Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-12

II his wife knows the purchasing mans
wife"
When Mr.. Bunker said this he did not
know that back of all the business
most wonderful system in the world.
Nor did he know that the great firm
had been built on honesty and faith
fulness to every trust. Mr.. Carter, Mr..
Blodgett and all the men in authority
in the concern were incorruptible to
the last degree. Whatever means they
might use to further the interests OF
their clients. they were absolutely hon
est in carrying out any business in
trusted to them.
had an idea that he would 20 to the
offices of the firm and look around .
bit-test things out. as 1t were-and
then lay his plans. When. the next
morning. he reached the offices Of Car,
there just about half minute. A
factotum in uniform stopped him the
moment he stepped inside the door.
and two men in plain clothes. seeing he
the chairs on which they had been sit
ting and moved toward him, their hands
in their coat pockets.
Your business. please" said the fac
totum. politely.
well, I'm from Oroduna, Iowa." said
Mr. Bunker. slowly. II sort Of wondered
whether could get some munition con-
tracts out there. and
IAN munition business is handled at
12o1s Broadway. Good day, sir" said the
factotum.
Mr.. Bunker cast one lingering glance
at the interior OF the Offices and turned
away. The plain clothes men stood
until he was out of the room and then
seated themselves.
Mr. Bunker walked up Wall street and
turned north on Broadway. No. 1907
was huge building, quite fresh from
the hands of the builders. 1t lowered
massively into the air to the height OF
forty stories and covered the entire front
street floor was less ornate. than those
Of some other buildings near. but was
solidly fine in marble and bronze. The
directory told Mr.. Bunker that Carter.
Blodsett e. Co. occupied the elev-
enth and twelfth floors. He stepped from
din Of typewriters that was like the
clacking of shuttles in a cloth mill. A
small space near the elevator was rallied
of, but, except for this. the entire floor
extent, and everywhere were typists beat
ing typewriting machines fraEtically.
Nothing could have afforded a better idea
Of the immense stimulus given certain in
dustries than this vast correspondence
and record mill created by Carter, .Blodg-
EFT & Co. almost overnight.
Gradually. in this confusion. Mr.. Bunker
discerned certain sort of order. and
as he looked he saw that order was the
heart Of the whole big affair. The stenog-
raphers and typists were in groups or
companies of twenty or more. each COM
pany ranged around a central desk at
which sat one in authority. A standard
attached to this persons desk announced
dept. c." dept. 24' and SO on. What
had at first glance seemed hit-or-miss
conglomeration became. on study. an or
derby arrangement. But it offered moth
ing for Mr.. Bunker's talents. He turned
away and pushed the elevator button.
The floor above offered an entirely
different sight. Here the usual Office
building partitions and corridors had
a floor directory giving the room num-
bers and the occupants of each. Mr..
Bunker paused before this. His thought
was that If he could find Mr.. Voller he
might at least make the acquaintance of a
fifth assistant secretary. He supposed Mr..
Blodgett's fifth assistant secretary would
be In Mr.. Blodgett's office. and he found
Mr.. Blodgett's room number tNo. 1243)
and walked down the corridor looking for
the room. He found it.
On the door was the room mum
Der in gold-leaf and the name III. K.
Blodgett" and the warning: NO Admit
lance" Mr.. Bunker opened the door
and looked in. mo admittance" signs
were never meant for bunco steerers
from Oroduna, Iowa.
The room was not as large as Mr..
Bunker had expected. 1t was small
room. There were no serried ranks of
assistant SECRETARIES with their stenog-
raphers. Thu floor was covered by a
deep green rug with a lighter green
border, and on this stood heavy ma
hogany table. Near the window, which
looked out over the bay. was a mahog-
any desk with its back toward the door.
Four or five mahogany chairs stood
here and there, and a revolving desk
chair. also of mahogany. stood behind
Mr.. Blodgett's desk. Mr.. Bunker stepped
into the room and closed the door.
To the right and left of him were
doors. closed now. leading into the Of
fees on either side. AS Mr.. Bunker
stood looking out of the window one
of these doors opened.
well. hello!" said voice that was
familiar to Mr.. Bunker. and he turned
and saw Mr.. Vollor, who held in his
hand number of letters and other
documents. How did you get in here,
I'd like to know
Me? ] sort of opened the door and
walked right in" said Mr.. Bunker.
"Janitor must have left the door un-
locked when he cleaned the room this
morning" said Mr.. Vollor. Nobody is
supposed to come into the room. l do.
though. 1 cut across through here to
get to the Office on the other side, when