The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-25
THE EVENING STORY
F4asIled From . Ear.

That the junior partner did not like
Miss Coddington was a self-evident
fact The senior partner ana the man
ager approved her work. and once the
manager had even praised it. but let
ters never went into Frank Spauld-
ing's room that they were not re-
turned for rrection-usualiy just
before closing time.
Only Ruth Coddington and Harry
Jackson knew why Spauiding disliked
her, for it was Jackson, working late
over his books, who had come at her
call when the junior partner had tried
to kiss her as she brought in to him
some late work.
It had marked them down as the
victims of Spaulding's wrath, but it
had also established between them a
bond of sympathy that had ripened in
to love. Spaulding could not very well
have them dismissed without explain
ing why he wanted it done. so he took
his revenge in making things about
the office as unpleasant for them as he
could
But they did not care for his petty
WEAKNESSES so long as they were to-
gether. Jackson had been given the
promise of a raise in the fall, and to-
gether they would have enough to
make a comfortable home. There
would be a quiet marriage. and they
would wait for their honeymoon for
the following year.
Then, suddenly. the firm began to
lose money. Until Spaulding had been
taken in as a partner Gordon Nixon
had conducted a conservative broker
age business. With the coming of the
younger man they had taken to spec
ulating on their own account. Now,
in some mysterious fashion the mar
ket invariably went against them.
Nixon worried much over the situa-
ton. The fever of gambling is in the
blood of those who handle stocks, and
as loss followed loss he sought the
sadly needed recoup by making heav-
Ter investments until his entire fortune
was pretty well tied up.
For time they had operated bril-
liantly and had taken a position of
power in the market that had brought
many new customers who follow
lucky firms with blind superstition.
Now they were losing their customers
as well as their money, and Hennings,
Crease & Hennings were winning their
business away.
Hennings and Nixon had been bitter
enemies for years and Nixon would
rather have lost outright double what
he had dropped than that he should
have lost 1t to the man who had stolen
from him the girl he loved. He could
not believe that any one in the office
should be guilty of treachery, and yet
Hennings appeared to have information
of his moves almost before they had
been made.
Il think can show you,'' suggested
Spaulding, as he listened to the elders
plant. Come with me-"
Spaulding led the way to the other
side OF the quadrangle about which the
offices were grouped. He assembled
one fight and stepped into a vacant
Office directly over those occupied by
Hennings' firm.
IT was in here the other day looking
for new Offices" he said. II thought
it might be good plan for me to have
+ ~
keep an eye on Hennings This is what
1 noticed"
He led the way to the window and
pointed across to their own offices
came a regular flash. For few mo-
ments they stared in silence, then
Spaulding drew his partner away.
Il suppose you know what hello
graphing is - he suggested.
IT'S a military telegraph with
flashes from a mirror, isn't it?" asked
| Nixon.
Spaulding nodded.
Il suppose you don't remember that
! little mirror Miss Coddington carries
/ in her purse ?" he asked meaningly
Il noticed it the other day when I was
over It's a pity you can not read the
Morse code
Slowly Nixon turned out of the office
| Il liked that girl, he said sadly. She
seemed to be an earnest and con-
scientious little thing"
Il told you some time ago." suggested
! Spaulding, that 1 thought she should
be turned off, though 1 had no idea that
she was as bad as this
L don't like to think it even now,
said Nixon. Even in spite of what I
have seen cannot believe it of her"
Yet he summoned Ruth to his office
and in gentle tones told her that she
would have to go. He was not disposed
| to explain for moment. but she was
tearfully persistent and finally the
| whole story came out.
Jackson looked anxiously toward her
as she came out of the office, and. as
soon as the door closed came toward
her Brokenly she told him of the
| charge that had been made and of her
inability to refute it.
Il have used my mirror a lott she
| confessed. ANY girl in an office would
want to look neat; but you know, Harry
| that 1 would not do such thing"
Il know" he admitted. But there
must be something to it, or Mr.. Nixon
would not have been convinced. There
is a mystery here somewhere"
Now it's all spoiled" she sobbed
''our marriage and my career-evert
Not if 1 know It," he said. savagely
Don't you worry. I'll find something
A little later he slipped from the Of
| fee He had been gone several minutes
when the telephone, bell rang. Nixot
had come out into the office to see the
bookkeeper, and he picked up the re-
ceiver.
"It's Jackson talking" he said after g
moment. He wants you to turn of
that fan, Miss Coddington."
Ruth reached up and turned off ths
electric fan that was whirring over hel
head and went on with her writing 4
moment later Jackson dashed into the
office.
ssIf you will come with me- he saic
TO his employer, t'I'll show you the rea
explanation of those flashes. Pleas
come
He stopped a moment at Ruth
- Mo-, oft s~,& 9,-TT