The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-15
Luck for His Star.

afternoon Half an hour earlier he had
been merely an imprudent young man
who had neglected q matter OF 80 Dor
rowed by him from cash
If hi. account had been turned over
10 anybody else but Williams. the mat
ter might not appear so black. but
George had been promoted over Will
Jams head; the fellow hated aim. and
would carry the matter straight 10 the
supreme head OF everything.
Even now, If ne could borrow the 20
but he had tried all his friends in the
office, and il would not 'be easy 10 get.
out Yet it must be done: the alterna
tive was criminal prosecution-sheer
ruin.
George laid his hard upon the lid OF
his desk to pull IL down. With or with
out an excuse he must go out and find
that money It was impossible that he
should wreck his life. destroy his pros
poets just as they were beginning 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, hand
WAS aid upon his arm. and he turned
10 face Old Ben, the soft-footed messen-
ger, mysterious as q demon Of Eastern
fable. who did the viii OF the supreme
head Of the establishment.
''Mr Hartman wants to see YOU"
said the slave-of-the-ring.
George uttered a faint sound as If
some one had struck him lightly IN the
pit Of the stomach. He tried to say
''an right" but his vocal organs moved
like these of the dumb.
This must be the end Of him. Either
his crime had been discovered already
or his interview with Mr.. Hartman
would take the time in which /, might
have saved himself. 1t mattsred net
which way fate might choose.
II wonder If there IS anything IN max
ing a clean breast OF IT." he said to
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 esdeavored 20 stiffen his legs
which felt like two pieces Of string. II
seemed that the aoor was no longer on
a level, and he saw four knobs on Har-
riman's door. as he stretched forth his
hand to open IT,
George had been in the great mans
presence oftener, during the past year,
than any other minor employe in the
main office. He was an object Of envy
on that account. Hartman had intrust-
ed to him certain portions OF the cor
smaller agencies throughout the coun-
try, and had frequently received the
young mans suggestions with favor.
George admired him; believed he was the
greatest business genius between the two
oceans; and had accepted his favor as
the highest blessing in the gift of provi-
dence. 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 brain made 500 rapid revolu-
tons in his head. Could this mean that
Hartman had been told Of his dishon-
esty and would forgive him If he con-
fessed? Probably; and If he could have
found a voice. he would have begged for
mercy.
'Ninety-nine clerks IN a hundred
Hartman continued, twill always be
clerks. I 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 we'll of you
Our man Robbins, in Johnstown,"
Hartman proceeded. s''has been having
trouble, as you know''@-
He paused, and In the interval, the eff
fort of remembering who Robbins was,
cleared Georges mind. The calmness gof
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, land that is why
I am going to put you in his shoes"
You will leave for Johnstown to-
night" said Hartman Here Is the or
der superceding Robbins. You will draw
the same salary and the same comm s.
sions that ne does. This Is an excep-
tional opportunity. No man gets such a
| chance as this twice in his lifetime You
must prove yourself worthy, and do it in
a hurry"
He leaned over the desk and looked
earnestly at George. who, in that mo-
rnent would have given his right hand
to be an honest man.
II expect you TO crush competition out
there" continued Hartman. THAT fell
low Wellbrook, who is running an indie
pendent racket, must be done UP. I
don't care how you DO It, or what It
| costs. Lay him out. We want ALL the
business wherever we go. That is what
we are on earth for
81 don't think 7 shall nave any trou-
ble" replied George, speaking like one
In dream, for he knew that his ruin
would come before he could start upon
his mission. Robbins says that Well
brook is prominent man whose father
and grandfather were In the business be-
fore him; that he has the whole city's
! confidence. and IS so popular that merely
undertaking him won't do the trick:
but"
If he's popular, you'll have to make
him less so" said Hartman. Every
mans reputation can be undermined. II
he has never done anything. put up a
job on him. Only remember that # you
are couEht in It. you can't look FOR any
support from US We have no use for
men who get caught"
II understand that" replied George,
with a shudder for his own situatin.
"If you could buy up one or two trust
ed men in his employ" said Hartman.
you might throw him that way. Find
out whom ne owes money 70, and buy
up The claims: but don't make q martyr
Of him in the ewes Of the community.
Fix Il go that he'll seem 10 ruin him
self. If you can YOU know what We
want: now let's see results. Here IS an
order on the cashier for 4 few hundred
| dollars. I suppose you'll need some
| othes, and that sort % thing. as vel
/ as -our travelling EXPENSES. Good luck
to you. rarely make mistake IN &
man. and I believe you'll have that fel-
| low WeIlbrook in the poorhcuse in six
months"
j He laughed pleasantly, and George
/ tried 70 Join rim, bat the thought Of
/ Williams restrained his Hstrth. II was
dreadful 70 tank that al the moment
when no zax about 70 b. trusted with
/ 50 important mission. the stigma -
/ dishonesty should be placed upon him.