The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-20
"a Leave of
Absence
@><D@ \
By MYRTLE LEE BARROWS


the manager of Porter & Co., whole.
salers of coffeeS and Spices and Egbert
Clyne repaired to the private office of
the senior partner to find there Mr.
Porter, his lawyer and the family ply
Sician.
Clyne looked puzzled and con.
cerned.
IAN indefinite leave" put in the ply
stefan, backed by my certificate that
a vacation rest would be beneficial.
Perhaps l had better explain" in
terposed the attorney. ut is neces-
sary to the interest of Porter & Co.
that you disappear for time. AS head
bookkeeper of the house you would
probably be subpoenaed in court next
week in an important case. Ii covers
a transaction ten years old, an invalid
claim, but the records of our books
show that it has its merits. On the
contrary the same was settled verbally
long ago, only the person who was a
witness to the settlement cannot be
found"
ITO simplify things let me explain
further" said Mr.. Porter. ut was a
bookkeeper we had whose evidence
would prove the settlement. He was
a trusted employee, inherited some
means and, with his motherless child,
then ten years of age, left our service.
We never kept track Of him and now
that we desperately need his testimony
we cannot locate him."
"You see," the lawyer again spoke,
I'VE want to gain delay. If you can
not be served they will have to await
court. The delay will give us chance
to try and locate our old bookkeeper-
at least, negotiate a compromise settle
ment."
$50 go and forget business cares,
with salary and expenses entirely off
your mind" directed Mr.. Porter.
1t was a peculiar situation, but Egg
bert Clyne asked no further questions
Lose yourself" were Mr.. Porter's final
words, $50 the court officers can't serve
that subpoena"
Clyne had no definite plans in mind,
but after consulting a book devoted to
advertising summer resorts he selected
a remote one. He found Bear Lake
well suited to his ideas, wrote to Mr..
Porter and set about awaiting orders
and enjoying himself.
Bear Lake village was the center OF
a group of half dozen bodies of wa
ter and Clyne took in the entire chain
as the days went by. 1t was well on
towards dusk one evening, and he was
fully ten miles from home. He had
left little hamlet known as Point
Hope on his return trip. The sky had
clouded and stiff northeaster was
roughing the waters when, coming
within view of an island about mid
lake, he piled the oars with diligence
as a small sailboat he had noticed was
struck by sudden squall and over
turned. Clyne fancied that shrek in
feminine accents was borne' to his
hearing. He bent to the oars prodi-
giously, arose to his feet and plunged
boldly into the water as he made out a
girlish figure clinging to the upturned
boat. Apparently exhausted, she let
go her clasp, sank, reappeared and
Clyne gained her side just as she was
sinking again. He managed to sustain
her, reached his drifting boat and lift
ed her into it. Upon the island he made
out a house and he drove his skiff
rushing to the spot
At the moment the girl revived. Her
father and Clyne assisted her to a lit
tie cottage set in nest of verdure
and flowers. When the old man had
seen his daughter to her room he in
sisted that Clyne should get on dry
clothes and remain their guest until
the storm had subsidized.
That was a charming evening for
the young man, in the company of
John Brice and his daughter, Luela.
He learned enough to know that they
had lived on the island for a number of
y SdlS SethlllS ptuCc anu uuict uLnlu
the beauties of nature. Books, music,
a modest literary ambition on the part
of Mr.. Brice and an amateur impulse
of art on the part of Luella allevated
any possible tedium of their hermit
life. They insisted that Clyne remain
till the next morning and, after a re-
freshing sleep in which all his dreams
We're of the charming girl he had met,
Clyne awoke, found his own clothes
dried and pressed and started in to
make himself presentable. He scan
ned twice in some amazement
framed yellowed photograph on the
wall. 1t was a front view picture of
the business establishment of Porter &
Co.
"Ah! already?" hailed Mr.. Brice, 4
passing the open doorway. "Time for
a constitutional before breakfast, if it
suits you"
Surely" responded Clyne, "that pic
ture is familiar, to me-"
"Indeed It's that of an establish !
ment where I was bookkeeper for near
ly twelve years."
"Then my meeting you will be of
immense Importance to Porter & Co."
1t was so important and valued that
after the evidence of the old bookkecp-