Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-02


Mr.. Statham exercises no authority
over the assistants in this establish
ment. 1t is my own department and
brook no Interference"
Max did not reply, but left the Office
and strobe out into Oxford street,
pushing past the crowd of women
around the huge shop windows admir-
ing the feminine finery there displayed
SO temptingly.
Marion-his Marion-had disappear.
ed. She had been dismissed-in dis
grace evidently; probably for some
petty fault or for breaking one of the
hundred rules by which every assist
ant was bound. He had always heard
Mr.. Cunningtcn spoken of as a most
lenient, and even generous, employer,
yet his treatment OF Marion had been
anything but just or humane.
When he thought of it his blood
boiled. Charlie was away, he knew.
He had telephoned to his rooms that
very morning, but his man had replied
that his master had left hurriedly for
the Continent-for Paris, he thought,
At the corner of Bond street he
halted, and glanced at his watch.
Should he try and find Charlie by
telegraph or should he take the bull
by the horns and go and see old Sam
Statham. His well-beloved had disap-
peared. Would the old financier assist
him to discover the truth?
He was well aware that for COM
parative stranger to be received in
that big house in Park Lane was ex-
ceptional. Old Levi had his orders.
and few among the many callers ever
placed their foot over the carefully
guarded threshold Still, he resolved
to make the attempt, and. with that
object, Jumped into taXi-cab which
happened at the moment to be pas
sing.
| Alighting at the house, he presented
his card to old Levi, who opened the
door, and asked the favour of few
moments conversation with Mr.. Stat
/ ham? The old servant scrutinised
/ the card closely, and took stock of the
visitor, who, noticing his hesitation.
| added: "Mr Statham will remember
me, I believe"
Levi asked him into the hall, with
dissatisfied grunt, and disappeared,
! to return a few moments later, and
ushered the visitor into the pres
ence of the millionaire.
Old Samuel, who had been doing
over a newspaper in the big easy-chair
near the fireplace rose, and, through
his spectacles, regarded his visitor
with some suspicion. The blinds were
drawn, shading the room from the
afternoon sun, therefore Max found
! the place in comparative darkness
after the glare outside.
w, mo hou yry1,n an
i his eyes grew accustomed to the semi
darkness, he saw the old fellow wave
his hand in the direction OF chair,
saying:
I'm very glad you called, Mr.. Bar
clay-very glad. Indeed, suriously
enough, intended to write to you
only yesterday upon business matter,
but was too busy"
Barclay seated himself, full of sur
prise that the great financier should
wish to consult him upon any bust
ness matter.
well, Mr.. Statham," he said. 81
may as well tell you at once that
am here to seek your kind assistance
and help in purely personal matter
la matter which closely concerns my
own happiness"
Statham pricked up his ears. He
knew what was coming. Marion Rolfe
had told him of her visit there.
i "Wel?" he asked coldly, in a
changed manner.
"You possibly are unaware that
am engaged to be married to Marion
Rolfe, the sister Of your secretary, a
young lady in whom you were kind
enough to take an interest and obtain
for her a situation at Cnnnington's.
The old man nodded, his counte
nance sphinx-like.
THE lady in question has been dis
missed by Mr.. Cunnington at mo
ments notice, and he refuses to tel
me the reason of mis- remarkable action
want you to be good enough tC
obtain a response for me-
and where is the young lady?'
asked the wary Statham.
Nobody knows. She would leave
no address,"
'.Then you are unaware of hel
whereabouts"
She has disappeared"
Extraordinary! the old fellow re
Marked rejecting deeply for mo
! ment.
SetuiioC AAAieS,AhC why IL ,Ai>
circumstances, she has not written tt
me- Max declared, the expression up
on his face betraying his deep distress
1T is certainly somewhat strange.
, the old man agreed. Girls at Gun
nington's are not often discharged IL
, that manner Cunnington himself i!
; always most lenient. Have you seer
| him."
Yes: and he absolutely refuses an.
information"
, 'In that case, Mr.. Barclay, l don
r see very well how | can assist you
The management and organisation o
the concern are left to him, as mana
4 ging director. l really cannot inter
l fere."
} But was it not through you tina
| Marion, without previous experience
t of apprenticeship, was engage
there?"
t Yes; | have some recollection O
e sending line of recommendation t
Cunnington," was the millianaire's re
/, spouse. But, of course. my interes