The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-09-08

u smile. My dear fellow" he sara, 4
don't want my defeat to be attended by
any squealing. l want to shoulder all
the responsibility, not have 1t said that
q girl bested me. Seer"
Edgar withdrew. And Jephson. sit
ting there, felt sudden revulsiOn of
feeling against the world. He had
planned to begin all over again; blu,
now the fight seemed worthless.
He had always trusted Miss Garrett.
He had employed her four years before
when she was fresh from the school of
sten0graphy. He was paying her thirty
dollars. When her mother was III he
had given her months leave on full
pay, and the office had been at skies
and sevens till she came back. And to
think that the girl was q common
thief!
He opened a drawer and took out
revolver. He always kept 1t there be-
cause he had frequently to work at
night, with a hundred thousand In his
safe. 1t was fortunate that he had 1t.
He could end all his troubles by the
least pressure of his finger on the
trigger.
He raised 1t toward his forehead and
hesitated. He was not in any hurry.
He wanted to deliberate upon the act.
What would men say of it? And did
he care what men said?
The sound Of light footsteps outside
startled him. He thrust the revolver
hastily into a drawer, and looked up to
see Miss Garrett. She hesitated and
then came up to him.
II must say something before 60"
she said anxiOusly. II should have
told you long before, but then the mis-
chief was done. MIR. Edgar has be-
trayed you to the interests on the ex-
change"
Astounded, Jephson rose to his feet,
and ut that moment Edgar came hur-
riedly in.
II saw Miss Garrett come into the
office, sir" he cried, "and decided
that couldn't accept your decision. I
charge her in your presence with"
STEADY" said Jephson. Miss Gar
rett has the floor"
A1illicent Garrett turned upon Edgar
with flaming eyes.
"He stole that confidential paper
from your desk, Mr.. Jephson!" she
cried. II was in the cloakrOom Satur-
day afternoon about q month ago. and
l saw him come In and fit key to
your Office door. / knew he had no
business there, and so-well, watched
him. And l saw him unlock your desk
and take that o. & F. paper from it."
why" shouted Edgar.
go on, Miss Garrett" said Jephson,
raising his hand for Edgar to De ST.
lent.
II saw where he put 1t and l con-
trived to get it. He didn't know that
the key of my typewriter desk fits that
lower third drawer. Well, it does. And
took it. And kept it, SO that he
shouldn't sell you out. But he had
done so already, evidently"
Miss CARROTS eyes flashed fire.
"Why didn't you give it back to met"
demanded Jephson.
Because l wasn't sure" she fal.
tered. II have been watching him.
And In the last week we have all
known you had been betrayed"
"Why, you told me to take that pa.
per, sir!" said Edgar.
II did," said Jephson briskly. "You
see, Miss Garrett, you acted In my in.
terests, but each of you suspected the
other"
"He suspected mel" gasped Miss
Garrett.
II did," said Edgar. little sheep
ishly.
well, you'd better shake hands,"
said Jephson briskly. "Shake hands. l
tell you! That's better. And business
will be resumed at the same old stand
tomorrow, and We'll fight it out as long
as there's rent in the bank and petty
cash in the stamp drawer"
For he knew that with subordinates
as jealous for him as that no man
could ultimately fail. And Jephson's
heart went up in thankfulness that the
disaster had revealed this asset to him
at last-loyal hearts, such as q man
only finds when he needs them.