Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-11-13

luS tue TOOlu III tOldl udThuSoS,
except where here and there faint
glimmer came through the window
from the lamps in the street below,
and the under-cashier Of Brown &
Browns sank into his superlors easy
chair with sigh Of unutterable re-
lief.
AS usual, all his fellow clerks had |
gone hours ago, leaving him In soli-
tary grandeur to continue working |
out rows of apparently interminable
figures. At last, however, his task was
finished, and he sought to rest his
aching eyes by gazing blankly into
darkness.
Bernard Strong was overworked
and underpaid, which will, perhaps,
account for the thoughts that crowd
ed through his tired brain.
AS he sat there in the darkness the
full hopelessness of his position was
borne home to his Overworked mind.
What was the use of working like
slave till IL o'clock, as he had done
tonight? What did he gain by 1t?
Money? No; he had asked for an in
crease of salary till his very pride
stayed him from repeating the at
tempt. Credit? No; the head cashier
had never been known to say a good
word for Strong, though 1t was very
seldom that he found cause of COM
plaint in the latters work. Prospects?
There were none.
He had asked himself these questions
till the very thought Of them sick
ened him, and always came to the
same conclusion. He would slave no
more in dingy office; he would go to
the director the very next morning and
give notice, and, when asked the rea-
son for so doing, would throw these bit
ter arguments in his face, leave the
house forever and so away, away to
long as he was far from his present
hated surroundings.
But in the morning the same de-
spairlng answer to all these questions
would come as If to haunt him, you
cannot go! You have no money! and
he would again wend his way wsarily
to the same office, the same high stool,
and go through the same daily routine
of drudgery 1t would be easier to
bear, he had told himself hundred
times, IL there was only himself to
think Of, but there was Kitty, poor
little Kitty, waiting so patiently and
saving as much as possible herself tC
: hasten the day that seemed so far off.
AS Strong sat there In the darkness
. building the usual castles In the air
to be dashed to the ground the next
morning, his abstracted gaze alightet
ON large black object In the opposite
: corner of the room. Yes! the little
strongroom tucked away behind tha
: iron door contained enough to take Kit
ty and himself out Of the country
where he could start afresh and per
haps make fortune. He smiled bit
terly at the irony of the situation; tn
money that safe contained was In hi
power; he had the key in his pocke
at that very moment. Why not? Yes
why not? 1t would mean nothing t
such a wealthy firm as Brown (
Browns, but what lot to him! III
would only take enough to pay thei
passage, and he would save every far
thing he made to pay 1t back. 1t woul
not be stealing If he returned 1t. No
and only EGO, that was all, but enougl
to take Kitty and himself away fron
this hated city and give him a fresl
start in new country, where, perhaps
they would give him chance Of show
ing his worth.
Yes, there were quite f20 In gold 1
that strongroom, and gold could nc
be traced like notes, and by the mOrr
Ing he could be safe away where n
one could trace him. He would do It
do 1t for Kitty's sake. Half rising
his chair, he felt for the key in HI
pocket, but sank back immedlatel.
guilty and terror-stricken, as sligf
scraping caught his sharpened eal
the next minute he was sitting ston
a still, his fascinating gaze followin
tn every movement Of huge dark fl
ly ure kneeling on the window sil
I'd Slowly and deliberately the fgui
80 went to work. 1t produced litt
G. pencil-like object from its pocket,
X. applied 1t to the window pane, an
n. four distinct lines made their appea
to ance on the glittering surface, accon
no panied by slight crunching soun'
now long, thin hand is thrust throug
the neat little opening; nolselessly II
catch slips back, and the next momel
IN. a man stands In the room, gaziI
searchingly round into the darkne
,e. with the aid Of bulls-eye lantern.
His isinvestigations appear to prove 50
4. Il. a.