Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-06-20
Verda's
Troubles
By MARION E
Copyright. 1913. western Newspaper UnlOn.)

Are you sure Of what you say, Har
oldY
absolutely. I found in III files to
day a newspaper clipping referring
to the trial Of Dale VintOn in Cleye'
land four years ago for blgamy. AS
we know, your employer was former
~ located In that city. The name IS
not n ommon one, and, between you
and I, sister, / do not approve of you
being in the service Of a man with
such a record"
"You know best, brother" answered
Verda Bruce, a dreary expression com
ing into her face. Then with an evil
dent effort she controlled her emotion,
went up to her own room, and, throw
ing herself on its bed, buried her face
in the pillows and gave way to sobs
and tears.
Harold Bruce was a reporter for a
commercial agency and she could not
doubt his words. For six months YER
da had been employed in the brokerage
office Of Dale Vinton. She had never
been treated so considerably by an
employer. The work had been light
and the pay good, Mr.. Vinton had
shown many little courteous attentions
that had won her respect and esteem.
More than that, as she wept her sor-
rows away Verda had to confess to
herself that she had come to love him
deeply, sincerely.
Verda arose with q val face, but
her lips were tightly set, and coupled
with the expression of misery In her
Y e was a certain resoluteness that
led to immediate action.
Harold is right" she murmured,
brokenly. ST will write my resignation
and mail 1t at once" then, ready to go
out to the letter box, Verda suddenly
recalled that there were some of her
personal belongings in her desk. She
had a key to the Office. 1t was
hour after closing time. She decided
to visit the office, get her belongings
and leave the letter on Mr.. Yinton's
desk.
Verda reached the building where
the office was located, and, the eleva-
tors having stopped running, toiled
up to the fourth floor. AS she neared
the door of the office she paused, for a
light showed through the ground glass
door. She listened intently, but no
sound broke upon the stiffness within.
She reasoned that some employee or
the %janitor had neglected to turn of
the electric light, noiselessly fitted the
key to the lock and opened the door
a mere crack and gazed within.
With n shock, a thrill, Yerda stood
transfixed at the scene that confronted
-nef~ Sraft1ed VISION. Scatter, or rather
crouched back in a chair was her en-
ployer. He was bound securely to the
chair and there was a gag between his
lips. Coming from the vault were two
rough-looking men, carrying between
them a little safe. They placed this
on a table and returned into the vault
evidently BEN upon a further search
for money or its equivalent.
Verda stepped within the room,
Closing the door gently behind her.
The eyes of her inert and helpless en-
ployer were fixed upon her with as
%tonlshment mingled with an express
sion of appeal. Verda knew that she
must act at once, and did. Swiftly she
tiptoed to the vault, seized the heavy
iron vault door and slammed it shut,
with trembling fingers she shot the
ha1t Than che hfrrin6 70 tho
side of Mr.. Vinton, released his hands
from their bonds, and, overcome with
excitement staggered towards the tele-
phone. She Just managed to retain
strength to summon the police and
dropped into Il chair in a dead swoon.
"Where are they-those dreadful
men," she stammered incoherently, as
senslbility returned and she found her
employer at her side pressing a wet
towel to her head.
"You brave little woman !" he cried
spontaneously. "They are gone-in
the hands of the police, and you have
the credit of capturing two noted
criminals, besides saving my property,
perhaps my life"
Verda struggled ~unsteadily to her
feet. II must go, Mr.. Vinton," she
said TREMENDOUSLY.
"Surely not until you have told me
what this MEANS" said Vinton in a
gentle, persuasive tone.
As he spoke he extended the letter
of resignation which Verda had
dropped to the floor of the room amid
her exciting episode of the hour. She
flushed crimson.
"I-I am going to work in a new
place." she faltered incoherently.
Then, at a view of his frank, earnest
face, she broke down utterly and
sobbed out the entire story appertain-
ing to the letter and her visit to the
office.
Dale Vinton listened gravely. There
was a serious look in his eyes as he
went to his desk and removed thence
a photograph. Apparently 1t was his
own picture, but he explained: