Smyrna times., 1911-02-22

and 1 have always found you faithful
and honest. In fact, have no fault
to find save that the Office has no sys-
TEN whatever! and l can never find
anything when l want it. Got :hatY'
"Yes, sir" Smithers replied dazedly.
Nov, sir. you admit you are wear
ing a plaster. How do l know that
those securities are not concealed
within your plaster, huh" Mr. Ord
looked from his astonished clerk to
the red bound volumes of Sherlock
Holmes adventures and patted his
chest knowingly. How do l know,
sir?' he repeated.
"Really, couldn't say, Mr.. Ord" be- |
gan Smithers, and then, as if the real |
meaning of his employers insinuation |
had pierced some sensitive spot, at last |
he added forcibly, "But wouldn't do |
such a thing, you know, Mr.. Ord, beg
ging your pardon"
"You wouldn't, eh? How do you
know you wouldn't?"
81 couldn't, sir" protested Smithers
warmly. You see the plaster I'm
wearing 10 UulllOn DldolClS anu i
couldn't get the securities''-
Mr.. Ord raised a fat forefnger. 81
didn't ask you for details regarding
your personal ailments, Mr.. Smithers."
he said icily. There was silence for
few moments while his little eyes
roamed 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 were as
far from discovery as ever. Once more
he turned to his clerk.
/ did you mention to anybody that
those bonds were in the vaultF"
"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
ly. 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"
"Enoughv' said Ord sternly. Il 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, Mr.. 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 saiG
e primly. Before had time to remove
: these stains you called me-"
"Is it one of the duties of my chic.
d clerk to assist the stenographers will
t such duties?" thundered Mr.. Ord fierce
q ly. "What do l hire Office boys for
d ehY'
In Mr.. Smithers' opinion Office boy
It were hired to loaf around the CORR
{ dors and discuss baseball topics. H
merely cracked another deprecatini
smile and did not answer the ques
l. ton.
d Huh! l don't approve of cOurtins
Is in the Office. Mr.. Smithers," remarked
e Mr.. Ord, his critical eye still on hi
n employees pink face. He pressed
T. button beside his desk, and the doc
y, opened promptly, admitting a tall, sler
| cripl xxrhnco hIaaly hafr fyyicfp
" in the latest fashion and whose brigh
is brown eyes seemed to take in ever
detail of the situation in one swift
y, penetrating glance. Her gaze sweI
lie her employers desk and then came
! attention at Mr.. Ord's curt accents.
e. "Sit down, Miss Fem"
ne She did so, tapping open a noteboo
IS and posing her pencil.
v 81 don't wish to dictate. Have 20
in seen or heard anything of the L. l
I'D bonds since they were put in th
Du vaults day before yesterday"
Miss Fem nodded. "Why, yes, M
nd Ord Don't you remember you sci
nk me to the vault for them this mornin
Ir. after you talked with Mr.. Hughes ovt
he the telephone? You were reading whe
came back, and you used the bono
IN as bookmark as you closed the boo
Ief to resume debating. Why, there the
arev' She picked up a red covert
n book from under his nose and remove
several beautifully engraved certi
90 Gates from between the pages of ''Tl
IRE Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
he There was a sickly smile of enlighte
of ment on Mr.. Ord's face.
in "Thank you, Miss Fem; you ms
ed. go now," he said, with an effort. Wh'
the door had closed behind her tri
figure Mr.. Ord recovered his self pc
ff" session. He picked his hat out of t
ow basket. placed it on his head, compar
of his watch with the clock, nodded a
proval at the hour of IL and drew t
telephone receiver across the desk.
4