Evening star., 1897-06-05
50 n after my taak xitA ye.. but I a.a

terday. There n no doubt in my mind
that after you learn the ways of ths Office
situation. but you must never forget that
the great Quali6cation. equal fn import
ance to your speed at the key. is Eecrecy-
absolute secrecy. Not even in the sancity
must you breathe a hint of anything that
comes over the wires. You understand
that thoroughly. trust!'
''Oh. yes. Mr.. Sandys- You need never
have the least fear about that. feel as
If had Joined some awful society, and
taken q most terrible oath, with perfectly
dreadful penalties. l thought about it last
night until fell asleep. and then dream
ed the most frightfu1 things-that masked
men. with red-hot pinchers. were trying
to make me tell what your occupation was,
and what you had said to me, but. although
I screamed and awoke myself, all In q
tremble. l never told"
The manager smiied gr1miy, and said.
seriously:
That is the right spirit, and here we are
AZ the door OF the inquisition."
At the end Of large hall, wide and lefty
double doors standing open gave view Of
the interior of an immerse room, in which
several men were walking about with
their hands in their pockets. A man in q
sert of uniform guarded the door and
sharply scrrtinized al comers. Sandys.
however, did not enter the huge room, but
opened small door at the right and went
in to the telegraph office; Eiinor, with fast
beating heart, following fim.
The telegraph Office was comparatively
small. and was practically an alcove of the
ample apartment used by the board OF
trade, divided from it by g. counter, whose
broad polished oaken top was Uttered with
telegraph blanks, and splashed mere and
there with ink. In the center of the Office
was wide table halvcd longitudinally by
partition of glass, while crosswise were
other glass bulkheads, parceling cut the
table top into sections. in each one OF
which telegraph instrument occupied the
center. AS usual thing one operator was
enough to do the business of the Office, but
in times of stress, caused by flutter in
the market. help had to be called for from
the central office, and sometimes the six
compartments were in chattering activity.
Now, Miss ElInor," said the manager.
"tEis is your work room Johnnie Field
ers here will be in charge for a week or as
much longer as is necessary, and you will
be his assistant. AS soon as you ere ready
to take full control shall remove him else
where. for he Is a most useful young man."
Sandys left the room and strolled into
the board of trade. the dooTkeeper nod
ern Union was a privileged Individual.
The spacious chamber of commerce was
rapidly filling up. and rising murmur
of conversation quivered in the air. Now
and then some eXuberart person with
silk hat on the back of his head yelled out
startling exclamation, which made Miss
McClintoch jump the first time she heard
1t, little dreaming of the pandamonium to
which she would later become accustomed.
She thought there had been a dreadful ac-
cident, but nobody paid the slightes. at
tention, and she learned that this was
merely the preliminary sparring for the
contest that was to come after just as
athletes In a field timber up before the
game commences.
Halo. Sandys"' said young man, greet
ing the head Of the Western Union Act
ing the unaccustomed part of the squire
OF DANES, eh? Who Is the beauty?"
The beauty. Mr.. Howard. is Il friend of
mine" answered the manager coldly.
The young man laughed.
so l surmised, curmudgeon, otherwise I
would not have sought enlightenment from
you. I never deal in secondhand infcrma-
ton. as some of my distinguished fellow
citizens on this floor are beginning to find
out
Yes, 1 understand you are exceedingly
successful in your struggles here. Let me
advise you to be content with that
Content? No man is ever content with
anything. But l say. Sandys, you are
surely never going to place so pretty a girl
in the telegraph office?"
Il have already done SO, and have told
her. furthermore that she would find every
man she met here gentleman"
Oh, you always were an Opti:nist, San
dys l think. you know, you are stretching
1t bit to call old Grimwood. who Is now
about to honor US with his presence, gen.
tleman. Merely my own opinion, of
course
There was entering as he spoke man
who stopped slightly. His smoothly shaven
face made 1t impossible at distance to
guess his age. but closer inspection left no
doubt that he was fully entitled to the ad-
Jective the young man had bestowed unon
him. The I'D dropped over the eft eye, and
gave sinister expression to an impassive
face, that was at best saturnipe. The left
arm hung Imply at his side, and with the
sinking eyelid, gave token of stroke
that many regretted had. like themselves,
encountered the old man in vain. Some one
had said that confidence would never be
restored in business circles until q Second
attack grappled old Grimwood with more
success than the first for 1t had been
quickly proven that what was left of the
seasoned old speculator was a match for
the combined intellect and shrewt,ness of
the others In the grain pit. Grinwood's
workable eye quickly but furtively ranged
the room. and finally rested on the fair
head of the girl. just visible over the pol
ished surface of the counter. as she sat at
the telegraph instrument. His face showed
no establishment: it was always express
sionless, but his eye remained there
Il thoroughly believe. Sandys. that old
Grimwood has bribed you to place the girl
here. Such withered ancient branch as
he is will be the only man unaffected by
her presence. 1t isn't fair to us youngsters,
who have to contend with his lifetime Of
villainy, anyhow. I confess 1 don't want
my mind distracted from the wheat quota
tionS just at present..
Il shall give You every assistance to con-
centrate your mind ON that subject, How
ard"
Thanks. old man; I'm infinitely Obliged"
replied Howard. with a laugh; but who is
she. anyhow? We are bound TO know,
sooner or later"
'She is one entitled to the respect and
protection of every man here" said San
dys, slowly: She is the daughter of your
old chief, Silas McClintoch."
Good heavens! You don't mean to say
so?' cried the young man. SOLDERING BY
Jove. there is a sort of poetic justice in her
being here. this inferno which ruined the
father now supporting the daughter"
The Western Union will look to her SUD-
port" returned the manager, without en-
thusiasm.
Quite so. and we help support that
grinding monopoly. The consumer always
pays. you know. But say, Sandys, want
you to Introduce me to Miss McCHntoch."
Il don't see the necessity. She is not
here socially.
"Oh. that's all nonsense. We're all So
cial equals, and it will do her no harm to
have friend on this side of the counter
You can't be always here, you know; be-
sides, If you don't introduce me properly,
l shall certainly introduce myself"
Miss McClintOch has set out very brave
ly to earn her own living, and don't want
her interfered with"
Exactly. l am earning my own living.