The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-11-06
Dainty Tenant
Traps Robbers,
Calls for Aid
By AUGUSTUS sHERwIN

w point spoke Gerald Wayne
THE same program must be followed
out at the works. Let the new con-
ditions commence at once"
Very well, SIR bowed Addison
Woods, his office manager.
Wayne had left everything in q
managerial way to Woods, trusting
reliantly to him.
Where was the leak? The books
were amazingly correct. The works
were under competent management,
yet there was deficit in profit.
So one morning Wayne started out
to put in operation new system Of
economy. Addison Woods smiled COW
ertly after his departure.
Il have cut office expenses 40 per
cent. Mr.. Wayne" he announced. by
the way, too. l have sublet the rear
office. 1t was not much use except
as a stOreroom."
very good" commended Wayne,
and he took casual glance In at a
dainty, Industrious figure bent over a
neat table covered with pens colored
inks and brushes
''Who is she?" he inquired, nightly
attracted by the sweet face.
"A Miss Eleanor Wharton. Works
for fashionable statloner, l believe.
Fills in wedding cards and decOrates."
A month went by and late one after
noon Wayne, passing the door of the
rear room, was arrested by the echo
Of faint sob. He stepped over the
threshold to find Miss Wharton with
her face buried in her hands.
You seem troubled" he said.
IL have been greatly disappoint-
ed" fiuttered the young girl, Il am
afraid l shall have to give up the
office, sir
"why. how is that7" inquired
Wayne.
THE business house / have been
working for has failed. l can readily
make a new connection, but l could
not pay the rent here until well on
in the month";"
Bless mel" cried Wayne cheerily.
I'VE always give thirty days credit
to the trade, why not to you? Rest
easy, Miss Wharton, and II you wish
to anticipate later returns just speak
to our cashier"
Two days later she came to him
with happy, beaming face.
Just think of it she said buoy
!. antly. 81 have made new business
connection with so much work to do
that l can employ all my evenings, If
l choose. Can l remain here after
closing time II l pay for the lights?'
OF course there was no objection.
Miss Wharton paid up all arrears
with sparkling, thankful eyes. One
evening Wayne insisted on her taking
respite from her hard work for
spin in his automobile.
And one evening-he never forgot
it-he was seated in his room mile
away from the Office, when the tele
phone called with noisy jangle.
"Mr. Wayne?"-the tones We're
breathless.
"Yes-who is this?"
"Your office-NIiss Wharton"
"Yes?"
"Come, oh come at once. Do not
lose a precious second !"
what is it?" asked Wayne In star
tied wonderment.
~
was for your sake-oh! hurry hurry !"
Wayne reached the building in
which his Office was located. He
rushed up the stairs Tottering through
the doorway of the new subtenant's
apartments there showed the sub
tenant herself.
Quick, quick! !" she gasped, point
ing a terrified finger at the closed door
of the big steel vault-"there there r
She sank to chair overcome. well
nigh at the point of faintihg away.
What do you mean?" inquired
Wayne.
I'm the vault. l shut them in. Two
men-your manager and his friend.
| had to. turned the combination"
Amazed. thrilled. Wayne ran toward
the vault He turned the combination.
went inside and in turn carried the
two men in succession from the sitting
air of the vault-Woods, his manager
and his friend. both unconscious.
"Quick-the phone These men
are almost overcome. Call doctor"
"No, the police" said Eleanore, re-
gaining her composure in n measure,
and then as the men slightly moved
she faltered out her tragic story.
1t appeared that Woods and this
confederate had been Systematically
swindling the house through overship-
ments, fraudulent bills of lading and
altered checks. They were about to
flee. Eleanor heard Woods say his
bank book, securities and safety de
posit key were in his box in the vault.
81 thought of you" she faltered to
Gerald 81 shut them in the vault"
Restitution was sternly demanded
by Gerald when Woods recovered con
sciousness. The villain and his ac-
complice left the Office free to go
where they would, but despoiled of
their steallngs.