The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-09

than an hour late"
Very busy striking balance for the
week, I take t?"
well, not unusually So" was the re-
ply. THE fact r., Boyd. I have been
testing my mental powers in a way.
Curious, too. I'm blessed II II wasn't"
How so?"
why, Il happened In this way" ex-
planned Sanderson, while he concluded
his lunch. AN acquaintance OF mine
| named Kramer, who rents an Office in
our building, came to my window just
before noon, and asked me to place his
tin box in our vault over Sunday, as he
was going out OF town. IL contained
some bonds recently sent him TO be ne
gotiated. and a few valuables which he
did not wish TO leave In his own Office
over Sunday"
HAS he no safe In his oface?" In
Quired Boyd.
mo, he has not; so frequently have
favored him In this way"
New York man?"
II am not sure about that, only that
no is the New York agent for q lime
concern OF Rockland. Ne. He has
friends IN bridgeport, whom he occa-
| sionally visits for day or two, and at
such times he always leaves his box of
securities IN my care-no great trouble
for me, you know. As he Is rather A
genial fellow, and also q tenant Of ours,
try TO accommodate him."
Very natural, I am sure" nodded
Boyd. But where did the exercise OF
your mental powers come in?"
Sanderson laughed. and laid aside his
napkin.
'I'll tell YOU" said he. Among 9TH
er things. Kramer had placed In his box
small, gold-embossed clock, quite
valuable little ornament, which was
given him by HIS f1ancee. i have seen
1t on his desk several times, and do
not wonder that he prizes it quite high
~"
"a clock. eh?''
Precisely. The curious feature Of
the circumstances, however, lies in the
1 fact that its constant ticking in the tin
box. which temporarily placed on my
desk, rather annoyed me while 1 ball
anced my books. My first impulse was
TO place the box In the vault. and so rio
myself of the noise. It occurred to me,
however, that I ought TO be able 70
concentrate my mind on my work de-
spite so trivial g. disturbance, and I re-
solved TO try 10 do So"
| "Ah, / See."
well. Boyd" and sanderson broke
out laughing, "I'm blessed If that tick
Tag didn't annoy me SO that I was good
ninety minutes longer than usual in
closing up my books. If / went to the
! devil, I couldn't add a column correct
ly the first time. beat out the infer
nal little timepiece at the finish, how
ever; but not until all Of my associates
in the bank had wound up their work
and departed. Then ] placed Kramer
deuced box on the floor of the vault,
where I hope 1t may tick itself dumb
before Monday. That, Boyd, is why I
| am go late at Iunph TODAY
Boyd's clean-cut features did not
change perceptibly while he listened,
yet away down in the depths Of his
cold, gray eyes there was a CLEAN not
there before.
Remain a few moments, Sanderson, !"
said he carelessly. 81 do not enjoy
lunching alone. In no great hurry, are
your
mot particularly
"Sit until I have finished my SOUP.
then. Do you know, Sanderson. 1 often
find 1t difficult to concentrate my mind
for any long period. It's not an easy
thing to do"
Il certainly found It difficult" smiled
the other, perceiving no artifice on
Boyd's part. II suffered my mind to
cheat my stomach full hour"
you were the last to leave the bank,
eh?" inquired Boyd, glancing indiffer-
room, to make sure he knew them and
was not being watched by any stran-
ger.
THE very last" nodded Sanderson.
yet that Is not unusual. I frequently
am the last to leave"
"You close the vault in that case,
don't your"
Certainly"
Are the vault doors secured by a
combination lock or by time lock?"
"A time lock, Mr.. Boyd. 1t now is set
for o'clock Monday morning. Until
that day and hour. Boyd, the devil him.
self could not open that vault, which is
one OF the best in the city,"
Until that day and hour, then"
quietly observed Felix Boyd, with a
curious smile, 'the time lock on the
vault door, and Kramer's valuable lit
tie clock repOsing securely in his tin
box, may merrily tick away the Sec
onds I'm genial company"
Just So" laughed Sanderson.
Bright thought. that"
Friend of yours, this Kramer, did
you say?"
Acquaintance. rather. have known
him only about two months, since he
became our tenant"
Young man?"
About 40. I should say A genial
fellow. Taken me TO the theatre sew
eral times, with a bird and bottle to
! follow: complimentary. no doubt in
recognition Of my little favors."
Yes, very likely" said Boyd, with
unappreciated dryness.
well. I'll now be off. Glad to have
seen you, Mr.. Boyd"
you are dead lucky to have seen me
far luckier than you imagined" Boyd
mentally observed, as Sanderson de-
! parted. yet the luck is not all his.
not quite all; since a slice OF il comes
my way"
The light i'm his keen. gray eyes was
burning brighter, at times intensely.
A look of serious concern now and
then appeared IN his fine, forceful face.
He finished his soup I'm a hurry. and
oountermanded his order for subsequent
! courses.
Having paid his bin and emerged to
the street. however. he betrayed no
further sign Of his unusual mental ac-
| tivity. That the eyes OF a spy might
be watching him at every available
! moment, he now had scarce a doubt.