The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-10-18

he relaxed his impenetrable reserve when
at his own Preside. She knew scarcely
anything about him except that he lived
at Lindendale, about ten miles out of
town, whence he came every day on the
train, and her early suspicion that he was
unmarried had been confirmed by
phrase from the lips of lady caller, who
had playfully twitted him on the ways
of crusty old bachelorhood.
One morning MIR. Morton entered the
Office in some haste.
"It's all arranged" she heard him say,
''and l find | must leave at once. l
have your certificate filled out, anG l
believe you said the funds were ready.
You can give them to me to-day, sup
pose."
"No, cannot" returned Mr.. Allison,
who was at the moment deep in the con-
tents of private drawer at the safe.
"They are not in town, and | must first
sell some Government bonds now in the
safe deposit vaults at Boston. l will try
and have the money for you in the course
of forty-eight hours"
Morton made no reply, but Mile
CHANGED to look up just then. and she
was much startled at the reflection of
his face, presented by a mirror hanging
on the opposite wall.
Plainly Mr.. Allison's words had not
pleased him, for the expression on his
dark features wildly illustrated rage
and disappointment.
When Mr.. Allison sat down again
Morton had fully recovered himself to all
outward appearance, and after n little
more conversation IN too low tone for
her to understand it, he went away.
In the afternoon Mr.. Allison astonished
his clerk by asking if she thought she
could take sole charge of the Office for
day OF two. He was going to Boston at
five o'clock, and could not tell Just when
he should return.
Had she dared she would have tried
to dissuade him from going, for she was
sure the result of his journey would be
to put large part of his property in
Morton's hands. She did not speak
then, but she was so uneasy she deter
mined to watch for an opportunity of
doing SO.
BY and by he happened to look up
and see her eyes resting on him, with an
expression which caused him to leave his
desk and come to her side.
"What is it, Mil-Miss Thorndyke2"
he asked in tone she had never heard
him use before; "you have something to
say to me-"
"I-I--yes, she stammered, and then
stopped short. She had not yet over
come habit Of flushing up whenever he
addressed her--a habit not at all I'M
becoming in his eyes, though it was
painfully confusing to her.
While he was waiting for her to re-
cover herself the office door opened, at
which he stepped back with an air of
annoyance, and, turning, confronted
Morton. Miles chance was lost, for
Morton stayed until train time, and the
two gentlemen went out together.
81 will leave the safe for you to
lock-" said Mr.. Allison, in giving his
final directions. "You know how-shut
the door hard to, turn the handle that
works the bolts until it is square across,
and then turn the knob two or three
times toward the left.
After he was gone she reproached her
self more than ever that she had not
spoken the warning that had been at her
| tongues end. 1t could have done no
harm, and would at least have put him
on his guard. But regrets were useless,
and she could only hope, rather for
lornly, that all might turn out well.
Being in somewhat disturbed state
of mind, and having no work to do, she
tried to compose herself with new
book left in the Office by Mr.. Allison,
and she found it so interesting she was
10th to lay it down at o'clock, the hour
of closing. As her supper would not be
ready before $3.50, and her quarters at
present were comfortable and quiet, she
determined to stay while longer, first
taking care to lock the door that she
might be secure from interruption.
AS she was about to settle down she
thought of the safe. She never before
had had occasion to lock a safe door,
and she carefully followed Mr.. Allison's
''Oh, how heavyl" she exclaimed,
tugging at the ponderous weight, as she
drew it back for long swing. "He
said must shut it hard to-" and exert
ing all her strength, she closed the door
with bang. Then she shot the bolts
and turned the knob until significant
little click told her all was secure.
"There; now everything is FAST" she
said.
Aud so it was, even more so than she
thought, for in turning away quick
tug at her gown caused her to look
down, when she saw with dismay she
had shut into the safe part OF one of
the folds of her skirt.
One or two Intellectual pulls showed
that the iron monster could not be made
to give up its grip until its jaws were
forced apart-in other words until the
door was opened--which, as she neither
knew the combination nor had the nee
essary strength, was of course out of the
question.
Had her gown been an old one she |
might have freed herself by tearing the
cloth, but, it being new and very
pretty garment, she was unwilling hasti- |
lv tn offer IL violanca She thouoh+ of |