The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-05-19
Seleft Sturg.
'TWIXT LOVE AND HONOR.

II was 5 O clock in the afternoon of a
dark November day. The clerks in the
office of the great manufacturing firm of
Coleman & Parker were all working at
high pressure. At O clock the great
horn in the works would sound, and the
army of operatives, 5000 strong, would
pour from the gates like turbulent flood
Six o clock was also, nominally, the hour
for stopping work in the Office, but il
there was any stress Of work punctuality
was not enforced SO rigidly then as at hour
of arrival in the morning.
Suddenly, through the click and rattle
of the dozen typewritters, smote, three
times in quick succession, the strident clang
of the managers bell.
''There you are again, Hinde, = said
Young fellow of about 26 to his desk COM
panion.
Hinde, the firms foreign correspondent,
who was tall, fair and clean -shaven, with
well-opened, wide-set, dark blue eyes that
looked the world in the face dauntlessly,
rose from his stool, smiling.
Right you are, Fraser" he replied
1.-The old man is getting very fond of my
society think.
He went quickly up the Office to the
door of the managers room, knocked and
went in.
When he entered, Bunting, the man
ager, was standing on the hearth rug, his
back to the fire, with telegram in his
hand
''Here's wire from these people Al
vargonzalez in Buenos Ayres, he said
abruptly, holding out the fimsy pink
paper. ''What does it say?'
Hinde took the cablegram, glanced at
it and translated
"Cancel orders; we are writing.
sPhew p calculated Bunting. "That' s
nice mess, with all these special goods
ready for shipment. We haven t another
customer on the blessed globe that buys
their sizes, and we may as well throw the
stuff into the Clyde as put it into stock.
What the value of it, Hinde p
"About e4OOO, sir, l believe was
the reply.
"Well," said Bunting, "I'll have to
consult Mr.. Coleman about this. That
will do just now.
Hinde had barely got back to his place
when the bell rang for him again,
When he re-entered the manager S
room Bunting was seated at his desk writ
ing. In short time lie looked up.
81 have consulted Mr. Coleman, he
said, sand this is the message you are to
cable. Get it translated and sent off to-
night
Without meeting the young mans eye
Bunting handed him sheet Of paper III
which was written
Impossible cancel; goods gone.
Hinde read the words, stood moment
irresolute, and then said in = low but firm
tone of voice
ssPardon me, sir, but l cameo send
this cable .
AS soon as Bunting had handed ovel
the message he had resumed his writing,
but now the scratching Of his pen over the
paper stopped suddenly. aud he looked up
His eye glittered coldly and his face hard
| ened.
''You are forgetting yourself, Hinde,
he said harshly. Il presume you arr
aware that it is your duty to obey orders
or take the consequences.
The young mans eye met the mana
gers steely glance without wavering.
s'No, SIR" he replied firmly, though
his heart was humping in his breast, =
am forgetting neither myself nor my duty
but cannot bring myself to believe tina
Mr.. Coleman would wish me to send thi'
message if he knew all the facts of the
case
ssThese are Mr.. Coleman s instructions,
said the manager "As matter OF fact
the words of the message are his own
Look at it again, and you will see it is il
his handwriting.
Hinde looked again at the paper he helt
in his hand, and recognized the senio
partners writing.
The manager continued
| uMr. Coleman has gone home, but h'
will be certain to ask as soon as he come
in tomorrow morning if the cable was sen
as he instructed You are the only per
son in the office that knows Spanish; it j
too late to send the message out of th'
Office for translation; so it is upon you tina
the responsibility rests. =
every well, sir, replied Hinde, IS
be it. accept the responsibility. Iwi
not send this cable =
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