Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-26
a PASSAGE In THE LIFE
OF AN HONEST MAN.
BY Howard FIELDING.

III" -.
George was a thief, ct two O'CLOCK IN
the afternoon. Half an hour earlier he
had been merely an imprudent young
man who had neglect a matter OF
twenty-five dollars borrowed by him
from cash"
If his account had been turned over
to anybody else but Williams, the mat
ter might not appear so black, but
George had been promoted over Will
liams' head; the fellow hated him, and
would carry the matter straight to the
Supreme Head of everything.
Even now, If he could borrow the
twenty-five dollars-but he tried all his
friends in the Office, and it would not
"be easy to get out" Yet it must be
done; the alternative was criminal
prosecution-sheer ruin.
George laid his hand upon the lid of
his desk t. pull it down. With or
without an excuse he must go out and
find that money. 1t was impossible
that he should wreck his life, destroy
his prospects just as they were begin
ming to be SO bright, and break his
fathers heart with shameful for a
sum not much greater than his wages
for a week.
Just as he arose from his seat, a
hand wash laid upon his arm, and he
turned to face Old Ben, the soft-footed
messenger, mysterious as a demon of
eastern fable, who did the will of the
Supreme Head of the establishment.
"Mr. Hartman wants to see you,
said this STRENGTHENING.
George uttered a faint sound as if
some one had struck him slightly in
the pit of the stomach. He tried to
say "all right" but his vocal organs
moved like those of the dumb.
This must be the end of him. Either
his crime had be discovered already Or
his interview with Mr.. Hartman
would take the time in which he
might have saved himself. 1t matter
ed not which way fate might choose.
II wonder if there is anything in
making a clean breast OF it," he said
to himself, as he walked toward Harri-
mans room; and then he remembered
what had happened to a certain young
man who had done that very thing.
At the thought, George shut his
teeth firmly, and endeavored to stiffen
his legs, which felt like two pieces or
string. 1t seemed that the floor was
no longer on a level and he saw four
knors on Harriman's door, as he
stretched forth his hand to open it.
There was a fat-topped mahogany
desk as large as a dinner table in the
middle of the room, and at the oppo-
site side of it sat Hartman. His eyes
were smaller, his nose was larger. his
chin was fatter, and his coloring was
a brighter red than ever before in
Georges recollection of him. The
protuberance on the top of his head
seemed higher than usual and the
blue-black hair stood up on it, as II
upon the back of an angry cat.
George had been in the great mans
presence %oftener, during the past year,
than any minor employe in the main
Office. He was an object of envy on
that account. Hartman had intrusted
to him certain portions of the cores
pondence with the chiefs of the small
er agencies throughout the country,
and had frequently received the young
man suggestions with favor. George
admitted him; believed he was the
greatest business genius between the
two oceans; and had accepted his fav-
or as the highest blessing in the gift
of providence. The idea Of appearing
before this man as a thief was a thing
to die of.
Lang" said Hartman, I'm going
to give you a chance"
Georges brains made five hundred
rapid revolutions in his head. Could
this mean that Hartman had been
told of lbs dishonest and would for
give him if he confessed? Probably;
and if he could have found a voice. he
would have begged for mercy.
"Ninety-nine clerks in a hundred"
Hartman continued, will always be
clerks. l believe that you are the hun
dredth man. You've been handling
some correspondence with our agents
under my direction-and you have
shown a comprehension OF the subject
that has made me think well of you"
George merely bowed. He could not
speak aloud. All his faculty of Ian
guage was occupied in interior, sound
less cursing of himself for his incred-
ible folly. His intellect refused to
credit his memory; it was impossible
that he was the nan who had stolen
twenty-five dollars for a suit of clothes
at the cost of his whole future.
Our man Robbins, in Johnstown,"
Hartman proceeded, has been having
trouble, as you know"
He paused, and in the interval the
effort of remembering who Robbins
was cleared Georges mind. The calm
ness of despair came upon him, and he
spoke with perfect freedom, as never
before in Harriman's presence.
Robbins is not the man for the
place" he said. He doesn't seem to
know what he is there for"
Hartman slapped the desk gently
with his fat right hand.
precisely" said he; and that is
why l am going to put you in his
shoes"
The sweat started out suddenly in
the palms of Georges hands, and he
felt at the same time the sensation of
a cold grip on the back of his neck.
To be put at the head Of even the
smallest of the company's agencies
a post one-tenth the Importance of
that at CONSEQUENCES all he would
have asked of heaven. And to think
how he had lost it! He had a sudden
vision of Williams at work on those
accounts.