Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-06
CHAPTER XVIII.
Forging Ahead.

ivan provided the new auditor With pa
per and Lorrimer Immediately started TO
cover it with hieroslyphics. The subject
interested him and he determined 10 make
report which would leave nothing 10 be
desired Emil made very small figures.
and as he followed the ~ osperous career
of his fictitious penny his face was
shrouded i'll concentration He was not
aware that any addition had been made
TO the office force. He Mas not even
aware that any addition was necessary.
Ivan, however. was worried. II seemed
TO him that genuine money had been
thrown away when MIR Burton had been
allowed 10 escape, and row that new
recruit had been added to a company
whose chief task was finding something
to do. lie found il impossible 10 resist
questioning Dicks wisdom Suddenly the
telephone rang and he flew To the booth
1t was Mr. Burton. and SO eager was
Ivan that he forgot formulas and hur-
ried to the door to the private office. upon
which he knocked vigorously.
Given permission to enter. lie rushed in
and exclaimed; Mr.. Burton has rung
sir
Dick looked at him in cold displeas'Te
That is a matter of small importance.
he said. severely bat il is OF very grave
Importance to disobey instructions. Why
did YOU not use the tantaiiZing formula
He wanted to see you very bad this
morning. sir. and thought
Thinking is not one of Your duties
while in my employ. l told You always
to use the tantaliZing formula whenever
customer became anxious. Let me do
all the worrying and things will tuln out
all right. Now go back and hang up the
receiver. When he calls again wo-k
through the tantalZina formula and then
put me on the wire. and next time don [
bother me for special instructions.
Twenty minutes later Dick was pat on
the wire after listening to a conversation
between Ivan and Mr. Burton which was
very gratifying. AS he talked his voice
was Suave and sincere, but as he lis
tened a grin of wicked delight stole over
his features.
Yes. this is Mir. Bennington an, very
sorry, but | told my clerk to inform YOU
that | was very buSN-My dear man,
cannot drop one client to take up another
1t IS impossible for me TO give YOU ar
appointment for today-WeH you are vel
come to come and take Your chances and
You may not have to wait long. but my
business is such that it is impossible for
me TO favor one at the expense OF an
other
Now, it did him 10 good to hang up
his receiver With a bang. Come here.
Mulligan. Muliigan, this business Is
growing ut a fearful rate. We have no
vice prr dent and am going to make
you it You viii make 4 dandy, OF
course. YOU are now entitled to a private
secretary: but for the present we will let
that go. and you do not even have to oc-
cupy the private office of the Y. p. That
will do now. | am extremely busy. and
You go under that table where | can't
see you and have a good sleep. Blessed
thing that a dog doesn't wear out his APP
petite for sleep
AS Mulligan retired to his favorite rest
ing place the door of the outer office
hesitating manner. Her face was both
pale and flushed and he~ eyes unusually
bright. 1t was evident that she was l.
joying the luxury of an adventure not
quite wicked ana not quite proper. She
closed the door softly and looked at the
three men behind their wire screen. Emil
continued to make figures, Lorrimer con-
tinued to make hooks and dashes. and
Ivan continued to lift dummy bills from
a pile. scan them carefully and enter
at this evidence of industrial Strenuosity
and hesitated at disturbing it.
Il beg your pardon she said. finally,
but is this Dicks-l mean Mr.. Banning
tons office"
Ivan raised his solemn eyes and in
stantly recognized the girl who had forced
him TO fee through d private estate AT
midnight wearing the garb of female
cook
His glance accused her Have you an
engagement? he asked severely.
Why it is not absolutely-yes. certain
ly | have an engagement, answered
Kate. in confusion.
Give me Your card and | shall take it
in to him. said Ivan, coIdlY.
After deal of fumbling Kate procured
a card which she handed 10 Ivan. Ivan
bore the card to the president Of the
Dichie Nut Lock Company. in evident
disapproval: but the moment Dick glanced
at it he sprang to his feet Ivan, he
exclaimed in a suppressed voice lis there
no limit to your stupidity. Now. don I
let any one bother us. Step right i'm, Miss
Burton.
'Oh. Dick, cried Kate, as soon as Ivan
had removed his reproa chful countenance.
Il can never in the world be conventional
again 1t seems II me that | always
meet You where ] shouldn't.
rs that So? asked Dick in surprise.
Now. ii never struck me that way. 1t
always seems TO ne that | never meet
you half as often as ! really should The
fact is
Mercy. Dick, but this is terrible place