and dismissal were an made
quate punishment for the crime he
had committed.
Mr.. Macbrag went about with sad
and crestfallen air. He said he felt
that Sleek's guilt reflected on him
personally; that his department
should have this reproachIOf treachery
cast on it was a source of profound
grief to him. He had lost confidence
in his subordinates; he no longer felt
pleasure lin his work. Indeed, his
bodily health was so affected by the
vexation and chagrin he had suffered
since the scandal that no one was
when he announced his in
tention of retiring from the post he
had filed with such marked capacity
for so many years. Before leaving he
was presented with a handsome testi-
in the shape of an elegant
silver epergne, from the junior Off
Gals Of his department. Mrs. Mac
brag also received a valuable souvenir
from the employees of all ranks, and
the worthy pair took their departure
from Talkton amid a chorus of re-
grets and good wishes.
But although circumstances had
rendered Talkton distaSteful to him,
Macbrag had no intention Of laying
himself on the shelf He had brought
a handsome little pile of money away
with him from Talkton, so his first
business was to look about for an in
VestmenG for his money and a new
opening for his talents. He found
them sooner than he anticipated. A
relation Of his who had been
for many years senior partner in a
large ship-building firm at Smoke
ford, was retiring from active sery-
Ice, and the vacant post was open
to any man with good business ca
pacity with a few thousands at his
disposal Within a month the nee
essary formalities were gone through;
MIR. Macbrag's available funds were
invested in MessrS Screw, Bolt s.
SOFAS business and his name added to
the style Of the firm, and, it being
necessary that the new senior part
ner should be on the spot, the Mac
brags removed to Snokeford, and
there for several years they lived and
6ourished exceedingly.
In time Mr.. Macbrag bought out
the other members of the firm, wish
ing, as he said, to have the whole
concern under his control; and hay-
Ing also considerably increased his
business connection this indefatig-
able and lucky gentleman found HIM
self in the possession of very hand |
some income. having achieved so
much, Mrs Macbrag argued that
there was no reason why he should
not rise yet higher. The social hori- |
ION Of second-rate country town
was far too limited for Mrs. Mac
brag's views She wanted to get into |
London soclety-to hold her own,
perhaps even to shine In it And |
why, she contended, shouldn't she?
Any lady with money and plenty Of |