Middletown transcript., 1914-06-13
rsE.ss.:.zs.s:s..s.s xEsss.N.9
THE BONDS
By MONTAGUE GLASS.

It was a beautiful morning. A soft
breeze from the river stole through
Mr.. Goodel's office window and eddied
SO gently around his bald head that
instead of sneezing, he sighed. Thence
it ambled into the outer Office and
tugged at every button In the gar
ments of Jimmie Brennan, the Office
boy.
AT Fulton Market dock" it whis
pered there's good swimming"
-G'wan, what yer tryin' ter do-kid
me?" Jimmie's subconsciousness
jeered, while its owner industriously
continued to index the letter-book
ltd freeze de insides out'n yer!"
So back it few to Mr.. GoodeL
Il ask you in all seriousness" 1t al.
most Kissed, shall commercial paper
and investment securities prevail over
golf?"
And Mr.. Goodel, being of weaker
Btuff than Jimmie, closed his roll-top
desk with a bang and seized his hat
and cane.
Pm going uptown on very i'm
portant matter" he said.
Jimmie looked at him mournfully.
This cutting business an hour before
noon was becoming too frequent OF
late.
What viii | tell Mr.. Luddington?' p
he asked.
For a man of hfty-five Mr.. Goodel
blushed rather easily. The operation,
however, might be termed painting
the lily, for normally this gentleman's
face was of a hue to pale the fiamin-
go's wing.
why, tell him I've gene uptown
on a very important matter. of course" "
he declared.
Jimmie glanced at Mr.. Goodel and,
dropping his eyes, snorted eloquently.
Luddington was GoodeIs brother-in-
law, and the roseate hue of Goodies
countenance was largely due to his ex-
ample and encouragement. Despite
Luddington's convivial habits, how
ever, Jimmie knew that he held a
business engagement sacred; and on
the previous day he had distinctly
heard Goodel make an appointment
with his brother-in-law for the pur-
chase of some bonds. The securities
were to be delivered in person by
Luddington at a quarter TO one
o'clock that afternoon.
How about dem bonds, Mr..
Goodel?" he said.
"Oh, yes-about those bonds" !"
Goodel replied. when Mr.. Ludding-
ton brings them here, put them in
the small safe"
After a time Luddington entered.
"Hlo, Jimmie!" he cried in his
usual jovial fashion. Where's the
boss?"
Now he's gone uptown, Mr.. Lud-
dington," Jimmie replied, ION an i'm
portant matter"
Luddington chuckled impatiently.
That's too bad" he said. Il have
some bonds for him"
Il know ut" Jimmie answered. HE
says fer you to leave 'em wit me-"
"Oh, he did, did he?" Luddington
cried testify. Why, there are ten Of
. them, at a thousand apiece, with the
coupons attached"
Jimmie's face fell as he proffered
Luddington an assurance he didn't
feel.
For the rest Of the afternoon Jimmie
sat in front Of the safe fruitlessly re-
volving the knob, resting herself at
intervals by reading a thrilling dime
novel At four o'clock he locked up
the Office and wandered disconsolately
downstairs. There the sunny autumn
afternoon propelled him to the river
front, and, unconsciously, his footsteps
shaped themselves toward Fulton Mar
ket dock.
He picked his way through the
empty fshbarrels to the string-piece,
where stood Ignatius Ryan, the same
they call Whitney. Ignatius was
garbed In a scapular and not much
more, and his teeth chartered in
cessantly as the cold wind smote his
naked shins.
Why don't you jump in?" said Jim
mie, seating himself on the edge Of
the wharf
Whitney struggled with temporary
ataxia of speech.
"Aw, w-w-w-hy d-d-d-on't y-y-y-er II
Jump in y-y-y-yers-s-s-s-elf?" he barely
managed to enunciate.
By way of reply Jennie emitted a
succession Of jeering outlaws which
seemed to infuriate the shivering
Whitney. Ignatius made dash for his
tormentor, and a moment later the
two of them we're struggling in a
strong flood tide.
When Jimmie rose to the surface,
half a dozen ropes we're within easy
reach. He was, speedily hauled back
upon the dock. shrieking lurid threats
at Ignatius, whose repartee, revived
by the sudden plunge. grew no less
profane.
Wait till l get yer wanst!" Jimmie
shouted. iii lift de face OF yer, dat's
ALL" And there followed a wealth Of
bitter anathema that might have en-
riched the vocabulary Of truckman.
~@~~~-O~-~---~-~D---
Worth the Price.