Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-21


you, then, for the house party?"
Mr.. Bruce's reply was positive. Mr.
Goldberg turned: he felt satisfied with
the assurance. Bruces name would
look very we'll among those who were
to congregate at the Goldberg house
Many wealthy people would be pres
ent, hut no others Of the really inner
set. Perhaps Mr.. Goldberg, also, seem
ed to see in print something like Miss
Goldberg, wearing the Goldberg pearls
went out to an elaborate collation. on
the arm of Mr.. Chatfield Bruce" And
the father of that young lady hum
med lightly as he walked away.
Mr.. Bruce continued to work at one
of the boxes. Slowly but surely he
conquered iron bands and fastenings;
he removed long wire nails without in
juring those Of his own supple fingers.
Sometimes he paused to survey con-
templatively the box, and at such a
moment his tall, slender figure ap-
peared to advantage among those 9TH
er employees. the regular corps of
husky, perspiring box openers. Bruce's
shirt-for he labored without coat
was spotless; it was equally so when,
after washing his hands, he put on the
coat he had carefully hung on one Of
the pegs near by. The pointers of
the office clock indicated that the noon
hour had come and the young man
walked to the door and went out.
He stopped at two places, one a
florists, where he purchased a tiny
orchid of deep purple, almost odorless.
This he set in the button-hole of his
coat The flower was unobtrusive,
Malayan in origin. Few knew its rar-
ity. In buying it, Mr.. Bruce permit
ted himself a slight extravaganza. But
he atoned by a frugal luncheon. His
second stop was at restaurant Of the
white porcelain variety, where a per-
son with white gloves manipulated
pancakes in the front window.
Mr. Bruce mounted a stool, gave his
order and had started to read the
newspaper he had purchased at the
door, when his neighbor at the long
table spoke to him. At the sound Of
that metallic voice, the young fellow
looked around into the harshly wrink-
led face of a man about seventy; a
countenance whereon parsimony and
avarice had set their seal.
"Ah. Mr.. Page! Any news about
the bonds?" perfunctorily.
No, there isn't" curtly. AS the old
capitalist spoke he glanced sldewise at
some one on the other side Of him.
This individual, stocky, commonplace
looking, continued, however, to gaze
unconcernedly before him, while de-
liberately using his knife and fork;
only the lids Of his nondescript eyes
lifted slightly.
Chatfield Bruce regarded the mirror
in front Of them, the divers visages
reflected there, and smiled. The sight
of row of men eating at the hurry
up" counter has its comical features.
tatively his upper lip. do you know,
/ have a little theory about those
bonds, Mr.. Page" he drawled.
Perhaps you think they weren't
taken at all?" snapped the other.
Like some folks"-viciously-
tend to tell me. That it's only a mis-
take on my part. A mistake!" he re-
peated. THAT they're mislaid some-
where"
No: | don't think that You know
have a box at that vault, or did
have" quietly, until this mishap Of
yours led me to make a change"
Glad of it! That you've left them!
hope they'll lose all their business" :"
IF course l may he mistaken" Bruce
continued In the same even voice. "A
theory is but a theory, and I dare say,
you've listened to a great many al
ready"
"A bushel of them" Mr.. Pages
tones conveyed no great respect for
theories. Again he started to look in
the direction of the man on the other
side.
Have you ever thought of this? 1t
came to me the other day when re-
moving my papers and other little
matters from the Peoples National.
Suppose another customer Of the bank,
while ostensibly attending to the COM
bination Of his own box, should man.
age to look over your shoulder and
learn the combination of yours when
you were operating it. Perhaps your
were and you might have to take your
time with the combination-which
would favor his observation"
rs it very likely I'd let any one look
over my shoulder long enough to find
out the combination? If there's any
one standing near. l always know
which way he's looking and what he's
about" succinct!y.
Suppose he managed to get one
part of 1t, one time; another part of
it, another time?" continued the 9TH
er in a dispassionate. argumentative
tone. Suppose he found out the first
number of the combination a year
ago; the second, some while later, and
so on? Suppose he had made a sys-
tematic study of your habits, your
business routine, and determined at
all hazards, no matter how long 1t
took him, to accomplish the seemingly
impossible? Suppose he had a bit of
the gamblers streak in his moral
makeup? Liked to work long chances
l put myself these questions, because
I, too, have securities that need to be
guarded: not exactly my own; left, as
it were, in trust for q purpose
Bruce's eyes dropped slightly. Though
practically mine, if l chose to call
them So" he added.
Mr.. Page did not seem to hear the
latter portion of the young mans re-
marks: with the first part he was
principally concerned. I'm a careful
man." he said, "and a person
Il l..