The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-09-27

Gsgy Il was out with young Ma
son last evening" he explained as the
old lawyer bade him q rather crusty
good morning, "and l oversight"
oh that is all right" responded
Frye in an instantancouslE sweetened
tone. Il am glad you were, and, as l
told you, you are wise to cultivate
him. suppose" he continued, with a
leer, that you were buying wine for
some Of the gay girls
Page looked confused. well, we
went to the thcater and after that had
late supper" he explained. and it
was after l before I returned to my
room"
i don't care how late you are out
or what you did, said Frye, still ey-
ing Page, so long as you were with
young Mason and kept out Of the lock-
up. His father pays me q salary to
look after his business, and his son IS
the pride Of his heart. trust you
understand my meaning. If you don't
feel like work this morning he con-
tinued suavely, mount your wheel
and take a run out to Winchester and
see if that mortgage on the Seayer
estate has been satisfied. The exercise
and air will do you good
Page was nonplused.
He has some deep laid plot in his
mind" he thought as he looked at
Frye. He was glad to escape the office,
however, for his head felt full Of bees,
and, thanking his employer for the
permission, he quickly left the city De
hind him. The crisp October air and
exercise soon drove away some Of the
self reproaches at his own foolish con-
duct of the night before.
The errand at Winchester was at
tended to, and then he headed back for
the city, taking another course. By
the time he reached town he was faint
from hunger, for he had eaten no
breakfast 4 good dinner restored him
to his natural self possession, and then
be went to the Office.
For week he reproached himself
every time he thought how much bis
escapade had cost and felt too ashamed
to answer 4Alice's letter. When be did
he assured that innocent sister that he
was saving all he could and should
send more money as soon as possible.
Frank called twice and the second time
urged him to join the club, to which
Page asSented.
''It will serve as place to spend q
lonesome evening" be thought.
Several times Frye had made casual
inquiries as to the progress Of his in
timacy with young Mason, ali Of which
led Page to wonder what his object
was and why it concerned him. At
last. one day at closing time and after
he had told the Office boy he might go,
Frye let little light into that enigma.
"Sit down moment, Mr.. Page" he
remarked as 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 think the
time has come when I may safely en-
large them little AS T told you,
John Mason pays me yearly retainer
to attend to all his law business.
have reason to feel be is not entirely
satisfied 10 continue that arrangement,
and I an forced to find some way to
bring little pressure to bear on him
in order that he may see it is for his
interest to still retain me.
"Now, I believe John Mason is not en-.
tirely happy in his home relations and
that a certain young lady receives a
share Of his attentions While they are
never seen in public together, gossip
links their names. What want IS for
you to find out through your acquaint-
ance with the Nasons just what bond
there is between the elder Mason and
the young lady and report to me- I do
not intend to use the knowledge for
any illegal purpose, but merely as a
leverage to retain Nason's business. !
am aware that to prosecute your IN
quiries discreetly by means of your In
timacy with young Mason will require
more money tnan I am paying you,
and therefore, If I can depend on you
to do little detective work, l shall
from now on increase your salary from
S75 to SITS. What do you say
The first impulse that Page felt was
to absolutely refuse there and then to
have anything to do with Frye's ne
farious scheme, but the thought of bis
situation, the unpaid debt at home and
the certainty that refusal would
mean a loss Of his 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:
1t is rather q hard task you ask, Mr.
FRYE, for I am not accustomed to the
role of detective, but am in your en-
ploy, and as long as am will do the
best can for your interests"
1t was a temporizing reply, and Frye
so construed it at once.
II must insist If you accept my OF
fer he said, that you give me your
promise to do your best to earn the
money. 1t doesn't pay to be too
sQueamish in this world he continued
in 4 soothing tone. .All business IS &c
certain exi-lt a game Of extortlon-
a question Of do the other fellow or lie
will do YOU" Then arising and hold
ing out skinny hand to grasp Page S
he added, II shall expect you to keel
faith with ME, Mr.. Page" and the III
terview ended
When Albert met Frank at the clur
that evening he was preoccupied ano
morose, and Frank, noticing his frame
of mind, tried to cheer him.
"You look as if you had been given
e,,or o11 y,oopo ha coid "What