The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-05-13

skirts, and as Dorothy disappeared
within Hastings strolled down the
quiet village street
Matters had been tacitly understood
between him and Dorothy for a long
time, and when he had obtained the
position as operator at the depot be
had hoped soon to be able to make her
his wife. Then the First National
bank was established in Tabor. and,
to the surprise of everybody. Almon
Spencer, who had been elected presi-
dent, appointed Frank Paxton as cash
Ter. The action had excited no little
comment. for Paxton was a New York
er, and Tabor felt that the position
should have gone to local man. Ger
aid had at first hoped to secure the
place himself, and now 1t seemed to
him that Paxton had cut him out of
everything. A fierce desire for venge-
ance filed his heart as he made his
way homeward.
His feelings had not changed the
next morning when he took his seat
at the telegraph desk. Tabor was a
Gull cludli LOW u, anu luOSt
of the business was on railroad affairs,
few local messages being sent or re-
ceived. After he had reported the
9:1O down train there was little to be
done for more than an hour, and be
busted his brain devising some means
for overcoming bis rival.
He and Dorothy had been lovers al
most since childhood, and to lose her
TO city man seemed doubly hard.
He was awakened from his reverie
by the appearance of the janitor of
the bank. who deposited on the ledge
coin and yellow telegraph blank.
"Mr. Spencer says to send that at
once, please this as Gerald mechanic
ally counted the words. The latter's
heart throbbed with sudden fierce salts
faction. for the message read:
William W. Birdsall. Bank Examiner, Al
bany N T.:
Can you come up at once7 Paxton has
gone wrong ALMON P. SPENCER
For more than two hours Gerald
went through his work automatically
A delirious joy filed his heart at the
thought that bis rival was driven from
Che field. The revulsion came at /
o'clock with the return message:
Almon P. Spencer. Tabor, N. Y:
suspected as much. VIII be up to-
night. WILLIAM w. BIRDSALL.
He sent the message up to the bank
by one of the boys, but not with the
satisfaction he felt when he received
the first message. After all, Paxton,
In spite of the fact that he was his
rival, was a pleasant fellow, with a
kindly word for all. 1t would be a
terrible thing to be arrested for such
betrayal of trust.
The rules of the Western Union are
strict on the matter of giving out in
formation relative to dispatches, and
the thought that such a revelation
would mean the sacrifice of his posi-
ton deferred him for awhile. But in
the end sympathy for his discounted
rival proved too strong.
There was a train to New York at 5.
The up train from Albany did not get
In till s.
The station agent was familiar with
Hastings duties and readily consented
to take care of the office till he came
back. He went to the bank and
straight to the cashiers window, be-
hind which stood Paxton, getting
ready to close the Office for the day.
Come out here moment" said Ger
aid hoarsely. II want to say some
thing"
Wonderingly Paxton followed him to
the front of the lobby.
Its costing me my job" said Ger
aid, ''and I've no particular reason for
feeling grateful to you, but you ought
to know about these two kilograms .
And with trembling hands he unfolded
copies of the dispatches.
Paxton laughed, and then his face
softened
Its awfully good of you. old chap"
he said. but l know about those mes
sages. The fact is I'm engaged TO
Judge Birdsall's ward. and Mr.. Spen-
Ger as my guardian is to formally an
nounce it tonight It's been an open
secret, but l was waiting until her
eighteenth birthday, which is today,
and that's why those joking kilograms
were sent. And. by the way. if you're
going to see Miss Dorothy tonight, If
you'll forgive the lmpertinence, you
might tell her that your prospects are
very materially improved, for l under
stand that you are slated for the posi-
ton l am about to give up. / go to
New York