Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-03-12

down to her fathers office. 1t was ne
visit of pleasure, for she detested the
manager in charge, Arnold Bennett.
He had gained her fathers good
graces, he had tried to ~insinuSte his
attentions upon Florence, but she had
heard of his pitiless discipline which
had turned out many a Woodworking
employee for some trivial derelictioR
or because he was personally preju-
diced.
Mr.. Druse had given Florence q
thorough classical and business educa-
ton. Upon her graduation he had set
her at work in the office for a year.
Now ordered away for a two-months'
rest by his physician, he had called his
daughter into counsel.
II am not afraid but Bennett will
manage affairs all right" he told Flor
ence, "but you know the routine. Twice
a week l want you to go to the office
and check up the outgo and income. I
have explained to Bennett, who ap-
pears really eager to have what he
calls your cooperation"
D0l II LII DCllIlCLL odpBO0CA
that here was the opportunity of his
life to make an impression upon the
only child and sole heiress of the rich
merchant, he was woefully mistaken.
Florence allowed no intimacy. She
was all business, went yer the books
and daily reports, and simply treated
the manager politely.
Ono aau n ~ n,a1 ao11o1 ok tho
Druse home, sending in his name as
Wendell Gordon, and word hat he
wished to see Miss Druse in connec-
ton with office business. Florence
was quite impressed with the modest,
manly bearing of her visitor.
81 was introduced to Mr.. Druse by
the colonel of the regiment I was In
abroad" Wendell Gordon told her,
"and your father seemed to take a lik-
ing to a returned soldier looking for
employment. He said a position would
soon be open for me. Today I called
at the office to be informed by the man
ager in a rather %cavalierly way that
there were no vacancies"
Florence's eyes flashed. She resent
ed instantly the autoeratic behavior Of
the manager. 1t might have been her
innate dislike for Bennett, or a natural
regard for "one of the soldier boys"
but she said quite determinedly:
II shall be at the office tomorrow
and will speak with Mr.. 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
willful young lady with genuine adj
miration. OF course, Bennett was all
agreeable and Sinking 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 credentials or
evidence of an engagement with Mr..
Druse, and that there were many inn
posters around.
81 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 a vacancy
there and so the matter was settled.
Then fate cast those two harmoni-
Gus souls into closer contact. Unex-
pectedly Florence met Gordon at a
military reception where he was one OF
a favored score who were being hon.
pred for exceptional bravery abroad.
That was a delightful evening for both,
and Florence kissed her aunt fervent-
" and the latter did not disapprove of
her inviting the young man to the
house.
He came, but not as Florence had PIX
pected on a certain set evening, but
at the grewsome hour of midnight and
with a story that brought into the sit
uation almost an element of tragedy.
Florence and her aunt were just
about to retire when a taxicab ratified
to a halt in front of the house. Hur-
ried footsteps sounded IN the steps
outside. Mrs. Wayland opened the
door t~imorously. Florence, peering
over her shoulder, recognized Gordon.
At his feet were two suitcases. He
looked anxious and excited. You must
pardon this unceremoniouS CALL" he
said, 'but q vital matter of business
requires immediate attention, and then
he poured forth a truly sensational
story.
He had discovered that a number of
cases invoiced as containing watch
Jewels, springs and other like utilities,
limited of bulk but representing
thing like $4,000 in value, were
empty. He had made a 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 u%nfaithful 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 fox
%hoco ootivo warl,prc tho rest nf that