The Jasper news., 1920-07-29

Burke, who had been in Mrs. 0aston'n
employ for yearB and had long been
entrusted with o key to the servants
entrance. Yet who else was there TO
suspect
Recovering a little from my bewil-
derment I hastened to the telephone.
must notify the superintendent and
also the police that the apartment had
been robbei. 1 decided. too. that
should wire my great-uncle Rufus Of
the robbery, and then II dawned on
me for the first time that did not
know the old couples address. They
merely had said that they were going
to Maine. Never mind. there was
nothing that they could do in their
absence. Probably could get their
address from the superintendent, or
from Mr.. Gaston's bankers. The frSt
thing to do was to notify the super
intendent.
But waiti With my hand on the
telephone. stopped short II dawn
cd on me that In all likelihood would
be the one most under suspicion.
II detectives were called In, I could
see that their frst move would be 70
lay the theft to my door. They would
investigate everything about me. and
I remembered with distress that I
Spalding Nelson, just now was out Of
job-and far worse, stood discredit.
ed at the only place Of employment I
had had IN New York.
My discharge had come that very
morning like thunderbolt out Of a
clear sky. The reason for my per-
emptory dismissal had not been able
to fathom. In some mysterious fash
ion my employers wrath had been
reused toward me. Why, could not
imagine. Certainly my life, especially
since my two comrades had gone
away, had been circumspect enough.
Even though I was living in seven
thousand-doIlar apartment was un-
employed. all but penniless, Just re-
Gently dismissed for some unexplained
reason, and now more than likely to
be accused or at least suspected Of
theft.
Yet only this very morning had
| OeGu lhhluk uh ORAAAuA1NAN NAOW VI AAlGs
Delighted at having cut my living ex.
penses in two, had decided to take
twenty dollars Of the thirty-five l
drew that day and add It to the one
hundred and eighty dollars l had In
the savings bank. would mail q reg
istered letter to, my motherS. and, re,
duce my Indebtedness to her elnufny
way to business stopped at tAes baAk
and drew out every PENNY had there.
1t was my intention to go to the post
office at lunch time to register the
letter. Just before twelve. Mr.. Wood,
the head Of the frm, had sent for me.
"Mr. Nelson" he had said wrath.
fully. the minute entered his once
"here Is your weeks salary. You will
leave our employ at once"
Stunned both By his manner and his
words, gasped out something about
not understanding what he meant.
knew of no reason that would war
rant my discharge.
II can't put It in any palmer Eng
lish, can IP he roared at me. "Gei
out"
/ held my ground.
"Surely 1 am entitled to some ex
| planation," protested "If there's
, been anything wrong with my work
, "Your works all right" he bel
lowed. "Its this" he cried. wavini
. at me a letter that had been lyinI
: on his desk. "This letter ls enough
: 1t exposes you for what you are"
Dumfounded at his amazing state
ment, / demanded to see the accusing
! document. AnSrily he refused.
"You know as well as what's II
3 It."
In vain I protested. Every wor,
: / uttered only seemed TO add to hi
wrath. In the end he almost hustle,
0 me out Of his Office. Blindly foun'
my WY to the street, still clutchinl
in my hand the weeks pay he ha'
d rudely thrust on me.
That letter to which he referred
q who could have written III VIVA
8 could have been In It that had 80 In
famed my employer against mel
racked my brains In vain. puzzlin
to account for It. I had not bee
aware that I had an enemy In tn
world. yet who but an enemy coul
: have written letter that would hav
such dire efrectf
y The mystery OF my dismissal wa
= too great for me to solve. The on
Is thing 1 felt thankful for was that
Is had come before had sent on N