Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-04-25

shouted, offering her his arm. .sIt is
dangerous to stay SO near the water.
She accepted the courtesy without
any prudish hesitation, and together
| they, reached the comparative safety
of the high road. Here, with a how,
Austin turned to go.
Not yet" she protested. ''You
must zee my uncle first. You have
saved us tremendous amount of
trouble in connection with that note,
and you will want-that is, you are
fairly entitled to-some reward"
Austin flushed little, but his keen
sense of humor never would permit
him to stand on his dignity. He ran
his fingers through his hair, and
looked down at the pretty, embar-
raised girl with eyes that twinkled.
THANK you," he said. eff your un-
Gle can spare an old hat or cap
| nything that will stick on my head
I shan't be too proud to accept it,"
They discovered the girls uncle in
the Office of Cotsford & Co., the only
| accountants in Kingsbrigg. Old Cots
ford was the principal member of the
firm; the Go" was his niece. Dinah.
$50 you rescued the lost bank note,
eh?" said Mr.. Cotsford, cycling Austin
| critically. The young man, thinking
anything would do for Kingsbrigg,
had put on his oldest and most COM
Portable clothes, and did not present
particularly aristocratic appearance.
Il was fortunate enough to stop it
as it blew toward me, SIR" said Aus
tin, secretly enjoying his unique posi-
ton.
The old man rubbed his chin. "Had
anything to eat 1ately?" he queried,
abruptly.
"Not since morning, SIR" answered
Austin, sitting his merriment.
"Um! Then perhaps you'd prefer
ten pounds in cash to a stool in my
office? I've three clerks too many al
ready-idle vagabonds they are, too
but one more won't make much differ
ence. You'll take the money, eh?"
The amused young man, happening
to look in Dinah's direction, saw that
pretty little lady gesticulating wild
~. He didn't understand her in the
least and shook his head ruefully.
.You won't take the money, Ell?
Then stay in the Office" he said. t'I'l
waive testim onials. You're honest
enought, Ell? OF course, or you'd
have pocketed the bank note. Will
40 shillings week suit your book?
Right! Take him away and find him
a desk, Dinah. Not another word
! now. You're wasting my time, child"
Outside, Dinah turned charmingly
apologize face to the young mans
preternaturally grave one.
10 ~,
pleaded. "Uncle Benjamin, in his &c
centric way, is really grateful to you,
and he means every word he says;
but you will not dream of accepting
his offer, I know
"Why not?" asked Austin, affecting
| a lambike innocence. els your uncle
a bad master to work for?"
| She looked at him with eyes that
brimmed over with mischief. Then
she pointed an accusing little finger at
his well-shaped, gentlemanly hands.
"You are not one of those who
| need work for living" she said, de-
murely, "and you will find clerking
| very poor pastime. Kingsbrigg is a
frightfully dull town.
"Beggars can't be choosers, Miss
Cotsford," he responded. "Your uncle
| asked you to find me a desk in the Of
| flee. Shall we look for it now?"
| The desk was found and in an IN
| credibly shot space of time Austin
| Cooke demonstrated his unftness to
occupy it. His handwriting was a
puzzle that baff1ed everyone; he made
his figures look like Egyptian hero
glyphics; and the simplest little sums
| Ill f<>o f<ys hi
powers of reckoning.
| Cooke" said the head clerk, when
the end of the month came, ''Mr. Cots
ford's generosity outran his discre-
ton when he offered you 40 shillings
a week. You're not worth it,
| I'm afraid I'm not, old man, re-
| sponded Austin, with combination
of frankness and familiarity which
took the head clerks's breath away.
| make it 25 shillings and call it a bar
gain. I don't want to bring the firm
to ruin"
| The head clerk had no right to tam
per with the wage sheet, but he took
Austin at his word, and paid him re-
duced salary with much inward chuck
ling. Cotsford & Co., he felt sure,
would give him a good mark for this
cunning bit of economy, and perhaps
who could tell?-even transfer to
his salary some part of the money
he had saved.
But his castles in the air fell disas-
trously when the Co.," according to
her custom. ran her eye down the
ledger and saw how he had locked the
new clerks wages. She fell into a
pretty fury.
''Mr. Waters" she said, ego down
and apologize to Mr.. Cooke, and pay
| him the balance of his wages,