Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1915-08-13

CLERK
By SARAH BAXTER

merchant on his own ACCOUNT. Ills
was years ago.
Sykes store was located at cross
roads In a mining district in the FAR
west, and the proprietor did tnflN-
ing business, supplying the wants or
miners In Il circuit of fifteen miles. lie !
did all his work himself because he |
couldn't hire a clerk for less than S1UO |
q month, and that would eat up q good
share of his profits.
I One day man came into the store
to buy some goods, and after setting
the bill asked Sykes how lie managed
to handle 50 much business alone.
Sykes told him that he should have a
helper and why he didn't get one. The
man suggested that he could hire
woman cheap enough, and after some
conversation said he knew woman
who would be glad to work for what
ever Sykes thought he could afford to
pay. The merchant told him to send
her along and he would see about 1t.
A few days after that young wo-
man appeared at the store, and Sykes
hired her for very small salary. He
soon learned that she was as valuable
to him as a man. but he did not raise
her salary. Moreover, he tested her
honesty by leaving cash where she
could take it without being discovered,
but she called his attention to 1t, at
the same time remarking on his care
lessness.
At this time a desperate called Sim
mons was doing good deal of dam
age in the neighborhood and Sykes
thought it would be better for him TO
hire a man instead of woman, sine
he might need help if Simmons came
down ON him. He mentioned the mat
ter to his clerk and she said that she
could use a revolver as we'll as man,
and If anything happened she would
prove 1t. Sykes was persuaded and
kept her In her position, but he didn't
pay her mans wages.
Sykes clerk became so useful to him
that he gradually left one duty after
another to her that he had always con-
sidered he must attend to himself, and
finally he turned over to her his book
keeping. Notwithstanding the evidence
bring himself to contide his cash to
her. When n robber band dashed into
bank or d store they threatened to
kill whoever knew the safe combina-
ton unless 1t We're given up. Sykes
, argued that If he alone could open the
safe there would be less likelihood of
=. loss than if another possessed it, espe-
al hat nt har 10
g gave this to his clerk as an excuse for
!. not entrusting her with the combina-
. ton, and she admitted that it was a
|. very wise precaution.
l. Sykes kept turning over his capital
g so steadily that there was never much
q cash on hand. He was always owing
y money for goods, and as soon as lie
l. received remittances to any consider
able amount he paid it out to his cred
l. itors. One day his clerk asked hin
II why he didn't let his creditors wait
G for their money instead of paying 81
n promptly and make interest on it, add
# ing that If he should at any time fine
e 1t impossible to pay cash they would
z suspect something was wrong will
IL hin. SN hcS was pleSotO With Iii
e idea and ceased paying SO promptly
r After that there were occasional &C
S, cumulatiOns Of cash on hand.
n One day Sykes was in the back o
Y. the store figuring over his cash &C
v count. His clerk was at the from
E. busting the shelves. 1t was at al
A. hour when few persons came to tn
e place to make purchases, and no on
TT besides the two We're in the store
r man came in. said something to tn
AZ clerk, and the two walked back t
where Sykes was at work. He recoe
III nized In the man the person who ha
'r recommended his clerk.
u "Mornin'. Mr.. Sykes" he said. "Hoy
y are you pleased with the young won
" an l sent you?"
t. VERY much" Sykes replied.
HE doesn't believe that women
Al services are worth as much as
e. MANS" said the clerk 81 have bee
ie with him long enough for raise, bu
3 l don't get it,
Is Sykes looked uncomfortable Their
III was something Icy cold in the tone i
!. which she said this.
d Don't you find her trustworthy ?
a asked the man.
Perfectly" said Sykes, wonderin
" what this was leading to.
~ He has never trusted me with tn
&c safe combination" said the woman.
Hasn't he? Wen, I reckon he'd be
)! ter pay you some back salary" Wit
that he whipped revolver from hi
% hip and covered Sykes. There was
70 weapon in the desk on which Syke
u was figuring, but he dare not attemI
81 to get 1t out.
y who are you and what do you wan
% here?' he asked the man.
y, I'm Andy Simmons, and that lad
~ Is my wife. don't think you've trea
- ed her fair In not giving her a rails
4, since she's been here, and I've Gale
=, In to see about It, Supposin you ope
VI the safe?"
The game that had been played O
Sykes flashed upon him at once. II
" opened the safe while the man keI
" him covered. and, after the woman ha
gathered some 81 200 that was IN /
~ they bound and gagged Sykes. wake