Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-14
A Wasted Day
BY RICHARD HARDING DAVIS
1914, by the Newspaper En-
terprIse Assoeiationl

Copyright. 1914, by the Newspaper En-
terprlse Association.1
III its turn came the private Sec
rotary. somewhat apologetIcally, laid
the letter in front of the wisest man
in Wall street.
From Mrs. Austin, probation Off
Ger, Court of General Sessions" h
explained. Wants a letter about
Spear. He's been convicted of theft.
Comes up for sentence Tuesday"
Spear repeated Arnold Thorn
dixie.
Young fellow, stenographer; used
to do your letters last summer going
in and out on the train
The great man nodded. II remen1-
Der. What about him."
Went on the loose; had with him
about five hundred dollars belonging
to the firm. He's with Isaacs q Sons
now, shoe people, on Sixth avenue.
Met woman and woke up without
any money The next morning ne Of
fered to make good, but Isaacs called
in policeman. When they looked
into 1t they found the boy had been
drunk They tried to withdraw the
charge, but he'd been committed. Now
the probation officer is trying to get
the judge to suspend sentence. A
letter from you, sir, would"
1t was evident the mind of the great
man was elsewhere. Young men who,
drunk or sober, spent the firms
money on women who disappeared
before SUNRISE did not appeal to him.
spear had a letter from us when
he left, didn't hep he asked. what
he has developed into since he left
us" he shrugged his shoulders. The
secretary withdrew the letter and
slipped another in its place.
As his car slid down town on Tues
day morning the mind of Arnold
Thorndille was occupied with such
details of daily routine as the pur-
chase of railroad, the Japanese
loan, the new wing to his art gallery
and an attack that morning in his
own newspaper upon his pet trust.
But his busy mind was not too occu-
pied to return the salutes OF the trail
fic policemen who cleared the way for
him. Or, by some genius of MEM
DRY, to recall the fact that it was on
this morning young Spear would be
sentenced for theft.
1t was characteristic of the great
man to act quickly. stop at the
Court of General Sessions" he COM
manded. What he proposed to do
would take but few minutes. A
word, personal word from him to
the district attorney, or to the judge
would be enough.
Out of the sunshine MIR. Thorndlke
stepped into the gloom of an echoing
rotunda. With deprecatory laugh
he explained why he had come. But
the outburst of appreciation he had
anticiDated did not follow,
The district attorney ran his finger
briskly down a printed card. Henry
Spear" he exclaimed, that's your
man. Court Ill, Judge Fallon.
Andrews is in that COURT He walked
to the door of his private office. "An-
drews!" he called,
MIR. Thorndike is interested in
in Part Three this morning. Wants
to speak for him. Take him over with
you
The district attorney shook hands
quickly, and retreated to his private
office. Mr. Andrews took out a Gig
arctic and, as he crossed the floor.
Come with me-" he commanded.
Mr.. Andrews led him to an office,
bare and small and offered him n
newspaper.
Mr. Thorndike refused the news
paper. II thought | was going to sec
the Judge" he suggested.
Court doesn't open for few min
utes yet" said the assistant district
attorney. Judge Is always late, any
way"
Mr.. Thorndike suppressed an eX-
clamation. He wanted to protest, but
his clear mind showed him that there
was nothing against which, with rea-
son, he could protest. Next time he
would send a clerk. But he was not
without a sense of humor, and the
situation as It now was forced upon
him struck him as amusing. He
laughed goodnaturedly and reached
for the desk telephone.
May l use this" he asked. He
spoke to the Wall street office. He
explained he would be a few minutes
late. He directed what should be
done If the market opened in a GER
tain way He gave rapid orders on
many different matters, asked to have
read to him a cablegram he expected
from Petersburg and one from Vienna.
"They answer each other" was his
final instruction. 1T looks like peace. +"
Mr.. Andrews with genial patience.
had remained silent. Now he turned
upon his visitors. A Levantine. burly,
unshaven and soiled, lowered trucu-
lently above him.
"Yot gotta hell of a nerve to come
to see me-" he commented cheerfully.
WAS it YOU" demanded young An
drews, in a puzzled tone. 'or your
brother who tried to knife me? Get
Quit" said young Andrews land don't
show your face here"
The door slammed upon the flying
Greek.
A kindly eyed. sad woman with a
basket on her knee smiled upon An
drews with the familiarity of an old
acquaintance.
us that woman going to get a di-
vorce from my son." she asked. "now
that he's in trouble?"
Now that he's in Sing Sing?" cor
rected Mr.. Andrews. Il hope so. She
deserves 1t. That son of yours, Mrs.
Bernard" he declared emphatically,
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