The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-02-20
Mistress Of the Foundry.
By EARL JOsLYN.
Copyright, 1894 by the Author.I
(Continued.)

Copyright, 1894 by the Author.I
(Continued.)
Mrs. Sterns laid down the letter and
unused. II was hard task set her
Thu molders and polishers, from big
Luke to little Joe, her office boy, were
devoted to her. They would not trouble
"the missis.' But Parker, the book
keeper, was hostile to her and resented
her appointment as treasurer In her
husbands absence. Parker was an I'M
tried man, the trusty old bookkeeper
having died year before Mr.. Sterns'
departure to England. Preston, too, the
manager, was against her and friendly
to Parker Moreover, Parker was neph-
ew to the wife of the pres emit Of the
corporation, Edward Starkey. Starkey
was not pleased with Stems lack of
confidence in his relative as shown by
the latter's choice of assistant treasurer.
Storms had signed Starkey's notes. To
what extent Mrs. Storms did not know.
THAT way might lie ruin. She would
do her best, she replied to her husbands
letter, but she must know for what
amount he was on Starkey's paper. II
am confident that Parker is dishonest"
she continued Though cannot detect
any fraud. But am continually on
the alert and shall unearth it if any ex-
lists"
The next morning at Mrs. Storms
was at her desk. She opened the morn
ing mail and passed the orders to Par
ker for entry, with the letters that must
be answered. She receipted the bills
that had been paid and plaosd the
checks in the handbook. Looling up
/ Just then, she saw Moore, the foreman
of the polishing room, standing by her
and waiting.
II can't get them air chambers of
today, Mrs. Sterns," he said. "Jim's
out. He's sick with the copper dust 1t
busted his lungs, and they're bleeding.
He'll be all right tomorrow. Nobody
can do them so good as Jim"
"I'm sorry for Jim," answered Mrs.
Storms; "but, Moore, we must send the
large air chamber today. 1t goes into o
great ocean steamer that sails from New
York Friday, and it will not get there
O moment too soon. :"
"I'm doing that one," Moore said.
Don't hurt your lungs, Mike. )"
"No, look out for mesilf. wears
wet sponges," he said as he left the
office.
The other foremen came for orders
They would not take them from Parker
if they could avoid 1t nor report to him.
Parker was unpopular with the men,
chiefly on account of his curt way Of
speaking to them.
So the day went. Soon after O'Clock
Parker returned from the bank with the
money to pay off the men. Mrs. Stern:
had previously signed a check, which
he had cashed. He threw on the table
before him the heavy bag Of silver and
bills, which he proceeded to count an6
place in the pay envelopes. While hi
was doing this Mrs. Stems noticed {
peculiar fiutter of the eyelids. 1t &C
cured to her that she had been careful
ly excluded from the work Of the pa,
roll. She turned her chair round to hel
desk and inwapdly debated what course
to pursue in order to get this business
into her own hands in a way that woult
, arouse no suspicion on Parker's part
She knew that she must be wary.
After Parker had finished paying of
the men he was obliged to go out of thu
t city on business for the company. Be
ing hurried to catch the train, he mad
vertently left the pay roll book out o
his desk, which he carefully locked be
fore leaving.
Shortly after he had gone Don cam
in to ask her to have some tiles ordered
When she had made memorandum O
the sizes and kinds, she inquired:
!. "How much are your wages week
! Donoghue?"
, Eighteen dollars, ma'am," he an
o swered.
: "Can you give me list Of all tn
i men s wages per day, Don?''
i Eyes, ma'am."
e "Will you keep dark, Donoghue?"
Eyes, ma'am, glad to.
81 depend ON you, Donoghue, sal
Mrs. Storms, looking keenly at the fore
+ man.
t You're safe, ma'am," replied tn
a foreman and respectfully touched hi
. paper cap.
Mrs. Storms put the pay roll book int
ber black satin HANDBAG. and as sh
was leaving the foundry Don placed il
|, her hand the daily wage list. Then sh
d went homeward.
Kaiser was on the piano looking sc
to-, T. ,,os tho su,;l, ,otb,.rers' dav
:, and he and the swill gatherers were q
y feud. Kaiser objected on principle {
any one that removed SO much as
" feather from the ward. He briphteue
up as he saw his mistress approachin
and marched maiestically down tn