The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-03-03

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and honest. In fact, l have no fault
to lind save that the Office has no sys-
TEN whatever, and I can never find
anything whensI want it. Got THAR
Eyes, sir,s Smithers replied dazedly.
s.Now, sir, you admit you are wear
ing a plaster. How do I know that
those securities IRE not concealed
within your plaster, huh :" Mr.. Ord
looked from his astonished clerk to
the red bound volumes of Sherlock
Holmes adventures and patted biz
chest knowingly. How do ! know,
STRIP he repeated.
"Really, I couldn't say. MI. Ord" be-
gan Smithers. and then, as II the real
meaning Of his employers i%nsinuation
had pierced some sensitive spot, at: last
he added forcibly, ''But I wouldn't do
such a thing, you know, Mr.. Ord, beg
ging your pardon"
"You wouldn't, Ell? How do You
know you wouldn't?"
81 couldn't, SIR" protested Smithers
warmly. "You see the plaster I'm
wearing is a bunion plaster, and ]
couldn't get the securities"-
Mr.. Ord raised a fat fore1nger. II
didn't ask you for details regarding
your personal ailments, Mr.. Smithers,"
he said icily. There was silence for q
few moments while his little eyes
scanned from his three foot shelf of
wisdom to Smithers' now agitated
countenance. He pulled the ticker
tape toward him and studied the fig
ures as they slipped through his fin.
gers. He had made rather a fool Of
himself and the L. D.. bonds, We're as
far from discovery as ever. Once more
he turned to his clerk.
Ibid you mention to anybody that
those bonds were in the vault"
"Not a soul knew Of their presence
there except yourself and me, SIR
did you check over all the other
securities in my box?"
Eyes, sir, and every other security In
the vault" returned Smithers earnest.
~. Begging your pardon, Mr.. Ord,
you might recollect that in every other
instance Of loss Of papers, they were
afterward found to have been mislaid
either by Mr.. Carson or yourself"
"Enough!" said Ord sternly. II have
no such recollection, young man!
Now" pointing an accusing finger in
the face Of his uncomfortable clerk,
he continued with measured accents.
"those bonds bore a date stamp i'm
pressed with purple ink. How did
purple ink come to be on your hands
and face, MI. Smithers" Mr.. Ord shot
a glance at his bookshelf and then his
eyes came back to the face Of his
clerk.
For the first. time smithers' face
wrinkled into a faint smile. II was as
sisting Miss Fem to adjust a new rib
bon in her type machine" he said
primly. Before I had time to remove
these stains you called me-"
"Is it one Of the duties Of my chief
clerk to assist the stenographers with
such duties 2" thundered Mr.. Ord fierce.
". "What do I hire Office boys for,
eh?"
In Mr.. Smithers' opinion Office boys
were hired to loaf around the corri-
doris and discuss baseball topics. he
merely cracked another deprecating
smile and did not answer the ques.
ton.
Huh! 1 don't approve Of counting
in the office, Mr.. Smithers,' remarked
Mr.. Ord, his critical eye still o. his
employees pink face. He pressed a
button beside his desk, and the door
opened promptly. admitting a tall, slen-
der girl whose black hair was twisted
in the latest fashion and whose bright
brown eyes seemed to take in every
detail of the situation in one swift
penetrating glance. Her gaze swept
her employers desk and then came to
attention at Mr.. Ord's curt accents.
''Sit down, Miss Fem
She did so, tapping open a notebook
and posing. her pencil.
81 don't wish to dictate. Have You
seer or heard anything Of the L. D.
bonds since they were put in the
vaults day before yesterday"
Miss Fem nodded. "Why, yes, Mr..
Ord. Don't you remember you sent
me to the vault for them this morning
after you talked with MI. Hughes over.
the telephone? You were reading when
/ came back, and you used the bonds
as a bookmark as you closed the book
to resume debating. Why, there they
are!' She picked up a red covered
book from under his nose and removed
several beautifully engraved certih-
Gates from between the pages of 1.-THE
Adventures Of Sherlock Holiness"
There was a sickly smile Of enlighten-
ment on MI. Ord's face.
'Thank you. Miss Fem; You may
60 now" he said, with an effort. When
the door had closed behind her trim
figure Mr.. Ord recovered his self pos
session. He picked his hat out Of the
basket, placed It on his head. compared
his watch with the clock, nodded APP
prevail at the hour Of IL and drew the
telephone receiver across the desk.
sBy the way, smithers." he said gen
tally without turning his head.
suppose II you're going tosgetgmarried
v0u,l. need Il little more money, b