The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-03-27
SAINT ELIZABETH y

>
Il believe if l am not greatly mistake, ;, ..1.,
the big man, that | have advised Won, time a,,5
time again, Y on Helm, about your sevens tn,
're de71llsh queer-lookng affairs. ANY one ,ro,,IJ
take them for mines in this account sale L tba+
- OF ~ cents Tor 10000 bushels of No rcd ~ bo
IemanGed and without waiting for an answer, for
on Helm never responded to these attacks he
went on IN the same tone: NO doubt Kline e. O.
would be very much pleased indeed AT the ;doo f
our paying them 20 cents when we contracted fo
the wheat at -. You seem to take no interest in
the business whatever"
Won Helm stared at his figures which ro,ro-
scented the price paid for wheat the dav before
They were clear and correct as his figures ALWAYS
were, and no one but the manager could have fonnd
fault with them
That's ALL" flung out Bolton impatientIv firm
ing again TO his desk The long-enduring Van
Helm knew that the criticism was unjust vet bay-
ing been Inundated often before and feeling that
Temonstrance would be useless, went quietly hack
10 hls place and taking up his pen buried himself
IN his ledgers. The little man was sparing of his
words; the big man was not.
He had been subjected to criticism and fault
lndIng so many times, II seemed as though he would
have become gradually hardened. though the Grim
son wave that swept over his fresh German face
was evidence that he was not yet impervious to
Bottoms harshness He could not conceive of any
reason why Bolton should subject him to such in
dignity before the office force vet he endured il in
wondering silence
His work apparently done with painstaking
and care, always accurate, always finished at the
right time yet the manager, naturally suspicious
had taken dislike to him and manifested it on
many occasions. Although he had the interests of
the firm seemingly at heart. and was as competent
an accountant, the manager always objected when
the matter of increased salary was intimated: and
1t only at the presidents express command af-
ter being firmly convinced of the Germans value
to the firm, that his salary had been added to as
token of his efficiency
There's something about that Dutchman / can't
fsthom, warned Bolton 1T will do to keep an eye
on him. He will cause trouble some of these days,
Mr.. Harris. you mark my word"
Well. Bolton" replied the president. you can
comfort yourself with the assurance that we win
not hold you responsible for his conduct unless you
drive him to do something desperate by your ever
lasting faultfnding. Just leave the alone,
and I'll stand surety for him.
Even this assurance from the head of the firm
did not prevent the manager from conjuring up
visions Of evil that would befa the house of Harris
d Meade by means of Van Helms wckedness and
growing something about still waters" he went
with his work.
Sometimes. though, he could almost read the
yeow-tinged headlines set forth in the Morning
STAR stating that Won Helm, trusted bookkeeper of
the well-known firm of Harris g. Meade. had com
mitted forgery. Another time the morning after
late dinner at the club, when the mechanism of the
inner man was sadly out of repair. he could almost
see in plain black letters the first page of the
Herald the startling announcement, Trust Be
rrayed! Van Helm. head bookkeeper for Harris &
Aioade has departed leaving his accounts short
nearly thirty thousand dollars Yet, when Mr.
Bolton rolled back the top of his desk next morning
there IN his accustomed place was the trusted be-
1rayer, nodding solemn good morning, and every
penny to the credit of the firm quietly resting III
the safe.
Even the crimson roses which Won Helm wore in
his blIftO bola drrnC their and Dlaced a
glass of water on his desk had irritating effect
on the manager. "IIe is simply covering up some
sin by pretending that he loves the flowers" he
growled.
Then one day, shortly after the theory Of for
gerry and theft had been abandoned, ne started on
new trail which he determined to follow to the
end.
1t happened one day that two women came into
he Office, one as agent for advertising firm, the
ether the daughter of a grocer, who left an order
for -four to be sent TO her fathers store When the
bookkeeeper heard the voice of the first woman he
was greatly disturbed and exceedingly nervous I'M
Ill he saw her pass out of the door. When the
voice of the younger woman reached his ear, not
being able to see her from his desk, terrorstreken
look came over his face, such look as when one
fears some great calamity is at hand lie leaned
forward excitedly The pen dropped from his fin
gers and fell to the floor where it pierced the wood
and onivered at his feet The excitement was but
momentarv The girl left the Office, and the panied,
frightened expression on Won Helms face relaxed
as he assumed his wonted calm and turned again to
his work This little incident was not lost on Dol
ION He was now in possession Of the bookkeepefs
secret
In the mornings paper, though possibly it might
rot be for several days (the exact time was uncer-
lain Init il was sure to come. the Morning News
would announce that Won Helm. bookkeeper for the
great milling firm of Harris q Meade; had suddenly
been confronted bv wife No. ] and wife o. 2
,yboro he had deserted in Germany. and each, un-
known to the other. had followed him to America
a. n, if would be made clearly manifest to the
pres ident that the managers insight into humand
nature and his ability to read character were nov 70
be dcspised Would any man with conscience nee
ii &c 4fnon tron,hln like an aspen leaf at the