Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-04-08
CHAPTER xxi.

During the first half OF the year 1894,
with Norman too busy at the pipe
foundry to worry him, and the iron
master president too deeply engrossed
in matters mechanical, Mr.. Henry
Dyckman, still bookkeeper and cashier
for Chiawassee Consolidated, had fewer
Nightmares; and by the time he had
been month In undisputed command
at the general office he had given over
searching for a certain packet of pa
pers which had mysteriously disap-
peared from secret compartment In
his desk.
Later, when the time for the return
Of the younger Gordon drew near. there
was encouraging news from Europe.
Dyckman had not failed to keep the
mails warm with reports of the Gordon
& Gordon success; with urgings for
the return OF the exiled dynasty; and
late in May he had news Of the home
coming intention From that on there
were alternating chills and fever II
Colonel Duxbury should arrive and re-
sumo the reins OF management before
Tom Gordon should reappear, all might
yet be we'll II not-the alternative
impaired the bookkeeper's appetite. and
lAANAO WCAt NV AAAb AZ AAAc WhGu ne
slept badly.
When Toms advent preceded the
earliest date named by Mr.. Farley by a
broad fortnight or more. the bookxeep-
er missed other OF his meals, and one
night fear and a sharp premonition of
close pressing disaster laid cold hands
on him; and 9 o'clock found him slulk-
ing in the great train shed at the rail-
way station, a ticket to Canada in his
pocket, a goodly sum of the companys
money tightly buckled in a safety belt
next 60 his skin-all things ready for
flight save one. the courage requisite
to the final step-taking.
The following morning the promini-
ton became a certainty. In the Cor
donia mail there was a note from the
younger Gordon. directing him to come
to the office of the pipe foundry, bring
ing the cash book and ledger for year
whose number was written out in let
ters OF fire in the bookkeeper's brain.
He went, again lacking the courage
either to refuse or to disappear, and
found Gordon waiting for him. There
were no preliminaries.
Good morning, Dyckman," said the
tyrant, pushing aside the papers on mis-
desk. You have brought the books
Sit down at that table and open the
ledger at the company's expense ac-
count for the year. wish to make
few comparisons" and he took thick
packet OF papers from a pigeonhole Of
the small iron safe behind his chair.
Dyckman was unbuckling the shawl
strap in which he had carried the two
heavy books. but at the significant
command he desisted, went swiftly 10
the door opening into the stenograph-
er's room. satisfied himself that there
were no listeners. and resumed his
chair.
you have cut out some OF the pre-
face, Mr.. Gordon; I'll cut out the re-
mainder.~ he said, moistening his dry
lips. you have the true record of tho
expense account IN that package. I'm
down and out; what is It you want7'
'I want a written confession Of Just
what you did. and what you did II for"
was the direct reply. You'll find Miss
Ac5erman's typewriter in the other
room; I'll wait while you put It In
type"
You're not giving me a show. Mr..
Gordon; the poor show a common muir
derer would have IN any court OF law