The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-06
THE BOoKKEEPER WHO WENT
WRONG

Mr. Wilkins. being bookkeeper, was
| obliged TO put in some hard Mcks' to-
| ward the close OF each month Making
| statements and balancing accounts meant
late hours and rushing work from the
/ 18th to the sast day Il was his h
get Il midnight supper down town on
very speedily TO be admitted TO Mrs. WIKI
| very speedy. To lie admitted u Mrs. Wink
ms and to tip-toe away into the alcove
| room with as little noise as possible.
On September 1 the Wiikinses moved
| from their third-foor fat en- Fifty-frst
street to fourth-foor fat on the Mid
way. A family named Piper lived under
! them There were three Misses Piper and
| their brother. man Of mature years but
| eccentric habits. whom Mrs. Wilkins ''sus-
pectec" of being a sport for no better
reason than that he never came home
| before midnight. Night after night he
had rung the Piper door bell as late as
o o'clock in the morning, and the Wilkinses
agreed that it looked bad"
On the night of September g, Mr.. Wink
I ms having journaIized. posted. added
. checked and carried down balances" till
his head ached and his eyes swan. went
home half asleep with a half-formed de-
termination 70 sleep till noon the next
day, which was Sunday. He was so tired
that his knees shook as he slowly mount
ed the winding stairway leading TO his
fat. He had no latchkey because his
wife always persisted in boiling the door
on the inside when he was absent. II
was past 1 o'clock when he found the
electric button. gave it a gentle push and
heard the bed rattle slightly. He listened
dreanily to the patter of bare feet within,
heard the lock click and saw the door
slowly swing ajar. The rustic of a gar
ment in the dark, the sound OF retreat
ing footsteps and the jolt of the shut door
+I,1
that he remembered.
He ''barked" his shius against sundry
pieces of furniture as he passed through
the parlor into his alcove, but managed
TO find his bed without lighting the gas
and guided only by the dim moonlight
that glowed against the window shades.
he CROPPED for his pajamas. but not ind
ing them, and being unwilling to rouse his
wife, who slept in the rear bedroom he
slipped YEARLY between the sheets and
slept the sleep of the overworl1ed book
keeper.
Meanwhile Mr. Piper, the suspected
sport" who lived IN that fiat below Wink
ms, came sOlemnly numbering up the
stairway. Arrived at his door, he tried
his latch1ey and found that he was lock-
ed out. Then he tried again, swearing
softly to himself, and pressing his knee
against the door. Finally he rang the
a waiting silence answered him.
''Well?" he growled, losing his pa
tience
who is ito" asked trembling voice
who do you suppose? It's me-
There was more shuffling inside. and
Mr.. Piper could hear subdued voices in
consultation.
If you don't go away Wen call the po-
lice ventured the older sister.
ooh cO0aa of (sv-rrhia cd bar.
brother getting angrier every moment,
let me III. Don't you know it's me,
Ehenezeer Let me in
How aid you get out?" asked the
puzzled Cynthia.
''Why, 1 haven't been in. -"
why, let you in myself half an hour
ago"
He lighted the gas in the hall as he
heard his sister placing a chair by the
door, and the next moment three pairs of
eyes were sizing him up" through the
transom.
Mr.. wilkins dreamed that his cash
book was q million dollars short by mis-
own figures. The first of the month had
come and gone and he couldn't ind the
mistake. His boss was getting impatient
Strange, furtive-looking men were hover
ing about office. Finally, as his head
was bent over particularly long column
of figures. a strong hand seized him by
the shoulder and a coarse voice roared in
his ear:
Come along here; you're under arrest
But 1 haven't taken cent" murmur-
ed Wilkins weakly. It's all a mistake, |
I -"
He stared blankly up into the face OF a !
policeman. and then It dawned
upon him that he was in bed. The room /
was abiaze with light. Three female fig /
ures. all strangers, hovered behind the /
portieres glaring at him with scared I
curiosity. Behind the policeman stood Mr. 4
Piper.
Where am 70" asked wilkins as he
stared stupidity at his unknown surround /
ings
are growled Piper. lingering a big pis- /
tol, which he held in a menacing posi- /
ton.
Come along. an be quick about It.
grinned the policeman, lifting Wilkins up 1
by the arm. I'll put you to bed all right
There was a scurrving of whitehead /
figures as the poor bookkeeper stood up 1
en- deshanille. but a second later he heard /.
the first note OF hope
It's the man who lives upstairs" he /
heard a voice say. Then there was a
litter in the hallway. Mr. Piper left the /
room. and wilkins. a great light break
ng upon his consciousness, began TO pull /
on his trousers.
"Tn 90 this way" he explained TO the
policeman. And with his shoes in one
haLd and his other garments thrown
across his arm he hurried out into the
hall. The door closed after him. and he
stood facing the bluecoat.
III give YOU a new hat If you don't
mention this" he began I'm wilkins.
George Suas wilkins, and = live in the
fat above"
wen see. blurted the copper, leading
his victim UP the final flight.
Mrs wilkins answered the bell.
open the door" commanded the po-
iceman. When it was open and the
scared wife beheld her woebesone spouse.
The officer roughly demanded:
Does HE belong here2
She glared at Wilkins Tor a moment In
mingled astonishment and disgust as she
answered:
Its the first time I ever saw him in
that condition. Yes, he belongs here. I'm
SORRY TO SAY
The policeman went whistling merrfy
iown tho stairs. but Wilkins is SIN draw
ng diagrams for his wife.
JOHN H. RAFTERY.
ENGLAND Downed AGAIN.