The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-09-01

II
battIed against or sway ed with un-
spoken arguments, asking and an
swering questions which articulation
would have made singing and pitiless
Was he willing to surrender what
ne had worked for, in the, face of per-
sonal disappointment and at the sug-
gestion of wholly material motives?
t was folly to be blind to what he
lad accomplished Perhaps it was not
much, but 1t was all in the right di-
rection.
What would Leslie Harlan think If
the knew he was to abandon what she
thought Of vital interest? Kennard
smiled to find himself assuming that
Miss Harlan would be interested IN
ais decision. He was taking himself
-ather seriously to imagine his friends
excited over his personal business af-
,airsi The men he had influenced and
developed, men like Culver. if there
we're only hall. dozen of them, were
he only ones he should consider, and
they were worth all the struggle cost
He would not abandon 1t, and the syn
iicate must wall until
The crash of a paper-weight fall. Ng
from his desk recalled Kennard to-
sense of his surroundings. The room
vas in darkness except whore th1 n II
sent a narrow streak OF lt-lt :. -ou. \
he courtyard " We IL l. be-
in his watch on L a. m
touched TIE 4e 81 p, V
way to t olC +. d is o, an
hat, and OF % y w lg ,o0a
rs he did ulN N nt Uck
his ears, and 's, ~ list m z
was purring, - Sc, ini,TD II.
ent and varied ttN { gina "
ing Of a mouse. Nv 70, 1 sol
in long swishing IDS y FaH IN
muffied tapping en- G ,pNled
he door a little wide T nc Sc n.
stantly ceased, but AFT as. lrins
pause began again. As b bat
about concluded to disml n
mouse theory when a longer l ar
before renewed his curicsit. S, ~
losing the door. he moved C, on "
% the half partition which SCI : at \
'he clerical department from tn, Il
way, and cautiously peered ov
adge, AT first he could not ccmprens.ld
what he saw. Then gradually the
scene began to take shape and mean
ing. FIattened upon the floor among
a mass of books. drawings and pa.
pers, lay a 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 Inn
mediately distinguish the workers
face, but the rapidly waning light soon
caused the man to shift his position
revealing the features Of Assistant Su-
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 promotios. was merely studying
after hours to improve himself. That
was all there was to the matter, and
no one but suspicious fool would en-
terrain any other thought. Pitiful
gasping of hope in the hard clutch OF
fact-pitiful because it was useless;
md Kennard knew it as he watched
The nervous worker, who started az
svery sound.
The private records of the Office were
Being stolen for some sinister purpose.
There could be no doubt of it.
Once the copyist attempted to short |
N his labor by applying stencil sheet,
which took time and care to eradicate,
ind time was pressing as the moon
'ank lower and lower. The work was
rot confined to the books merely
Plans of machinery, pay-rolls. cost
'heets. customers lists, every vital de-
all Of the business was being tran
icribed by the promoted foreman.
Darkness stopped the work long be-
ore 1t was completed, and by the last
'ay of light Culver gathered together
lis materials. He returned the books
o the safe. replaced the sheets and
,lans in their proper places, picked
Up his shoes, rolled his copies, tiptoed
lis way across the room, stepped
through the CLERKS gate, closed. 1t
oftly, and turning found himself
ace to face with Kennard.
For heartbeat neither man moved.
hen Culver's shoes and papers
ropped to the floor, his right hand
ew back to his hip pocket, and Ken
ards fist struck him full in the mouth
t was too late for the assistant super
ltendent to draw his revolver. Both
is hands were needed to parry the,
ain Of blows that followed. He struck
ut wildly as Remarks fist crashed
etween his eyes, sending his head
ack with sickening jerk. Then he
prang to one side, and gathering all
is force launched himself upon his
mployer, only to be hurled to the
cor by the impulse of his own mo-
on. For second he struggled to
raw his revolver, but the enraged man
landing above him fell upon him in
n instant. tore the weapon from his
ocket, and hurled it across the hall.
Then, as he staggered to his feet, a
oarse voice spoke close beside him in
lpid whispers.
"Go-go! For Gods sake, go before