Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-14

nographer'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. be had
written her n fervid declaration OF his
intention to marry her when he should
have grown up. Thereafter 1t 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 rs 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~be Hen.
rvs favorite. But with the coming of
J 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. 100. could lean over
Miss Chiiders' 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 we'll with
Miss Childers. but 1t was within Digh'
toms province to call him" before her
and the man, had an absurd and un.
reasoning jealousy Of the boy. DiSa.
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 81 a 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.
1.-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 typewriter
copy of our Eid?"
81 know nothing Of It," said the CIR
evenly las soon as the proposal was
made out returned to Mr.. Sutton the
original. while the typewriter copy
laid on your desk to be signed"
Kincaid looked sharply at the junior
partner. THAT is correct. Mr.. SUIT
TOM" be asked.
81 think So" said Sutton uncertain
ly. 81 remember Miss Childers giving
ME rough draft of the bid and laying
some papers on Mr.. Evans desk.
was Just about to 60 to lunch, and aft
er thrusting the draft in the safe
left. did not look to see the copy or
Mr. Evans desk"
Kincaid frowned.
at is unfortunate for you," he said
turning to the typewriter. that Mr.
Sutton Gid not examine the copy or
the other desk Some one In this Of
fee delivered to the other company al
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 1t out
of his hand. Henry. who had beer
gradually edging closer to Miss Chill
ders' desk. sprang to pick 1t up. he
rose to his feet slowly, ignoring Kin
caid's impatient gesture.
This amt Miss Childers' writing
he declared. Even kid could see
that"
"You employ detective upon your
staff?" asked Kincaid Of Evans. with a
sarcastic smile Henry flushed.
I'm only Il kid" he retorted. but
got sense This was written on Mr.
Sutton's machine"
Sutton flushed He had been 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 BIZ" de-
manded Henry. That's on Mr.. SUIT.
tons machine The r key fell of
about Il month ago. and they sent a
ham over to fix It, He didn't know
ns much about the job rs 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 approvingly toward Henry.
you've been reading dime novels
and detective stories to some purpose
he said. though I'm hanged II ever
Saw their Use before Let's see that
machine of yours. Sutton"
He led the way into the private Of.
| lice and Henry followed. unchallenged,
though Digliton and Miss Childers re-
manned outside Sutton uncovered his
machine and wrote few lines. When
he arose his face was drawn and white.
at looks bad for me-" he said. 1.-THE
boy was right about the broken key.
The repair man could not adjust it,
and as ! was in hurry to use the
| machine | told him to come nSail
when there was more time. This wa
Z week before the bid was put in"
"You had a copy Of the bid" salt
Kincaid meaningly. Sutton nodded.
81 still have the draft" he admitted
"but l did not make this copy, though
It must have been made on my type
| writer"
Kincaid's face grew dark.
81 am sorry about this" he said slow
~. II trusted you, though 1t has beer
apparent for some time that othe
firms were getting the best Of us OF
big contracts. think, Sutton, that thu
partnership had best be dissolved"
/ al admit TINT annea IN nces re q ga ms