The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-01-23
Kelly
By GRACE THOMSON
Copyright, 1905, by G. H. Sutclife

office the next day with bruised lip or
a blackened optic. Few of them played
more than one trick, for when he was
but six Kelly could thrash any eight
year-old youngster on the block.
Kathleen, all unmindful of his cham
pionship, merely noticed that the boys
were better behaved, and told her
mother that life in a business office
was not as hard as she had supposed 1t
would be. Its SO very different from
what we thought l should have to go
through WITH" she explained, land the
little Kelly boy is just dear"
Later on, when Luton began to take
notice of the pretty typewriter, Kath-
leen changed her mind, but she did not
tell her mother of the invitations to
drives and the theater. 1t was hard
enough that Mrs. Lansing should be
compelled to do without the luxuries to
which she had been accustomed during
her husbands life without having to
know that the money that procured
their bare livelihood was earned at the
cost of keeping silent under covert in
suit.
Luton was careful not to make his
overtures too patent, and only Kelly
saw the little things which made Kath-
leen's work so hard. She put aside his
invitations with quiet dignity that
admitted Of no argument, and Luton,
firing at last Of campaign Of courte-
sy, began to find fault.
1t was he who dictated most Of the
correspondence, and there were letters
TO be copied over because of some triv-
ial mistake. Night after night Kath-
leen had to remain copying letters, with
only Kelly for company. And when at
last she sought the street she never
knew that only Kelly's presence saved
her from further attention from Lut-
ton, waiting In the cafe across the way.
She thought it merely one Of Kelly's
little courtesies, never suspecting that
Kelly, idling at the window, had seen
Luton crossing the street and had d.
vined his intentions.
But while Kelly's presence saved her
from trouble in one way it increased
her burden in another, for Luton,
smarting under his rebuff, grew more
yindictive. The firm was In q pool in
Y. and M. c., and the operations were
conducted from the office Somehow in
spite Of caution some facts leaked out
prematurely, and the whole operation
res; tied in crash from which the Arm
barely escaped with a whole credit.
The whole office was uneasy. That
there was suspicion that some of the
clerks were believed to be guilty Of
treachery was apparent, but John Edge
would not have any one discharged un-
til his guilt was proven.
1--WE must be careful for awhile" he
had said to Luton, when the latter
urged wholesale dismissals, ''but If we
let every one out we could never again
command the confidence of our en-
ployees."
Luton let the matter drop. but when
1t was decided to make a raid ON Men,
phis preferred and the news reached
the exchange almost before the confer
ence was broken up, even the senior
partner was forced to admit that some
thing must be done.
Luton very promptly discovered that
Kathleen had access to all correspond
ence of the firm and that it must have
been she who in some manner had
gained the knowledge that had resulted
In gain of thousands to some one on
the outside.
Even then Edge did not want to work
on circumstantial evidence.
Take 1t easy, George he urged.
Watch her carefully, but do not dis
miss her." And Luton had smiled un-
der his heavy mustache. He had an
idea that he could kill two birds with
a single stone.
THAT red headed kid seems pretty
thick with the typewriter" he said. II
shouldn't be surprised If they worked
together. You remember he brought a
telegram In just as that Memphis deal
was put through"
"KellyY" said Edge. "Why, he's a
part Of the office"
y
Edge waved a protesting hand. He
could not believe In the guilt of any
one in the Office.
VERY WELL" he said YEARLY, II
leave the matter to you"
That afternoon Kathleen waited aft
er closing time to finish off her book.
Kelly, as usual, constituted himself her
escort, but he could not resist the temp
tation to steal across the street to get
the baseball scores.
Luton was there when he came
back. Kelly heard him before he open
ed the door and stood for a moment In
the hall
so you see," Luton was saying, II
can dismiss you, and you will leave un-
der suspicion Of having betrayed your
employers. You can't get job after
that, fancy. Now you say you'll take
Ia the beach this evening or I'll let
you out tomorrow-you and that brick
topped kid. Now, give me kiss and
say you'll CO."
There was sound of a struggle, and
Kelly burst into the room.
you quit thatp' he said holly. Pm
wise to you, all right, and you make
trouble and I'll tell on you"
''Mr. Edge won't believe you," sheer
ed Luton.
No but your wife WILL" was the
Betort Luton made dive for Kelly,
and the boy lodged. There was q
chase around the table until Luton,
realizing that he was cutting no digni-
fed figure, stalked out At the door he
paused for an instant
Il was just joking about dismissing
you, Miss Lansing he said. Il beg
that you will pardon me. We will say
nothing more about it,
The door slammed and Kelly gravely
executed double shuttle. ITO stand
STILL" he cried joyously. You come
on home. l guess Lut won't kick II
those letters don't go out tonight. II
he says anything I'll fix It,"
There was a conference the following
afternoon, and Kelly, as his work took
him In and out of the room, seemed
bursting with excitement. Several
times he eyed Luton with a glitter Of
triumph in his eye, and Luton felt I'M
comfortable.
At last decision was reached. and
Sears, the head Of the pool, looked
around the table. '"Then it is agreed
that we run Tennessee Southeastern up
to 96? he said. There was q murmur
Of assent I'VE should make twenty
point profit" he continued, unless
there Is q leakage"