The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-04
The EVENING STORY
Henry and the .sBum Be-"
IBy Arthur Brindamour.l

stenographer's desk, and Henry
ground his teeth together savagely.
He knew very well that he could
, never hope to marry Phoebe Childers,
for she had made this quite clear when,
under the first impulse of his, boyish
love, he had written her fervid de-
claration 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 spectacle of Dighton
bending over the 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 the two became rivals for
Miss Childer's love Dighton had been
HenryS favorite. But with the COM
ing or the pretty typewriter to the Of
nee all this had been changed.
desk, Henry slid up to Miss Chill
ders's chair with a remark conjured
up on the spur of the moment, just
to show Dighton that he, too, could
lean over Miss Childers's 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 wandering about
the Office
fI'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 his hurt to his pride. He stood
well with Miss Childers, but it was
within Dighton's province to call
him" before her, and the man had an
absurd and unreasoning jealousy of
the boy. Dighton 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 at
titude was not to be borne by a some-
what fiery and love-tried temper
Henry was still meditating the par
t1cular 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
office. Kincaid, the silent partner.
was with them, and their faces were
grave and serious. The senior part
ner became spokesman.
"The 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 type
written copy of our bldg"
81 know nothing of it, said the
posal was made out I returned to Mr..
Sutton the original, while the type
written copy laid on your desk to be
signed"
junior partner. "That is correct, Mr..
Sutton?" he asked.
At think so,'' said Sutton uncer-
tainly. IT remember Miss Childers
giving me a rough draft of the bid.
and laying some papers on Mr..
to lunch, and, after thrusting the draft
in the safe, left. I did not look to
see the copy on Mr.. Evans's desk"
8 Kincaid frowned.
"It is unfortunate for you" he |
said, turning to the typewriter, that l
Mr.. Sutton did not examine the COPY |
on the other desk. Some one in this |
office delivered to the other company |
al our figures. They made their bid |
L few thousand lower and got the |
oy whom the delivery was made, but
The inference is obvious. You are the
only stenographer employed in this Of
ice"
He waved the discriminating docu-
nent toward her and the current of
air from the electric fan blew it out of
MS hand. Henry, who had been
gradually edging closer to Miss Chill
lers's desk, sprang to pick it up. He
'ose to his feet slowly, ignoring Kin
This amt Miss Childerss writing"
he declared. even a kid could see
hat"
you employ a detective upon your
'taff?" asked Kincaid of Evans, with
| sarcastic smile. Henry flushed.
I'm only kid he retorted, "but
got sense. This was written on Mr..
sutton's machine"
Sutton flushed. He had been a
clerk for Evans before an unexpected
egacy had permitted him to buy into
he firm. He still used the typewriter
occasionally.
Don't you see that bum B?" de-
handed Henry. That's on Mr.. SUIT
on's machine. The key fell off
bout a month ago and they sent a
much about the job as 1 do, and he
eft it crooked. Get Miss Childers to
write something on her machine"
The girl grasped the idea and rapid
,aper. Kincaid examined the two
nd nodded approvingly toward
henry.
you've been reading dime novels
nd detective stories to some pur-
ose," he said. Though I'm hanged If
ever saw their use before. Let's
ee the machine Of yours, Sutton"
He led the way into the private Of
ce, and Henry followed. unchal-
enged, though Dighton and Miss
his machine and wrote a
ew lines. When he arose his face
7as drawn and white.
cit looks bad for me-" he said.
The boy was right about the broken
ey. The repair man could not adjust
, and as I was in a hurry to use the
1achine 1 told him to come again
nd when there was more time. This
-as a week ago before bid was put
l." .
"You had a copy of the bfd,' said
-incaid meaningly. Sutton nodded.
"I still have the draft he adj
lifted, "but I did not make this copy,
1ough it must have been made on my
ypewriter."
Kincaid's face grew dark.
ct am very sorry about this he
aid slowly. 'I trusted you, though 1t