The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-04-15
CHARLES CLARK heEJNN


Page aSSentcd
''It will serve as a place to spend a
lonesome evening"" he thought.
Several times Frye had made casual
inquiries as TO the progress OF his in
timacy with young Mason. all of which
led Page to wonder what his object
was ana why it concerned him. AT
last, one day at closing time and after
lie had told the office boy he might go.
Frye let Il little light into that enigma.
"Sit down moment, Mr. Page" he
remarked rs the latter was preparing
to leave. 81 have a proposition of an
important nature to make to YOU"
And then as he fixed his merciless eyes
on his clerk and began to slowly rub
his hands together he continued: "You
have been nearly three months in my
employ. Mr.. Page, and have fulfilled
your duties satisfactorily. I,tEink the
time has come when LS<oAay slfely en-
large thepaSa iittle.1 1I4s.,S n1Sr uoi...
Johif- Nasth ~rnaysf s. -! =
TO attend to all his hw3yIslness. l
have reason to feel he Isl not entirely
lsatisfed to continue that arrangement,
and / am forced to find some way to
bring n little pressure to bear on him
in order that he may see it IS for his
interest to still retain me-
"Now, believe John Mason is not en-
tirely happy in his home relations and
that a certain young lady receives
share of his attentions. While they are
never seen in public together gossip
links their names. What l want is for
Won 70 find out through your acquaint-
nnce witt. the Nasons just what bond
there is between the elder Mason and
the young lady ana report to me. do
not intend to use the knowledge for
any illegal purpose, but merely as
leverage to retain Nason's business. /
am aware that to prosecute your In
ouiries dscreetly by means of your in
timacy with young Mason will require
more money than l am paying you,
and therefore, If I can depend on you
to do Il little detective work, | shall
IrOm now on increase your salary from
vs. to S1.5. What do you say
The first Impulse that Page felt was
TO absolutely refuse there and then to
have anything to Cotlyn1 frye's ne
farious scheme, But lEH Thought of his
situation, the unpaid debt ut home ana
the certainty that Il REFUSAL Wouiu
mean q loss of bis position conquered
his pride and kept him silent. For a
| moment he reflected, trying hard TO
see way out of the dilemma, and then
said.
ut is rather a hard task you ask, Mt.
| Frye, for l am not accustomed to the
role Of detective, but l am in your en-
ploy, and as long as l am / will do the
| best can for your interests"
1t was o temporizing reply, and Frye
so construed 1t at once.
"I must insist if you accept my Of.
fer" he said, that you give me your
promise to do your best to earn the
money, it doesn't pay to be too
squeamish In this world" he continued
in soothing tone. "Aii businoss Is to
a certain extent a game OF eXtortion-
question of do the other fellow or he
will do YOU" Then arising and hold
ing out a skinny hand TO grasp Pages
he added, 81 shall eXpsct you to keep
faith with me, Mr.. Page and the in
terview ended.
When Albert met Frank at the club
that evening he was preoccupied and
morose, and Frank, noticing his fra.-l
Of mind, tried to cheer him.
"You look as if you had been giver
q facer, old man." he said. "What
Is the matter? Has Frye been call
ing you down for something's"
Page looked at his friend moment
and the impulse to make clean
breast Of 1t and relieye his feelings
was strong, but he did not
81 do not like Frye" he said in
stead, "and the more see of him the
less Ike him. At times he makes
me feel as If he was o snake ready tc
uncoil and strike. Have you ever no
ticed his eyes and the way he has oi
49,. + OIL