The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-04-15
The Street Called
Straight
BY HAROLD SINCLAIRE
o. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.I

Office Of the Allen Manufacturing com
pany, stood staring In a daZed way
into the money drawer of the high
screened desk that was her post OF
duty.
She had tailed off her cash balance
at noon the day previous. Then she
had gone to the bank. She had re
turned and filed the pay envelopes fol
the factory hands. At four o'clock, as
was usual, young Alden Norris, son OF
the president of the company, had ar
rived to take the pay roll to the fac
tory in his automobile.
Grace very distinctly remembered
that incident. A slight flush tinged
her fair cheeks as she thought of it.
Whenever the young man visited the
Office life seemed to brighten up. Then
after the days work Grace had placed
the cash box in the safe and had gone
over the books.
Grace mechanically walked over to the
little desk that was the post Of the
Office boy, Jerry Lang. She stood rack
ing her brain anew, trying to figure
things out. Suddenly she gave start,
leaned over, and from the tiny ink
tray on the desk took up long, thick
pin.
"a bank pinv' she fluttered-"nOt
another In the tray like it, and-Oh.
dear, I'm afraid see it all !"
Grace made q spasmOdic dive for
a crumpled-up wad of paper lying
among the litter of cards and penhOld-
ers. She opened it. smoothing out
the conventional bank strip used in
binding packages of currency together.
Il had $50" printed across it, the date
Of the day previous and the initials
Of the bank where the company did
business.
grew quite pale. Then she almost
cried. Then she kept watching for the
arrival Of Jerry. He slOuched in half
an hour later. He looked wretchedly
worried. Something was wrong with
him-Grace saw that at a glance.
Jerry" she called, and beckOned
him past the doorway of one Of the in
ner offices. He darted frightened
glance at her, but obeyed her call.
"Sit down." she said, closing the door.
II have something to say to YOU"
81 can't do any errands," blurted out
Jerry. Tim going to leave, Miss
Boyce. You see"
mo. Jerry" interrupted Grace, "yOu
are not going to leave until you tell
me about that $50 you took out of my
handbag yesterday"
Jerry tried to face his accuser def
antly. Then he broke down. He gulped,
writhed and sobbed.
"What did you do with the money"
inquired Grace.
~ met some fellers. 1 went with
them to a pool room. lost 1t all, and
don't send me to Jail! !" he pleaded,
falling to his knees. Don't tell my
mother-it will kill herr
Jerry moaned and bawled. Here
and there amid his incoherent SOB
bling a streak of the real Jerry came
out, and Grace ended up the interview
in a brief talk. At the end Of 1t the
cOntrite Office boy declared she had
saved him from an abyss and he would
be true blue!"
Jerry went back to his desk. Grace
with a sigh drew check against her
little savings account, thought Of poor
Mrs. Lang, and hoped she was acting
for the best. She was a little sur
prised when young Mr.. Morris en-
tered the Office a few minutes later.
They chatted for while. Then Grace
asked him to give Jerry a place at
the factory.
Two months went by. Every Satur-
day evening Jerry called upon Grace
at her boarding house. On each occa-
sion he had humbly offered her a dol
lar Of his salary, which she declined
to take.
The last day Of the fiscal year a let
ter was handed to Grace by the Office
manager. 1t was from the president
Of the company, and 1t incl0sed check
for $20O-"for faithful services" the
letter read, "the amount to be dupli-
Gated as an advance in salary for the
forthcoming year."
Grace was regarding it, dreaming
over what the unexpected windfall |
would mean to her, when a smiling |
face pressed close to the netted wire. |
81 heard about that" spoke Alden |
Morris. "YOu deserve It, Miss Boyca."
"What will I ever do with so much |
inquired Grace In pretty, af- |
fected dismay.
Evil you let me advise your" asked |
young Morris, quite earnestly, and step
ping into the cage.
IL should be glad-why, yes"
Grace, something in the i'm
pressive manner of the speaker set
ting her heart In a strange iutter.
Then" said Alden, lowering his |
voice to a tender whisper, buy your
self wedding outfit"
"A wedding outfit?" repeated Grace.
THAT Is" smiled Alden, "if you will |
have me for husband. Listen Miss
You and have been
sharing some work together. mean
Jerry, you know. l was I'm the inner
office the day you so nobly sacrificed
vOur LITTLE earnings IN save tho hov