The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-12-03

|
Phoebe Childers. for she had made
this quite clear when, under the first
impulse of his boyish love, he had
written her a fervid declaration of his
intention to marry her when he should
have grown up. Thereafter It was a
hopeless passion that he nursed. but
his grief was not assuaged at the spec
tacle of Dighton bending over his
desk, for the lad shrewdly noticed that
she did not draw away from the chief
clerk as she did when the junior
partner came to her desk, as he SO
often did
Time had been when Dighton was
Henry's boyish hero. 1t was he who
had trained the lad to Office ways, and
until they two became rivals for Miss
Childers' love Dighton had been Hen
rvs favorite. But with the coming Of
the pretty typewriter to the Office all
this had been changed
AS Dighton stepped away from the
desk Henry slid up to Miss Childers'
chair with remark conjured up on
the spur of the moment, just to show
Dighton that he, too, could lean over
Miss Childers' desk until the fair hair
almost brushed his cheek. Then he
went back to his desk, but not before
Dighton had called him to his side and
had sharply ordered him to stop wan
dering about the Office
'I'll get square with you," muttered
Henry as he went slowly to his seat.
and even Phoebe's bright smile as he
again passed her desk did not ease the
hurt to his pride. He stood well with
Miss Childers, but it was within Digh-
toms province to "call him. before her,
and the man had an absurd and I'M
reasoning jealousy Of the boy. Digh-
ton had not yet gained the assurance
to put his fate to the test, and the air
Of easy familiarity with which Henry
copied his exact attitude was not to be
borne by somewhat fiery and love,
tried temper.
Henry was still meditating the par
ticular form of torture to which he
would like to see Dighton submitted
when the two active partners, Evans
and Sutton, came out of the private Of
fee. Kincaid, the silent partner, was
with them, and their faces were grave
and serious. The senior partner be-
came spokesman.
sThe Burton Bradley company has
obtained our bids on the naval job,''
he said without preliminary Can you
explain, Miss Childers, how they come
to be in possession of a typewritten
copy of our bid?'
Il know nothing of it." said the girl
evenly. "As soon as the proposal was
made out l returned to Mr.. Sutton the
original, while the typewritten copy /
laid on your desk to be signed"
Kincaid looked sharply at the junior
partner "That is correct, Mr.. SUIT
TONI" he asked.
Il think so,' said Sutton uncertain
ly. II remember Miss ChiIders giving
me rough draft Of the bid and laying
some papers on Mr.. Evans desk. 1
was just about to go to lunch, and aft
err thrusting the draft in the safe
left did not look to see the copy on
Mr. Evans desk"
Kincaid frowned
ut is unfortunate for you,' he said,
turning to the typewriter, that Mr..
Sutton did not examine the copy on
the other desk. Some one in this Of
fee delivered to the other company all
our figures. They made their bid few
thousand lower and got the contract
The man from whom / obtained my
information could not tell me by whom
the delivery was made, but the infer
ence is obvious. You are the only
stenographer employed in this Office"
He waved the discriminating docu-
ment toward her, and the current of
air from the electric fan blew it out
of his hand. Henry, who had been
gradually edging closer to Miss Chill
ders' desk, sprang to pick 1t up He
rose to his feet slowly, ignoring Kin
caids impatient gesture.
This amt Miss Childers' writing"
he declared. Even a kid could see
that"
You employ a detective upon your
staff?'' asked Kincaid Of Evans, with a
sarcastic smile Henry flushed.
"I'm only kid" he retorted, "but
got sense. This was written on Mr..
Suttons machine"
Sutton flushed He had been a clerk
for Evans before an unexpected legacy
had permitted him to buy into the firm
He still used the typewriter occasion
ally.
Don't you see that bum B?' de-
manded Henry. That's on Mr.. SUIT
toms machine. The B key fell off
about month ago, and they sent a
ham over to fix it. He didn't know
as much about the job as l do, and he
left it crooked. Get Miss Childers to
write something on her machine"
The girl grasped the idea and rapidly
transcribed a few lines from the pa
per. Kincaid examined the two and
nodded approyingly toward Henry.
you've been reading dime novels
and detective stories to some purpose"
be said, though Pm banged If ever
saw their use before Let's see that
machine of yours, Sutton"
He led the way into the private of
fee, and Henry followed, unchallenged,
though Dighton and Miss Childers re-
NAMED outside Sutton uncovered his
machine and wrote few lines. When
he arose his face was drawn and white.
st looks bad for me-" he said. 'aThe
boy was right about the broken key.
The repair man could not adjust it,
and as | was in hurry to use the
machine I told him to come again
when there was more time This was
a week before the bid was put in"
"You had copy of the bid" said
Kincaid meaningly. Sutton nodded.
Il still have the draft" he admitted,
"but l did not make this copy, though !
it must have been made on my type
writer"
Kincaids face grew dark.
y am sorry about this he said slow
". Il trusted you, though it has been
apparent for some time that other
firms were getting the best of us on
big contracts. l think, Sutton, that the
partnership had best be dissolved"
81 admit that appearances are against
me-" said the Junior. "but l did not
give out those or any other figures"
Sure not" put in Henry. Kincaid
frowned
How dared you follow us in herey
he Numbered.
Thought you wanted me-" was the
calm response. "Mr. Sutton didn't
copy that stuff. 1t was little man
with nanny goat beard. He came b
to see Mr. Evans while the push were
to lunch There was only me and him
here, and this fellow comes In, and he
goes in the Office and bangs the ma
chine for fair. Then he goes out, and
Mr.. Evans chases me over to Graves
& Sitgreaves with the money he got