The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-07

AGAIN Al THE ADDhboo.
and iron beams and coils of wire Of vari-
GUS sizes. Down at the end of the store
were desks where several clerks and book
keepers were at work.
AS the messenger drew near red-heau-
ed office boy blocked the passage, saying,
somewhat aggressively, "Well?'
"Got Telegram for Whittier, Wheat
croft Il Co.. the messenger explained.
pugnaciously, thrusting himself forward.
Tin thereln the Office boy returned,
jerking his thumb over his shoulder to-
ward the extreme end Of the building, an
extension, rooted with glass and sepa-
rated by glass screen from the space
where the clerks were at work.
The messenger pushed open the glazed
door Of this private office, bell jingled
over his head, and the three occupants OF
'"whittier, wheatcroft & Coz" said the
messenger, interrogatively, holding out
"Yes," responded Mr.. Whittier, tall,
handsome old gentleman, taking the tel
sgram, "You sign, Paul"
The youngest OF the three, looking like
his father, took the messengers book and
glancing at an old-fashioned clock, which
stood In the corner, he wrote the name OF
the firm and the hour of delivery. lie
was watching the messenger go out when
his attention was suddenly called TO sub
jeots of more Importance by sharp ex-
Clamatlon from his father.
swell, well, well, F" said the elder Whit
tier, with his eyes fixed on the telegram
he had Just read. "This is very strange
very strange, indeedlp
"What's stranger" asked the third oc-
cupant OF the Office, Mr.. Wheatcroft, a
short, stoat, irascible-looking man, with
. shock Of grizzling hair.
For all answer Mr. Whittier handed TO
Mr.. Wheatcroft the thin slip of paper.
No sooner had the junior partner read
the paper than be seemed angrier than
ever.
"Strange?p be cried. 81 should think
Il was strangel Confoundedly strange
and deuced unpleasant, too.
"May / see what IL is that's so very
stranger" asked Paul, picking up the dis
patch.
s'Of course you can see ii, growledMr.
Wheatcroft, "and let us see what you car
make OF it,"
The young man read the message aloud
"Deal off. Gan get quarter cent better
terms. Carkendale. y
Then he read il again to himself. AZ
last he said: 81 confess 1 don't see any
thing SO very mysterious In that We've
lost contract, / suppose-but that mus
hs-r happened lots OF times before, hasn I
"r. nsrpened twice before this fall,
retsr is~ Mr.. Wheatcroft, iiercely, "aftel
orr :lN 'ad been practically accepted
ara iuf' before the final signing OF the
corr .eI.ln
"Let me explain, Wheatcroft," inter
rupted the elder Whittier gently, "You
must not expect my son TO understand
the ins and outs of this business as we
do. Besides he has been in the Office on
ly ten days.
Il don't expect him to understand, -
growled Wheatcroft. "How could he2
don't understand il myself
"Close that door, Paul, said Mr.. hit
tier. al don't want any of the clerks &c
know what we are talking about.
Here are the facts IN the case, Paul,
and think you will admit that they are
certainty curious" began Mr.. Whittier.
"Twice this fall, and now a third time,
we have been the lowest bidders for inn
Portsnt orders. and yet, just before oul
bid was formally accepted. somebody has
cut under US by fraction of cent an,
got the Job. Fret we thought we were
going 10 get the building OF the Barataril
Cenual's bridge over the Little Mackin
tosh River; but ia the end II was th'
Tuxedo Steel Company hat got the con
trcct. Then there was the order for thu
fifty thousands miles Of wire for tn,
Tranecontirental Telegrnph-we made an
extraordinarily low estimate ON that. w
wanted The contract and threw OF not on
ly our profit, but even allowances for Of
ncc expc11es-and yet hVe minutes before
the last bid had to be In the Tuxedo Com
pany put In an offer only a hundred an6
twenty-five dollars less than ours. Now
comes the telegram today. The Methuse
lah Life Insurance Company j going 4,
puf MP big building; we were asked &
estimate on the stcel frame work
we want that work, times are hare
ara hard and there Is little doing, as yO'
know, and we must get work for our mel
II we can. We meant TO have this con