The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-06-07


Pm wearing is a bunion plaster an
! couldn't get the securities7-
Mr. Ord raised a fat forefngeI
Il didn't ask you for details re
garding your personal ailments, Nj
Smithers," he said icily. There wa
silence for a few moments. Ono
more he turned to his clerk.
"Did you mention to anybodl
that those bonds were in tn
vault -
"Not a soul knew Of their pres
, ence there except yourself and me
sir"
"Did you check over all the other
securities in my box"
"Yes, sE, and every other Sc
curity in the vault" returned
Smithers earnestly. Begging your
pardon, Mr.. Ord, you might recol-
lect that in every other instance Of
loss Of papers they were afterward
/ found to have been mislaid either
By Dir. Carson or YOURSELF"
Enough" said Ord sternly. 81
have no such recollection, young
mani Now" pointing an accusing
finger in the face Of his uneom-
Portable clerk, he continued with
measured accents, "those bonds
bore a date stamp impressed with
purple ink. How did purple ink
come TO be on your hands and face,
Mr.. Smithers 2" Mr. Ord shot a
glance at his bookshelf and then his
eyes came back to the face of his
clerk. For the first time Smithers'
face wrinkled into a faint smile.
Il was assisting Miss Fem to ad-
just new ribbon in her type ma
chine" he said primly. Before
had time to remove these stains you
called me-"
rs it one Of the duties Of my
chief clerk to assist the stenogra-
pliers with such duties p Numbered
Mr. Ord fercely. "What do | hire
Office boys for, Ell 2"
In Mr.. Smithers' opinion Office
boys were hired to loaf around
the corridors and discuss baseball
topics.
Huh, ] don't approve of court
ing in the office. Mr.. Smithers."
remarked slr. Ord, his critical eve
still on his employees pink face. |
He pressed a button beside his
lesk and the door opened promptly, |
admitting a tail, slender girl whose
black hair was twisted in the latest
and whose bright brown
yves seemed to take in every detail
IF the situation in one swift pene-
rating glance. Her gaze swept her
desk and then came to
at Mr. Ord's curt accents.
~Sit down. Miss Fem"
She did so, Tapping open a note
,ook and posing her pencil.
Il don't wish to dictate. Have
'on seen or heard anything Of the
!. ID. bonds since they we're put in
he vaults day before Yesterday p
Miss Fem nodded. -Why, YES,
lr. Ord. Don't Won remember you
ent me to the vault for them this
morning after YOU talked with Mr..
hughes over the telephones You
'ere reading when / came back, and
on used the bonds as a bQokmark +.
s you closed the book to resume
ictating. Why, there they arew
he picked up a red covered book
rom under his nose and removed
sveral beautifully engraved certifi-
ates from between the pages of
The Adventures sof Sherlock
Iolmes.v There was a sickly smile
{ enlightenment on Mr.. Ord's face.
Thank YOU. Miss Fem; YOU NAV
) now" he said with an effort.
hen the door had closed behind {
ar trim figure Mr.. Ord recovered
is self possession. He picked his
II out Of the basket, placed it on
is head, compared his watch with
lie clock, nodded approval at the
our Of - and drew the telephone
iceiver across the desk.
By the way, Smithers," he said
,nially without turning his head,
suppose if you're going to get z
arried you'll need a little more
oney, eh?.
Il really couldn't say that I'd :
ought about it, Mr.. Ord, said the
srk meeElv.
~Well, Just tell the cashier to add
other hundred to your salary.
| o. X. it. Don't mention it, :
ayl Central, Give me 1869 Liv- :,
gston. Hello Hughes & Cara y
"? All. Hughes; about that l. q
Now
Smithers closed the door softly
hind him and paused in the tiny Z
ter Office where Bessie Fem sat
fore her machine staring dreamily d
a blank sheet of paper on the
Ter. The Young man leaned over