The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-03-30

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Tho crash Of paper-weight falling
from his desk recalled Kennard to .
sense Of his surroundings. The room
was in darkness except where the moon
sent narrow streak Of light through
the courtyard window. The tiny bell
In his watch chimed out 1915 as he
touched the spring. He CROPPED his
way to the closet, found his coat and
hat, and opened the heavy swing door.
As he. did SO, peculiar sound struck
his ears, and he paused to listen. II
was purring, grating noise. intermit-
tent and varied, not unlike the gnaw-
ing of a mouse Now II would come
in long swishing sounds, and now In
a muffled tapping. Kennard opened
the door q little wider. The noise In
stantly ceased, but after reassuring
pause began again. AS It was, he had
about concluded to dismiss It on the
mouse theory when a longer swish than
before renewed his curiosity. Softly
closing the door, he moved cautiously
to the half partition which separated
the clerical department from the hall
way, and cautiously peered over Its
edge. At first he could not comprehend
what he saw. Then gradually the
scene began to take shape and mean
ing Flattened upon the floor among
mass of books. drawings and pa
pers, lay man, his face close to the
page he was copying, his eyes strain
ing to see the figures and entries in
the moonlight. Kennard could not i'm
mediately distinguish the workers
face, but the rapidly waning light soon
caused the man to shift his position,
revealing the features OF Assistant Su-
perintendent Culver
/ Kepnard had no notion to disturb
the man, but watched his work In abso-
Lutte silence. He even argued against
his suspicious. Culver, encouraged by
his promotion, was merely studying
after hours to improve himself. That
was all there was to the matter, and
no one but suspicious fool would en-
tertain any other thought Pitiful
gasping of hope in the hard clutch Of
fact--pitiful because It was useless;
and Kennard knew 1t as he watched
the nervous worker, who started at
every sound.
The private records of the Office were
being stolen for some sinister purpose.
I There could be no doubt Of 1t.
Once the copyist attempted to short
en- his labor by applying stencil sheet.
but that left marks on the originals
which took time and care to eradicate,
and time was pressing as the moon
sank lower and lower. The work was
not confined to the books merely.
Plans of machinery, pay-rolls, cost
sheets, customers lists, every vital de-
| tail of the business was being tran
scribed by the promoted foreman.
Darkness stopped the work long be-
fore 1t was completed, and by the last
ray of light Culver gathered together
his materials He returned the books
to the safe, replaced the sheets and
plans in their proper places, picked
up his shoes, rolled his copies, tiptoed
his way across the room, stepped
through the clerks gate, closed II
softly, and turning found himself
face to face with Kennard.
For heartbeat neither man moved.
Then Culver's shoes and papers
dropped to the floor, his right hand
flew back to his hip pocket, and Ken
nard's fist struck him full in the mouth.
1t was too late for the assistant super
intendent to draw his revolver. Both
his hands were needed to parry the
rain Of blows that followed. He struck
out wildly as Kennard's fist crashed
between his eyes, sending his head
back with sickening jerk. Then he
sprang to one side, and gathering all
his force launched himself upon his
employer, only to be hurled to the
floor by the impulse of his own mo-
ton. For second he struggled to
draw his revolver, but the enraged man
standing above him fell upon him in
an instant, tore the weapon from his
pocket, and hurled It across the hall.
Then, as he staggered to his feet, a
hoarse voice spoke close beside him In
rapid whispers.
"Go-go! For Gods sake, go before
I kill you! tell you, you're not safe,
man! For Gods sake, go!"
AS the words were uttered, two shak-
ing hands gripped him by the shoul-
ders and hurled him against the door.