The Detroit times., 1908-01-04

~OY JOVE, | have got the berth
HI after all," Lawrence Deane
tInI waved the letter triumphant
~. His young wife, who was
sitting at the breakfast table,
looked up with a quick glance.
What berth Is IL, Lal?' she asked,
"Not the confidential clerkship TO Mr..
Carboy, is III"
That's just what il is. Olive. and
! this is a STROKE of luck. Only fancy
two hundred and fifty a year to start
with, and a big rise IL | do well after
the first year
ut is glorious. And now. dear, you
can buy yourself new bicycle ana
lots OF other things"
On the following Monday morning
Lawrence Deane journeyed to Fen
church-st., and was ushered into OLD
Mr.. Carboy's private Office.
Dear. dear, dear! You're rather
late. Mr.. Deane," grumbled the old
gentleman. Didn't | say you were
Ito be here at go
1T is only one minute past. SIR
| "Only one minute, indeed. One min
ute day makes six per week. or
three hundred and twelve minutes per
year. Three hundred and twelve min
utes constitute nearly five hours and
n quarter. so that, assuming you were
a minute late every day, you would be
robbing me Of over FIVE hours labor
per annum. II won't do, sir Ii won't
do
1 Then, perceiving that the new
| clerks face showed signs of unmis-
taxable depression, he added quick
ly:
There. there. we mustn't be too
hard on you at first, and no doubt
you'll improve
I'll try" answered the young man,
with smile.
Mr.. Carboy then introduced him to
the other clerks. and he began his new
| duties with much satisfaction.
At O'Clock the employees rose to
quit the office, but Lawrence fingered
in order TO make his desk tidy before
going home Mr.. Carboy, who had
entered the Office unperceived, brought
down his fist on the desk.
Come, come, this won't do.' he
snapped. Don't you know, sir, that
expect every man to be on the way
home by one minute past six"
Then he added in mifder tone:
"You see, Mr. Deane, I am man
who tries to be strictly just. | expect
my people to be rigidly. punctual in ar
irving at the office. but, to make the
balance equal. I expect them to be
I Just as punctuaI in leaving.
On the way home Lawrence smiled
more than once at the recollection OF
his employers eccentricity.
81 can't help liking the old chap
he pondered. 81 believe he is as de-
cent fellow as once would find in
London, in spite OF his peculiarities."
Mrs. Deane met him at the door
with a look of inquiry on her small.
bird-like face.
@weil, old boy" she exclaimed,
"what lnek?"
when get bit more used to the job
he replied as he sat down at the tea
table. "Old Carboy is bit OF cork
er. though
He then related to his wife the cpl
sodes which have been recorded pre-
viously. and the girl laughed heartily.
Eccentric people are often the
kindest after ALL she remarked. And
I feel sure should like him.
Toward 10 o'clock that evening a
! tremendous summons sounded at the
door, and Mrs. Deane went pale. A
visitor at that hour was very I'M
usual occurrence, and she began TO
wonder whether any terrible incident
had arisen.
Deane raced 10 the door and threw
IL omen. Then he stepped backward
with n low cry OF amazement. for
standing on the threshold, with a fierce
look in his eyes. was Mr. Carboy.
For one moment the clerk was too
much overwhelmed with establishment
to utter a word. but at length he con-
trived to gasp out:
MIR. Carboy. Whatever brings you
here sir2"-
Carboy. without giving him an an.
swer. walked coolly into the hall and
shut the door Then seizing his clerks
hand he felt the young fellows pulse
and smiled.
Excellent. admirable" he mutter-
ed "EhZgood evening"
This is very extraordinary behav-
for. sir May | ask for an expiana-
tion2"
Yes" chimed In Olive. who had ar
rived in the hall at that moment,
what does IL mean"
You shall both OF you know some
day, but not yet" replied Mr.. Carboy,
with slight laugh
z He must certainly be insane re-
marked Mrs Deane. after the old gen
tleman had taken his departure. Have
4 yeH ever known anybody. 10 act in se
strange a manner before"
Never But somehoX-- Olive / be
iieyf he Is IS sane IS you or me . -.
"As you or l.. you should say" cor