Middletown transcript., 1908-03-07

j she was very glad she had come
Her doubts were settled now
i Onlyshe wished she had beer
/ q little less cautious and littlt
more just, perhaps. But at leas
she was thankful that she hae
not spoken out her doubts.
But when she entered the stort
the next morning, the air wa:
heavier then ever with doubt ant
dread. More losses had beer
discovered, The girls huddled
ltoge the +, exchanging wild
guesses in frightened whispers.
The firm had not given out any
word, but there was unwonted
hnrrying to and fro, the senior
partner had been summoned by
telephone and now was closeted
with Mr.. Hunt, the junior part.
ner, one Of the floor walkers and
the head bookkeeper. And with
them was q sharp eyed little
man no one knew-a detective,
perhaps. Mr.. Hale and the
watchman had been called before
them, as the last persons in the
store the preceding night. It
seemed that matters were to be
thoroughly sifted at last.
They'd better ask who else
was here last night, Katie Ma
guire whispered, venomously.
Mr.. Hale asn'tthe only one.
You don't mean Mr.. Murdock? !?
Why, you might as well accuse
a person! cried two or three at
once.
No, | don . mean Mr.. Murdoch.
Somebody else was here after
hours, with a mighty poor excuse
somebody that holds herself
quite too high and mighty to go
with ordinary folks.
Floy Irving? O bosh! She came
to oblige Annie. Floy's one Of
the incest girls in the store.
Maybe, butif was Mr.. Hunt
I'd look into her obligingness q
little.
OF course this was not before
Floy's face, but she caught
enough side glances and incau-
tions words to make her very un-
comfortable. It's only Katie's
spite, she told herself, but she
went to her work flushed and
nervous, not forgetting, however,
to give Robert Murdoch a nod
and a asmiling good morning.
How gravely he returned il! But OF
course this suspense was even harder for
him than for the others. A little. later
she saw him entering the private Office.
A particularly exasperatiag customer
taxed her attention to the utmost for the
next quarter of an hour, but her long
breath OF relief as the woman departed |
was cut short by the ominons words;
You are wanted in the private office, |
Miss Irving.
II What for? Floy gasped. in dismay. |
do not know. No doubt they will |
ell you. Was il only her fancy. or was
The tone frosty with suspicion She saw
The girls around exchange startled glancss,
heard Kstie's exultant whisper, You
leel Didn't tell you 80? and Jennie's
indignant Hushl That doeen't mean
OF course it did not, Floy told herself.
\ was only their excitement which gave
ignifcance to such trifle. To be sure,
Iirls were not summoned TO the private
'ffice often. But why should she be
lervous? What if sIle had seen Robert
dnrdock entering that private room just
little while ago? The villain in a story
look might make false accusation TO
id himself of q troublesome witness, but
n real life If only her cheeks would
lot burn sol Il was enough to make any
ne suspect her; and the very thought
made them burn hotter.
All this flashed through Floy's mind as
be walked quickly from her counter to
he door Of the private Office; but II her
cart beat 80 fast that it seemed to choke
er, she carried her head brayely. II
Inside the dreaded portal she passed,
ntwardly calm, inwardly fighting down
panic. The partners and head book.
seper we're 10 close consultation. Kindly
L. Hunt nodded to her, bidding
er ait down, but nervous Mr. Vane snap.
ID out shortly: Il
We hear that you were here after hours
st night, Miss Irving. How is that? /,
nd how did You get in?
Floy explained briefly why and how ,
le had returned, forcing herself to speak
eadily, although all the time something
emed whispering in her ear, How :
lould they know that unless lie has fore /
allied you BY throwing suspicion ON you? /.
Ehy did you let yourself be convinced 90 }
silly Didn't you know that man
tlo would steal would lie? Why didu't I
u speak out at first After be has once !
cused you, your story will sound like a Q
eak attempt at self defence. 9
And she could only tell herself, des- !
'rately, tod him he might trust me i q
MT break my word unless am sure. Il
How long were you here? What did e
ID do2 BE exact, now, Mr.. Vane de- ! !
anded, while Mr. HUT leaned back, d d
atcIipg her with an odd, amused air q
at%bewiidered and alarmed her, as il lie q