The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-08

most concatEat0ry manner, ana tfV so
edo people have captured them. But that
may be only coincidence. after all.
1T is a pretty expensive coincidence for
us" snorted Mr.. Wheatcroft.
But because we have lost money. the
senior partner reioinei gently. LAYING his
hand on Mr.. wheatcrofts arm. that's no
reason why we should also lose or heads.
L Is no reason why we should depart from
our old custom Of treating every man fair
~. II there is any one IN our employ who
is selling US, why, IL we give him rope
enough he viii hang himself, sooner or
later"
And before he suspends himself that
way cried Mr.. Wheatcroft. I'VE may be
forced 20 suspend ourselves"
Come. come. Wheatcroft," said the Sc
Nor partner. II think we can afford 70
stand the loss a little longer. What we
can't afford 10 do is 70 lose our self-respect
by doing something irreparahle. IT may
be that we shall have 10 employ detectives
but don't think the time has come yet
VERY WE'LL the junior partner declared,
yielding an unwilling consent Il don't IN
sist on II. I still think IL would be best not
70 waste any more tire-but don't insist.
What viii happen is that we shall lose the
rolling OF those steel rails for the Spring
field & Athens road-thats ALL
Paul Whittier had taken no part in this
discussion He agreed with his father, and
ttr so " Atp AAN~N ASA AaAAAA W "a % 49,
argument.
Now he looked Up ana asked when they
intended 10 put In the bid for the rails.
His father then explained that they were
expecting a special estimate from the en-
gineers at the Ramapo works, and that II
would probably be Saturday before this
could be discussed by the partners and the
exact figures Of the proposed contract de-
terrnined.
And IL we don't want 10 lose that con-
tract for sure" insisted Mr.. Wheatcroft,
'T think we had better change the COM
binaton Of that safe
May I suggest" said Paul. that II
seems TO me better to leave the combina-
ton as IL Is. What we want to do is not to
get this Springfield g. Athens contract so
I much as to find out whether some one real
~ is getting at the letter-book. Therefore
we mustn't make IL any harder for the
some one TO get at the letter-book."
"Oh, very we'll" Mr.. Wheatcroft assent
ed, little ungraciously. Have it your
own way. But want you TO understand
now that think you are only postponing
the inevitable"
And with that the subject was dropped
For several days the three men who were
together for hours in the office of the
Ramapo Iron and Steel Works refrained
from any discussion Of the question which
was most prominent in their minds.
1t was on Wednesday that the tall clock
that Paul Whittier had broken returned
from the repairers. Paul himself helped
the men to set IL again in its old place in
the corner of the office, facing the safe.
which occupied the corner diagonally oppo-
site
1t so CHANGED that Paul came down late
on Thursday morning, and perhaps this
was the reason that a pressure of delayed
work kept him in the Office that evening
long after every one else. The clerks had
the last to leave-and the porter had come
in twice before the son of the senior part
ner was ready TO go for the night. The
gas was lighted here and there in the long.
narrow, deserted store as Paul walked
through ii from the office to the street.
Outside the swift twilight of a New York
November had already settled down on the
city.
Cant carry yer bag for We. Mister
Paul?" asked the porter, who was showing
him out.
mo, thank you. Mike" was the young
mans answer. THAT bag has very little
in it. And besides 1 haven't got TO carry
1t far"
The next morning Paul was the first of
the three to arrive. The clerks were in
their places already, but neither the senior
nor the junior partner had yet come. The
porter happened to be standing under the
wagon archway as Paul Whittier was
ABOUT 10 enter the store.
The young man saw the porter and a
mischievous smile lowered about the cor
ners of his mouth.
Mike" he said. pausing on the door
step, do you think you ought to smoke
while you are cleaning out our Office in the
morning.
Sure haven't had me pipe in me mouth
this mornin' at ALL" the porter answered,
taken by surprise.
But yesterday morning." Paul pursued.
Yesterday mornin',' Mike echoed, not
little puzzled.
yesterday morning at ten minutes be-
fore you were in the private Office smok-
ing pipe
But how did you see me. Mister Paul?"
cried Mike in amaze: I'VE was late in
comm down yesterday. wasn't ye?"
Paul smiled pleasantly.
"A little bird told me-" he said
''If had the bird I'd wiring his neck for
tellin tales" declared the porter.
II don't mind you smoking, Mike" the
young man went on; that's your own
affair; but I'd rather you didn't smoke a
pipe while you are tidying up in the private
Office
We'll. Mister Paul, won't do it again."
the porter promised.
land / wouldn't encourage Bob to smoke
either" Paul continued
II encourage him?" inquired Mike.
yes" Paul explained: yesterday morn
ing you let him light his cigarette from
your pipe-didn't your"
Were We peekin' in thro' the winder,
Mister Paul?" the porter asked eagerly.
eye saw mean I never saw We at all"
mo" the young man answered. Il can't
say that l saw you myself. A little bird
told me"
And with that ne left the wondering por-
ter and entered the store. Just inside the
door was the office boy who hastily hid
an uuhghted cigarette as he caught sight