The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-03
Beyond the Green Baize Door.

saw the inside of the door which shuts
his private room at Messrs. Blakeiy &
stephens bank from the narrow passage
connecting it with the general offices
Mr.. Blakely was sole proprietor OF the
bank which was the only enc In the
town, and showed every semblance of the
soundest financial basis
DIR. Blakeiy was man strangay ce-
void Of eccentricIties The chief faults
the bank staff found with him xere his
indefatigability, and that whenever there
was business to be done in London-sell-
ing or buying stock. buying cash. etc
he invariably attended to 1t himself.
1 was seated at the desk of the head
cashier, who was away on short hoh-
day, one morning In September, when
one OF our clients entered the counting
house.
Mr.. Boyton, look here" he said. Sip
ping crown piece upon the counter.
Where did you get this7'
What's wrong with it?' I inquired exc
aiming 1t closely without noticing any
defect. Did give 1t to your"
Yes. Look at the edge; It's quite
smooth"
/ passed him two half crowns, and as
he went away 1 slipped the crown into
my pocket, intending to keep 1t as a Gu
riosity. But later in the Gay. when Mr..
Blakely was in the office, showed It to
him
"Curios!" ne muttered. "One of an ex-
perimental mint, no doubt, for it's dated
1896. Do you think we've any others SINH
iar?"
mo; I have been through them"
Strange! Well, I'll keep 1t. It Is prob
ably unique
1 was disappointed with his decision, as
wanted the coin myself 1t was against
my principles, however, to protest. for
got 1t entirely until some weeks later,
when Mrs. Blakely, to the utter astonish-
ment of the banks staff, turned up an
hour or SO before luncheon time.
Up to that time, although she hal been
married more than zen months, Mrs
Blakely had never been insiie the bank
Now, she drove up In her carriage, came
in proudly and asked for Mr.. Blakely.
l replied that IL she would step into the
waiting room I would summon him in the
usual way.
mo. Show me into his private ROOM
1 am Mrs. Blakely," she said, hastily.
Il recognize you, madam replied.
But the rule is that all visitors, whoever
they may be, are to be shown into the
waiting room, where Mr.. Blakely win in
terview them"
''Nonsense!" she calculated. "such rules
do not refer to Mr.. Blakely's wife. The
room is at the end Of the passage, is 1t
not?"
You are putting me in an awkward po-
sition," 1 replied. Il am not allowed to
door"
All" Her proud eyes flashed. so.
there is a green baize door which no one
approaches?"
When Mr.. Blakely came. he did so In
his habitual leisurely manner; and he
walked into the waitingroom, leaving the
door ajar.
Mr.. Blakely," she said, haughtly, 81
have been insulted by one Of your clerks.
Since when has your wife been denied the
right to enter your private room?'
Ever since she wrongfully assumed
that she had such a right, Mary. My
clerks have their orders; they obey them.
You cannot blame them for upholding
rules l myself have framed. What do you
want? l am busy this morning. The
market Is unsteady just now"
You indOrse your clerks ifsult?"
81 uphold my clerk who upholds the
banks rules
l felt her brush past me as she came
out Of the room, and saw her walk round
the desks, her lips tightly compressed,
and her head high.
The following morning when / turned
up at the bank the porter met me with
the inquiry, had seen anything of Mr..
Blakely? No one had seen him since the
bank closed the night before. He was not
in the bank-had not been home-indeed,
it was Mrs. Blakely who had driven down
the first thing to inquire about him; and
no one had seen him.
Mr.. Boyton," she asked, "have you
seen my husband? You were the last to
leave, believer"
Yes, madam; but 1 have not seen Mr..
Blakely since he put you into your car
rage yesterday.
That decides it," she mutte-ei. Some
thing has happened to him IN his room.
The door must be forced. Porter. go for
a carpenter!'
You take the whole responsibility o.
forcing the green baize door, ] sug-
gested.
THE whole responsibility. she :ep.led,
and turned away impatienrly.
When the carpenter arrived Mrs. Blake
ly led him to the door, and ordered MIN
to force 1t. He smiled grimiy as he Iook-
ed the door up and down. file sounded
it with a mallet, and mis- Jaw fell.
'Iron!" he said, laconi3aiy. "'Tisu't
my job; you want a blacksmith"
The porter was sent of in the carriage
to fetch smith. When the man arrived
he eyed the door critically and looked du-
bious.
For five minutes he dealt rapid fire Of
bic, then to shake. Finally, after ten OF
twelve minutes. il gave a shudder and
came forward, swinging on its hinges.
Mrs. B!akely dated forward and stop
ped. Six feet farther down the narrow
passage another door obstructed the way
She sighed impetuously to the smith,
who stepped forward and shivered the
lock OF the second door. which was only
light wood. All was darkness beyond the
door.
Porter" she said, in a fushed voice,
get me lantern. Then you can both
leave US. Mr.. Boytou's will be all the
help shall need"
We passed through the doorway and in
to a small. dark room, poorly furnished
with little office furniture and Uttered
with papers. There was no sign OF Mr.
Blakely.
Look cried Mrs. Biakely. Look A
trap-doori''
/ save square had been cut out Of the
carpet, in the center of which was a :;ng
by which l raised the trap.
Looking through we saw q ladder lead
ing down 10 darkness.
Going carefully down four rungs Of the
ladder / held the lantern out AZ arms
length and surveyed the scaaa.
\ stone-walled chamber stretched re-
fore me like a large vault In one vail
was low, barred door; n a corner We
a small furnace. A peculiar looking IA