Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-08-06

down to her fathers office, If was NO visit of pleasure, for she defested :he manager in charge, Arnold Bennett. lie had gained her fathers good graces, he hnl tried to ,nsiruase his attentions upon Florence, but shs had heard of his ;itless discipline which had turned out many har,.-w erxing employee for some trivial ,lsre.icton or because he was personally preju- diced
 Mir. Drnse had given Florence thorough classical and business Adura- ton. Upon her graduation he hsd set her at work in the office for year. Now ordered away for twcmoneas' rest by his physician, he had called bis daughter into counsel.
 "l am not afraid but Bennett will manage affairs all right" he told Flor ence, "but you know the routine. Twice a week 1 want you to go to the o:i1ce and check up the outgo and incoma I have explained to Bennett, wha np- pears really eager to have what he calls your co-operation."
 But if Arnold Bennett supcoseG that here was the opportunity O. h:S life to make an impression rpGn ,ne only child and sole heress Of "h. ricl. merchant he was woefully u.s;sasn Florence allowed no intimacy. $ae was all business, went over the buoks and daily reports, and simply ,ta> ted the manager politely.
 On" day young man called at the Druse~ ~home. sending in lis name as Wendell Gordon, and word that be wished to see Miss DYuse ;n counec- tion with office business F,os ,nre was quite impressed with the modest, manly bearing of her visitor.
 "I was introduced to Mir. ,rus by the colonel of the regiment 1 vas In abroad" Wendell Gordon told her, "and your father seemed to yake lik- ing to returned soldier louking for employment. He said position would soon be open far me. Today l called at the office to be informed by the man. ager in rather cavalierly way that there were no vacancies"
 Florence's eyes faslied. She resent ed instantly the autocratic behavior of the manager. It might have been her innate dislike for Bennett, or a natural regard for lone of the soldier boys," but she said quite determinedly
 'I shall be at the office tomorrow and will speak with Mir. Bennett about this matter. In any event. you can go to work as soon as you are ready
 Wendell Gordon bowed low and he regarded this positive and evidently wulful young lady with genuine ad. muation. Of course, Bennett was all agreeable and smirking when Florence directed him to place the new man at work. He servilely explained his for mer attitude by citing the fact that Cor don had presented no credentia'ss M evidence of an engagement with NIT. Druse, and that there were many iln- posters around.
 q fear for the present. the best we can do for the young man is to place him in the stock room," said Bennett. 'There happens to be vacancy there," and so the matter was settled.
 Then fate cast those two harmoni. ous souls into closer contact. Cnex' pectedly Florence met Gordon at military reception where he was one of a favored score who were heinz hon ored for exceptional bravery abroad. That was delightful evening for both, and Florence kissed her aunt fervent' ly and the latter did not >disapp-cve of her inviting the young man to the house.
 He came, but not as Florence had ex' pected on q certain set evening. but at the grewson,e hour of midnight ard with a story that brought into the sit. uation almost an element of tragedy.
 Florence and her aunt were just about to retire when taxicab rattled tosa halt in front of the house. Hur ried footsteps sounded on the steps outside. Mrs. Wayland opened the door timorously. Florence, peering over her shoulder, recognized Gordon.
 At his feet were two suitcases He looked anxious and excited. You must 0HrOOu lIIlS NNAAs %Ao said. but a vital matter of business requires immediate attention, and then he poured forth a truly sensational story.
 He had discovered that number of cases invoiced as containing watch jewels, springs and other like utilities. limited of bulk but representing some thing like $iO,OO0 in value, were empty. He Gad made secret inves' tigation and suspicion as to Arnold Bennett led to a remarkable discovery. In his room, packed away ready for shipment to a confederate were the missing goods, and everything pointed to the belief that the unfaithfui man ager was just about to disappear with them, and possibly other assets of the firm.
 At once Florence telephoned for the firms lawyer. There was no sleep for these active workers the rest of that
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