The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-10

W men Mike came pack WIN tne Two
copies of the Sunday newspaper he had
been sent to get. Paul gave him the
money for them and an extra quarter
for himself. Then the young man
picked up his bag again.
when my father comes down,
Mike" he said. tell him | may be
little late in getting back this morn
ing"
An are ye goin' away now. Mister
PAUL." the porter asked. What good
was 1t then We got out o bed before
breakfast and come down here 50 early
| in the mornin'?''
Paul laughed little. 81 had rea-
son for coming here this morning" he
answered briefly: and with that he
walked away. his bag In one, hand and
the two bulky and gaudy Sunday news
papers In the other.
Mike watchedh i'm turn the corner
| and then went into the store again,
| where Bob greeted him promptly with
request to know why the old mans
| son had been getting up by the bright
light.
IF / was the boss or the boss son,
either" said Bob. ~ wouldn't get up
till | was good an ready. I'd have my
breakfast in bed, II l had a mind
to--an' my dinner.S too-an' my supper
An | wouldn't do no work, an I'd go
to the theayter every night. an twict
on Saturdays"
II dunno why Mister Paul was
| down." Mike explained "All he want
| ed was two o. thin Sunday papers with
pictures into 'em. What did he want
two o thin for. dunno. There's read
in enough in one o thin to last me u
| month o Sundays"
| 1t may be surmised that Mike would
have been still more in the dark as to
Paul Whittier's reasons for coming
down town SO early thatMonday morn
| ing. If he could have seen the young
| man throw the two copies of the
Gotham Gazette into the first ash-cart
| he passed after he was out of the range
of the porter SviSion.
Paul was not the only member of
| Whittier, Wheacroft & Co. to arrive at
the office early that morning. MIR.
Wheatcroft was usually punctual, TAX
ing his seat at his desk Just as the
clock struck halfpast 9. On this
Monday morning he entered the store
a little before 8.
As he walked back to the office he
looked over at the desks of the clerks
as though he was seeking some one.
At the door Of the Office he met Bob.
Hasn't the major come down yet?"
he asked shortly.
mo. sir" the Office boy answered.
He don't never get here till g."
Him." grunted the junior partner.
when he does come. tell him I want
to see him at once! At once! do you
understand"
Il amt deaf and dumb and blind"
! Bob responded. ''Ill steer him into
you soon as ever he shows up
But. for wonder the old bookkeeper
was late that morning. Ordinarily he
was a model Of eXacttude. Yet the
clock struck 9 and half-past and 10 be-
fore he appeared in the store
Before he had changed his coat Bob
was at his side
Mr.. Wheatcroft, he wants to see
you now in hurry said the hoy,
Major Van Zandt paled swiftly and
steadied himself by grasp of the
railing.
Does Mr.. Wheatcroft wish to see
me- he asked family.
You bet he does" the boy answered.
an In a hurry. too. He come bright
an early this mornin a-purpose to see
you. an he's been wattin' for two
hours. An guess he's got his mad up
now'!' Nl
When the old bookkeeper. with his
blanched face and his faltering step,
entered the private office, Mr.. Wheat
| croft wheeled around in his chair.
last"' N
II regret that Voc ,a,o .h,
ing, Mr. Wheatcroft Wan '1ns m'olh-
gan. ''' oe
That's no matter" said his em.
pioyer. sat least want to talk to yo,,
about something else"
ABOUT something else?" echoed the
old man feebly. VIC
Yes" responded Mr. uho..o..
shut the door behind vo,, nlaasa ~, y,
that that red.beadod c,,t, h p,.asu, 80
can't hear what I'm going to sav AnJ
take chair Yes. There is sn,pethina
else I've got to say to Won. and VAT
you to be frank with me-
Whatever 1t was that Mr. What
croft had to say to Major Van zan,,t :,
had to be said under tho eva. 90 ~
clerks on the other side Of the glass a
partition. And IL took a long t,,no
saying. for It was evident TO anv oh
server of the two men as fbev sat tboro
in the private office that Mr. Wbaot.
croft was trying TO force an evniana-
tion of some kind from the old honl-
keeper. and that the major was re.
sisting his emrloyer's entreaties a.
best he could Anna rentIv tho mottar
under discussion was of an imnortanca
so grave as to make Mr. Whea tcrnft
resolutely retain his self.controI. and
not once did he let his voice break ont
explosiyely as was his custom
Major Van Zandt was stilI c,o,.,od
with Mr.. Wheatcroft when MIR. whit
tier arrived The senior n.rtnor
stopped near the street door to sneak
to a clerk; and he was ioined almost
immedIately, bv his s,," '''''
well Paul" said aid the the father "bave r
got down here before vo,, after al,
and In spIte of vour rnnnina axvav ,ast
night" ' '"''
en-, ,,.h o :,
arst 10 orriSe arr Se tbis %ed ,mnrnr ,as,u was ,ne
@ .uck,Iva" ochnea mi p,a ss.ho. s,uchy. q,