Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-05-17

would sound, and the army of oper-
atives, 5000 strong, would pour from
the gates like turbulent flood. Six
o'clock was also, nominally, the hour
Tor stopping work in the office, but if
there was any stress of work punctual-
ity was not enforced 80 rigidly then
as at hour of arrival in the morning.
Suddenly, through the click and
rattle of the dozen typewriters, 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 companion.
Hinde, the firms foreign corre-
spondent, who was tall, fair and clean
shaver, with well-opened, wide-set,
dark blue eyes that looked the world
In the face dauntlessly, rose from his
stool, smiling.
Fright you are, Fraser" he re-
piled. "The old man is getting very
iond 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
manager, was standing on the hearth
.ug, his back to the fire, with tele-
gram in his hand.
Here's wire from these people
Avargonzalez in Buenos Ayres," he
@id abruptly, holding out the fimsy
pink paper. What does it say?"
Hinde took the cablegram, glanced
It it and translated:
'Cancel orders; we are writing"
"Phew!" calculated Bunting.
"Thats nice mess, with all these
'pecial goods ready for shipment We
haven't another customer on the
blessed globe that buys their sizes,
ind we may as we'll throw the stuff
INTO the Clyde as put it into stock.
What's the value of it, Hinde?"
"About $4,000, sir, 1 believe" was
the reply.
"Well," said Bunting, "I'll have
20 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 managers
room Bunting was seated at his desk
writing. In a short time he locke up.
"I have consulted Mr.. Coleman"
he said, "and this is the message you
are to cable. Get it translated and
sent off tonight"
Without meeting the young mans
EYE Bunting handed him sheet OF
paper on which was written:
Impossible cancel; goods gone"
Hinde read the words. stood mo-
ment irresolute, and then said in
low but firm tone of voice:
Pardon me, sir, but cannot send
this cable"
AS soon as Bunting had handed
over the message he had resumed his
writing, but now the scratching of his
oen over the paper stopped suddenly,
md he looked up. His eye glittered
soldly and his face hardened.
You are forgetting yourself,
Hinde, he said harshly. 81 presume
you are 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.
"No, sir" he replied firmly, though
MS heart was humping in his breast,
II am forgetting neither myself nor
my duty, but cannot bring myself
20 believe that Mr.. Coleman would
wish me to send this message if he
knew all the facts of the case"
"These are Mr.. Coleman's instruc-
tons, said the manager. GAS mat
ter of fact, the words of the message
are his own. Look at it again, and
you will see it is in his handwriting.
Hinde looked again at the paper he
held in his hand, and recognized the
senior partners writing.
The manager continued:
Mr.. Coleman has gone home, but
he will be certain to ask as soon as
be comes i'll tomorrow morning if the
cable was sent rs he instructed. You
are the only person in the Office that
knows Spanish; it is too late to send
the message out of the office for trans
lation; 80 it is upon you that the re-
sponsibility rests. F."
''Very well, SIR" replied Hinde,
$50 be it. I accept the responsible ity.
will not send this cable.
"That being so," said Bunting, II
wash my hands of the whole affair. l
have done my duty to the firm, and,
as | said before, you will have to take
the consequences if you fail in yours. +"
My duty to the firm must be the
secondary consideration in this case,
Mr.. Bunting" replied Hinde. II
cannot send the cable, and whatever
the consequences, must accept
them"
Without another word he went ont
of the room and walked to his desk.
1t was after o'clock by this time,
and most of the clerks were gone, but
he stayed at his post till the hands of
the clock pointed to 7, putting his
papers in perfect order against his ex-
pected dismissal next day.
An hour later Hinde was sitting in
the cosy little drawing room Of