The Topeka state journal., 1916-07-25

the situation thoroughly 1 need only
say that I am bitterly disappointed in
you. I have found you an invaluable
asset in my business, but dishonesty is
one of the things 1 cannot and will not
tolerate. I shall let the matter drop
on condition that the money is re-
stored-to avoid anything like un-
pleasant publicity, but
Relwick flushed crimson. "I am
afraid I do not understand you, Mr.
Dereforth lifted a silencing hand.
He reached in his pocket and produced
a greenback. For some time, 1 have
been missing sums of money around
marked and left them in the safe when
I went away. Now, do 1 make myself
elear?"
Relwick had grown very white. But
he said nothing.
"I understand the other resumed,
that you spent the evening in the
society of my girl last night. I hope
it is unnecessary for me to tell you
not to see Barbara again. You know,
of course, that on her twenty-first
birthday she is to become the wife of
my adopted son, though there exists
no formal engagement between them"
| Richard! Relwick's brain worked
rapidly. Richard was the only other
man in the office who had access to
! the private safe. For weeks he had
been frequenting the racetrack and
dissipating rather wildly in many
ways His limited income had driven
him to this extremity, then. And if
Barbara loved him
Without another word Relwick
wrote out his resignation, handed it
to his superior, and arose.
Just here the door opened noise
| lessly and Barbara stood on the
threshold, her face rosy with bushes,
her eyes sparkling like sapphires
Almost simultaneously, Richard en-
tered from the opposite direction and
came up to her. With hurried
glance toward the bookkeeper's pal
lid profile, she smiled, addressing her
foster brother.
Really, Richard, I must beg off
from the matinee today. 1 have prom
ised to visit a poor woman who is
dying of tuberculosis, and 1 want to
take the family some money. 1 have
only a fifty-dollar note. Could you
change it into tens for me?" The
flush deepened in her cheeks.
Why, yes. but can't you defer your
visit few hours?" he asked sulkily
as he took roll of bills from his
pocket and counted them out
Barbara shook her head gravely
She may not live that long-and we
can change our date easily. Here is
the fifty-thanks. But you've given
me only four tens and-and-why.
look. Eacn one or them has a tiny
hole clipped in the center. How
oddl"
Possibly Relwick will let me have
the bill I gave him this morning for
petty cash. Here is some silver
Barbara looked at Relwick. Relwick
| looked at the floor. Dereforth looked
at Relwick. Richard turned sudden
ly and left the room.
| Slowly Dereforth lifted the paper on
which Relwick had written his resig-
nation and tore it into bits. He held
out his hand.
why did you do it. Bob?" he asked.
unconsciously employing the name.
There was a shamed expression on his
| face; his voice shook.
| Barbara approached and stood with
one hand resting on the bookkeeper's
chair back. He turned and met her
eyes Each flushed in turn. But no
body spoke Suddenly Dereforth rose,
smiled and started out.
With his hand on the doorknob. he
| cleared his throat. His eyes shone
fiercely beneath the shaggy brows.
when fellow turns fool enough
to sacrifice his good name, and girl
makes up her mind to play detective
to save him from his idiocy, 7 guess
there's just one answer" And the
door slammed
Relwick held out his arms-(Copy-
right. 1915 by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syudicate-)