Evening star., 1895-09-07
CHAPTER II.

After luncheon, as it happened, both
the senior and the Junior partner of Whit
tier, Wheatcroft & Co. had to attend
meetings. and they went their several
ways. leaving Paul to return to the office
alone. When he came opposite to the
house which bore the weather-beaten
sign of the firm he stood still for a mo-
ment and looked across with mingled
pride and affection. The building was
old fashioned SO old fashioned, indeed,
that only a long-estabshed firm could
afford to occupy it. 1t was Paul Whit
tiers great grandfather who had founded
the Ramapo works; there had been cast
the cannon for many of the ships of the
little American ravy that gave such a
good account of itself in the war of 1872
Again, in 1S4S, had the house of Whit
tier. Wheatcroft q Co.-the present Mr.
Wheatcroft's father having been taken
Into partnership by Pauls grandfather
been able to be of service to the govern
the four years that followed the firing on
the flag il 1861 the Ramapo works had
been run day ard night. When peace
came at last and the people had again
rails needed by the rev overland roads
which were to bind the east and the
vest together in iron bands, had been
rolled by Whittier. Wheatcroft & Co. Of
late years, as Paul knew, the old firm
seemed to have lost some of its early en-
ergy, and, having young and vigorous
competitors, it had barely held its own
That the Ramapo works should once
more take the lead was Paul Whittiers
solemn purpose: and to this end he had
been carefully trained. He was now a
young man of nearly twenty -five-a tall,
handsome fellow, with a full mustache
over his firm mouth, and with quick eyes
below his curly hair He had spent four
years in college, carrying off honors in
mathematics; he was popular with his
classmates, who made him class poet: and
he oil TOD ant
of the college Photographic society. He
had gone to a archaeological institute, where
he had made himself master of the theory
and practice of metalurgy. After a year
of travel in Europe, where he had inyesti-
gated every important steel and iron works
he could get into, he had come home to
take desk in the office.
1t was only for moment that he stood
on the sidewalk opposite looking at the
old building. Then he threw away his
cigarette and went over. Instead of entGI5
ing the long store, he walked down the
alley-way left open for the heavy wagons.
When he came opposite the private Office
in the rear Of the store he examined the
doors and the windows carefully to see il
he could detect any means of ingress other
than those open to everybody. :
AS Paul entered the private office he
found the porter there putting coal on the
fire.
behind him, that they might be alone, he
said:
mike, who shuts up the Office at night?'
Sure do, Mister Paul" was the prompt
answer.
And do you open it in the nlorning?"
the young man asked.
II do that" Mike responded
DO you see that these windows are al
ways fastened on the inside?" was the next
query.
"Yes. Mister Paul" the porter replied.
well" and the inquirer hesitated brief
ly before putting this question, "have you
found any one of these windows unfasten-
ed any morning lately when you came
here?"
"And how did you know that?' Mike re-
turned in surprise.
What morning was it?' asked Paul.
pushing his advantage.
1T was last Monday mornin', Mister
Paul" the porter explained, "an' how it
was I dunno. for I had every wan O. the
windows tight Saturday night-an' Mon