Tombstone epitaph., 1915-03-07
"wenzel says tn old man wants t

"Wenzel says tn old man wants t see you $ in his office Say, MT. Terrill. do yuh think they can play today? It's pretty wet"
 Jo Haley was sunk in the depths of his big leather chair. He did not look up as Ted entered. Sit down." he said. Ted sat doyn and waited, puzzled
 As a wizard at figures unused Jo Haley at last. softly as though to him self, I'm frost. A column of figures on paper makes my head swim. But l can carry a whole regiment of 'em in my head. l know every time the bar keeper draws one in the dark. I've been watchin' this thing for the last two weeks hOpin' you'd quit and come and tell me" He turned suddenly and faced Ted. Ted. old kid" he said sadly. ''what'n'ell made you do it again?
 What's the joke?" asked Ted.
 Now. Ted" remonstrated Jo Ha- ley. that way of talkin' won't help matters none. As l said, I'm rotten at figures. But you're the first invest ment that ever turned out bad, and let me tell you I've handled some mighty bad smelling ones. Why. kid. if you had just come to me on the quiet and asked for the loan of hundred or so. why
 Whats the joke. Jo?" said Ted again slowly.
 This ainI my notion of a joke" came the terse answer. We're three hundred short"
 The last flicker of Ted Terrills old time radiance seemed to flicker and die. leaving him ashen and old.
 'Short?" he repeated. Then, My God!" in a strangely colorless voice My God." He looked down at his fingers impersonally. as though they belonged to someone else. Then his hand clutched Jo Haley's arm with the grip of fear. "Jo, Jo! That's the thing that has haunted me day and night. till my nerves are raw. The fear of doing it again. Don't laugh at me, will you? I used to lie awake nights going over that cursed business Of the bank-OYer and over-till the cold sweat would break out again. step by step. until-Jo, could a man steal and not know it? Could thinking of thing like that drive a man crazy? Be cause if it could-if it could-then-"
 "l don't know" said Jo Haley, but it sounds darned fishy." He laid a hand on Ted's shaking shoulder. and was looking into the white, drawn face. T had great plans for you. Ted. But Minnie Wenzels got it all down on slips of paper l might as well call her in again, and we'll have the whole blamed thing out" Minnie WenZel came. In her hand were slips of paper and books with figures in them, and Ted looked and saw things written in his own hand that should not have been there. And he covered his shamed face with his two hands and gave thanks that his mother was dead.
 There came three sharp raps at the office door. The tense figures within jumped nervously.
 Nttp 'ul- CdlitO JO tldltl- HnC- ever you are" Whereupon the door opened and Birdie Callahan breezed in.
 Get out. Birdie Callahan" roared Jo. You're in the wrong pew"
 Birdie closed the door behind her composedly and came farther into the room. Pete, tn pastry cook, just tells me that Minnie Wenzel told tn day clerk. who told the barkeep. who told tn janitor, who told tn chef, who told Pete. that Minnie had caught Ted stealin' some three hundred dollars"
 Ted took a quick step forward. Birdie. for heavens sake keep out of this. You can't make things any bet ter You may believe in me, but"
 Where's the money?" asked Birdie.
 Ted stared at her a moment, his mouth open ludicrously.
 -I-don't-know," he articu- lated painfully. T never thought of that"
 Birdie snorted defantiy. T thought so. Dye know" socially. T was vis- itin' with my aunt. Mis- Mulcahy. last eyenin'"
 There was quick rustic of silks from Minnie Wenzers direction.
 Say. look here" began Jo Haley, impatiently
 Shut up, Jo Haley" snapped Birdie As l was sayin'. was yisitin' with my aunt. Mis- Mulcahy She does fancy washin' an ironin' for the swells. An Minnie Wenzel. there beiu' none sweller. hires her 10 do up her weddin' linens. Such smears av hand em- bridery an Irish crochet she never see tn likes, Mis- MIlcahy says, and she's seen lot. And as a special treat to the poor owld soul. why Min nie Wenzel lets her see some av her weddin' clo'es. There never yet was a woman who cud resist showin' her weddin things 10 every other woman