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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f5dead --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52872 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52872) diff --git a/old/52872-0.txt b/old/52872-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1e82d24..0000000 --- a/old/52872-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6852 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Harry Harding's Year of Promise, by Alfred Raymond - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Harry Harding's Year of Promise - -Author: Alfred Raymond - -Release Date: August 22, 2016 [EBook #52872] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARRY HARDING'S YEAR OF PROMISE *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - HARRY HARDING’S - YEAR OF PROMISE - - _By_ - - ALFRED RAYMOND - - - [Illustration: _The_ - GOLDSMITH - _Publishing Co._ - - CLEVELAND OHIO] - - MADE IN U.S.A. - - - - - _Copyright, 1917, by_ - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I PLANNING THEIR YEAR OF PROMISE 1 - II WHAT CAME OUT OF A BIN 10 - III DECLARING WAR ON THE PERCOLATOR 20 - IV AN EVEN EXCHANGE OF CONFIDENCES 28 - V AN UNPROMISING DAY 40 - VI HARRY SPEAKS HIS MIND 54 - VII TEDDY BURKE, AVENGER 65 - VIII A SANE LUNATIC 76 - IX THE PARTY OF THE THIRD PART 84 - X TEDDY BEGINS HIS FALL CANNING 93 - XI THE MARTIN MINUTE MEN 100 - XII THE BOY WHO COULD FORGIVE 111 - XIII THE ERRAND OF MERCY 121 - XIV TEDDY SCENTS A MYSTERY 132 - XV THE PLOT THICKENS 143 - XVI AN UNLUCKY DISCOVERY 153 - XVII DECORATING A DÉBUTANTE 163 - XVIII A QUEER TWIST OF FATE 173 - XIX TEDDY’S DARKEST HOUR 185 - XX ALL FOR THE SAKE OF TEDDY BURKE 196 - XXI AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND AT COURT 211 - XXII THE BEAUTY OF EFFICIENCY 220 - XXIII A BELATED RECOGNITION 235 - XXIV ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL 248 - - - - -HARRY HARDING’S YEAR OF PROMISE - - - - -CHAPTER I - -PLANNING THEIR YEAR OF PROMISE - - -Under a huge horse-chestnut tree, at the foot of a pretty bit of green, -sloping lawn, a curly-haired boy lay stretched at ease, his blue eyes -glued to the last page of an open book before him. Harry Harding -emitted a deep sigh of satisfaction as he read: - -“When the last golden sunset rays touched with tender glory the Kingdom -of New Hope, once the Kingdom of Despair, the formerly unhappy king, -now happy in the knowledge of well-doing, hurried to the lonely spot -in the forest where the tall pines whispered and sung. He hoped to -meet again the queer little man who had promised him the secret of -happiness. He waited there until the darkness fell, but no one came. -Tired at last of the still blackness and the sighing of the pines, he -called out in a loud voice, ‘Little man, where are you? The Year of -Promise is ended. I have done your bidding faithfully. The Kingdom of -Despair is now the Kingdom of New Hope. My happy subjects adore me and -I have found peace. Show yourself once more, little friend, that I may -thank you.’ - -“Still no one came and he found no wonderful casket. Only the evening -breeze sang on through the sentinel pines. But, as the king listened, -he was sure he heard it murmur: ‘Continue to do well. Every year comes -to you as a Year of Promise. It lies within yourself to make it a Year -of Fulfillment. This is the true secret of----’” - -Whack! A carefully-aimed apple struck the open book with a force -that sent it flying from the absorbed reader’s grasp. From behind a -neighboring tree a freckled face peeped out. It was lighted by two -dancing, black eyes and crowned with a mop of brilliant red hair. - -“No use hiding. I’ll get you!” Leaping to his feet Harry made a dash -for the tree that sheltered the mischievous marksman. - -Emitting a war whoop of pure joy the red-haired boy left his refuge -and tore across the lawn and around the corner of the little bungalow, -his victim in hot pursuit. After circling the house several times, -his quarry still in the lead, Harry brought strategy to the chase. -Turning about, he ran in an opposite direction just in time to nab the -offender as he rushed around a corner at reckless speed. - -“I’ve caught you!” Harry proceeded to administer a mild punishment, -which merely served to bring shouts of wild glee from the unrepentant -apple thrower. “Now go and pick up my book,” he commanded. With a final -shake he released his wildly wriggling catch. - -“Go and pick it up yourself,” invited the red-haired boy with a grin. -Nevertheless, he strolled over to where the maltreated book helplessly -sprawled. Raising it he presented it to Harry with a chuckle. “Here’s -your old book, but don’t think you’re going to read it. You’ve been too -busy with it all afternoon.” - -“All right, I won’t. I’ve finished it, anyway.” Tucking it under his -arm, Harry dropped down beneath the tree and beckoned to his companion. -“Sit here, Teddy, and let’s talk.” - -Teddy Burke responded to the invitation with a bounce and a flop that -pitched Harry on his side in the short green grass. The will to gambol -about like a very frisky young lamb was strong within Teddy on this -beautiful July day, and the process of settling himself for a talk was -accomplished with difficulty. - -“What have you been reading about that kept you so quiet?” was his -curious question, as he finally came to rest at Harry’s left. - -“It’s a dandy book.” Harry fingered the dark green cover with evident -affection. “I bought it for only ten cents at an aisle sale, just -before we came out here for our vacation. It’s all short stories. I -like the last one best, though. It’s called ‘The Secret of Happiness,’ -and it’s about a king----” - -“Huh, I guess it’s a lot of old fairy tales,” sniffed Teddy. “Catch me -reading ’em. I like stories about fellows that went on voyages round -the world and discovered islands and things that nobody else’d ever -heard of.” - -To those who have read “HARRY HARDING, MESSENGER 45,” Teddy Burke -and Harry Harding are already familiar acquaintances. In that volume -was recorded the manner in which they met, their ready entrance into -mutual friendship and how, together, they began their business life -as messengers in Martin Brothers’ department store. Many incidents, -serious and laughable, fell to their lot as members of the great -store family. While Teddy, in spite of numerous mischievous pranks, -flourished in his new surroundings, Harry’s early days of work were -brimmed with bitter misfortune. But he met trial and discouragement -with a staunch heart, and amply proved himself worthy of the reward his -persevering stand for the right brought him. - -The winning of a prize of twenty dollars in gold afforded him the -coveted opportunity to take his mother into the country for a brief -vacation. In this project he was joined by Mrs. Burke and her son -Teddy, and the last Saturday of the delightful two weeks freedom from -toil found the four happy idlers spending their final vacation hours -together at the cozy bungalow where their combined finances had enabled -them to pass this brief, pleasant season together. - -“You’re not the only one that likes adventure stories,” smiled Harry -in answer to Teddy’s derisive fling at fairy tales. “I like them, too. -But the stories in this book are not about old witches and enchanted -castles and such things. They’re allegories.” - -“What’s allegories?” Teddy eyed Harry as though he wondered whether -they might not be some rare species of animal of which the Zoo could -not boast. - -“An allegory is--let me see--well, it’s a story that seems like a fairy -tale but isn’t.” - -“Must be even worse, then,” discouraged Teddy. - -“No; it’s better,” contradicted Harry. “It tells you a story, but -it teaches you a lesson at the same time. Now this one I was just -reading----” - -“I don’t want to hear anything that sounds like a lesson.” Teddy made -a grimace of disgust. “I hate to think about going to that old night -school.” - -“That’s what you said about day school, but you liked it just the same. -You’re a humbug, Teddy Burke.” - -“I ain’t.” Teddy resorted to inelegant defense. “Let’s not talk about -school. Go on and tell me your old story.” - -Harry regarded Teddy out of affectionate blue eyes. “You’re a fraud, -then,” he teased. - -“I wouldn’t let any other fellow call me that, but you don’t count. Now -go ahead with your yarn.” - -“Thank you.” Harry bowed ironically. “Well, this allegory is about a -king who ruled over the Kingdom of Despair. It was called so because -everything in it went wrong. And that was his fault because he was so -hateful and harsh with his subjects. After a while these poor people -got up a plot to take the kingdom away from him, and he found it out. -He didn’t know what to do so he went out into a big pine forest all by -himself to think things over. While he was there he met a queer little -man who gave him a terrible scolding and made him see how mean he was. -He felt very bad and said if he only had another chance he’d do better. -So the little man said that if he meant what he said, he’d give him a -year to keep his promise. If he failed, then he’d lose his kingdom and -his life, too. But if at the end of the year the people still wanted -him for king he was to come back to the pine woods and there he would -find a wonderful casket in which was the secret of happiness. - -“So the king went back to his kingdom and set all the poor prisoners -free that he had hidden away in underground dungeons. Then he called -all the people of the kingdom together and told them that he was going -to do better by them. He told them of the wonderful casket and promised -if they would let him be king for another year he would divide the -secret of happiness with them when he got it. So they said they would -help him and promised not to take his kingdom from him.” - -“And did he behave himself?” was Teddy’s matter-of-fact question. Fairy -tale or allegory, he was interested in the doings of the repentant king. - -“You can better believe he did. He was good as gold for a whole year -and instead of going on hating him, his subjects grew to love him.” - -“Did the little man give him the casket when the year was up?” - -“Listen and I’ll read it to you. I had just finished it when you shied -that apple at me.” - -Harry opened the book to the last page and again read the concluding -paragraphs. - -“So _that’s_ an allegory,” mused Teddy. “Hm! It’s not so slow. I kind -of like that idea about the Year of Promise. Say, Harry, it’s something -like us, isn’t it? When we go back to Martin Brothers’ next Monday it -would be kind of fun to pretend it was _our_ Year of Promise. Now, -wouldn’t it?” - -“I was thinking that when I first read it.” Harry looked pleased to -find that Teddy had made the same application of the allegory. “It -_will_ be our Year of Promise, Ted, and it’s up to us to make it our -Year of Fulfillment.” - -“I guess it is.” Teddy considered the idea gravely, his impish face -becoming solemn. “I’m going to try to behave--if I can. No more -throwing baseballs over balconies for me. That’s about the worst -thing I did last year, except punching Howard Randall and wearing a -stewpan for a hat and pestering the Gobbler--I mean Miss Newton.” Teddy -launched into a further enumeration of his iniquities. - -“Just think of all the good things you did,” reminded Harry. “What -about helping Miss Newton when she lost her purse and----” - -“Oh, can it!” The red that sprang to Teddy’s cheeks threatened to rival -that of his hair. “It’s funny I didn’t get fired. I’m going to be -pretty careful what I do this year, though.” - -A faint smile curved Harry’s lips at this earnest declaration. Knowing -Teddy as he did, he doubted his chum’s ability to steer prudently clear -of scrapes. Mischief and the red-haired boy were one. - -“You needn’t smile.” Teddy had marked the amused flicker. “I’m going to -be so good all the time that it’ll make you dizzy.” - -“Then I sha’n’t be able to work.” - -Teddy giggled as his quick fancy pictured Harry reeling helplessly -about Department 85, as the result of his own perpetual good behavior. -“I guess you won’t get very dizzy,” he predicted. - -“No; I don’t believe I shall. Still, it isn’t what we _say_ we’re going -to do that counts, Ted. It’s what we really _do_.” Harry’s bantering -tone changed to one of deep conviction. “It’s just as the pine trees -whispered to the king. We’re going back to the store on Monday to begin -our Year of Promise, and if we do our level best with each day of it, -then it can’t help but be a Year of Fulfillment, too.” - - - - -CHAPTER II - -WHAT CAME OUT OF A BIN - - -“No, Madam, you can’t settle your transfer here. You’ll have to go -to that desk down there. Four aisles below.” Miss Welch’s indexing -pencil pointed with a determination that invited the zealous clamorer -for settlement to seek further. “Down there,” she repeated, as the -woman fixed her placid gaze on a spot far up the aisle, then aimlessly -wandered around a corner of the desk to implore fresh information from -a nearby salesperson. - -“Can you beat it?” muttered the disgusted exchange clerk. “Tell ’em to -go down the aisle and they rubber up and don’t go neither way but sidle -around the desk and hold up a sales. Just like that. If I was a---- -Why, hel-lo, Kiddo!” Miss Welch’s monologue ended in a cry of pleasant -surprise. “If it ain’t Harry Harding! Now where did _you_ drop from? -Look at the boy! Growed an inch in two weeks; and see the tan. Some -little vacation, _I_ guess. How about it?” - -“Oh, Miss Welch, I’m ever so glad to see you.” Harry shook the exchange -clerk’s extended hand with joyful fervor. “I was afraid maybe you’d be -away on your vacation, and I wanted to see you.” - -“Listen to the kid. He wanted to see me. Well, I’m exhibiting at -the same old stand. Maybe I didn’t miss you, too, Harry. I got your -postcard. I knew you couldn’t slight your old friend Irish.” - -“Of course I couldn’t. Whenever I thought about the store, I thought of -you and that was every day. I had a splendid time, but I’m glad to be -back, though. When are you going on your vacation?” - -“Not until the last of August. Martin Brothers just can’t bear to give -me up. If you hear a noise like a roof falling in around the last of -next month you’ll know I’ve went off for a two weeks’ hunting the -joy-bug, and the shebang has collapsed.” Pretty Miss Welch’s dimples -were in evidence as she made this astonishing statement. - -“I shouldn’t be surprised if it would,” Harry responded with boyish -gallantry. “I know books and jewelry’ll miss you.” - -“So will Smarty Barty. He’s ordered black already. I hate to leave -_him_, with the hate left out.” - -Harry’s sensitive face clouded momentarily. The mention of his ancient -enemy brought back the memory of long-unredressed wrongs. - -“Is he pretty cross now?” was his sober question. - -“_Now?_” Miss Welch’s eyebrows went up. “Take it from me, kid, he was -born with crankitis and never got cured. He could take a bite out of -one o’ them triple plate card trays over there and not hurt his teeth. -But away with S. B. How’s the boy? You certainly look fine. I heard you -speak your little piece up in Martin Hall. I was sorry I didn’t see you -that night to praise you for the hit you made. Now tell me where you -went and all about it.” - -Harry responded with a brief but eager account of his vacation, to -which the exchange girl kept up a running fire of encouraging comment. - -“I’ll have to leave you,” he said at last. “There’s going to be a -mid-summer sale, beginning to-morrow, and I’ve a lot of books to bring -down from the stock-room.” - -“Don’t forget Number 10,” was Miss Welch’s pertinent reminder, as he -turned away. “Wedding presents, misfits and general junk exchanged -while you wait.” - -Smilingly Harry walked down the aisle in the direction of the elevator -that would take him to the stock-room. How pleasant it was to see -Miss Welch again, and to greet the members of his department. Yet on -entering the store how strange it had seemed not to go to the assembly -room for roll call. He and Teddy now reported at the regular time-desk -for the men. Instead of being obliged to report at half-past seven -o’clock, their time limit was set at eight. Not until the first of -October would they again go to school; then only twice a week and after -the business of the day was over. This last they had learned from Mr. -Marsh when they had reported at his desk that morning. - -As the elevator came to a jiggling stop, and the boy was about to step -in, a tall figure loomed up beside him, brushed him out of the way as -though he had been a troublesome fly, and crowded into the cage ahead -of him. Only the flashing of his blue eyes betrayed Harry’s annoyance -at the rudeness. The next second the car was speeding upward, but that -second revealed to the boy the author of the discourtesy. It was Mr. -Barton who had thrust him aside. If the crabbed aisle manager was aware -of the lad’s presence in the car, he gave no sign of it. His scowling -face was fixed on the operator’s back and when the car stopped at the -fifth floor he fairly bolted out of it. - -“Pipe that old crank?” The operator, a youth of perhaps twenty years, -turned to Harry with a grin. “He’s a sick man, he is. Pretty near every -mornin’ he hits my car about this time and beats it for the hospital. -His ugliness has struck in an’ gives him a pain, I guess.” - -“Do you know him?” Harry looked his surprise at learning Mr. Barton’s -destination. - -“Sure I know him. So do you. I run this car the day he took you up to -Prescott’s office. That was some crime, but you got clear all right. I -heard about it. A guy downstairs tipped me off.” - -“It was a mistake all around.” Harry was too much of a man to take -advantage of the opportunity to disparage the unjust aisle manager. -“Why does he go to the hospital so much?” he inquired, with a view to -leading the operator away from the unpleasant past. - -“He’s got the dis-pep-shy. The pep’s struck to his stommick and makes -it ache. I heard him tellin’ another floor-walker ’bout it one morning. -He can’t get nothin’ to cure it. Too bad, ain’t it? I’d turn on the -salt water, but cryin’ hurts my eyes,” he concluded with a derisive -grimace. - -“No wonder he’s so cross. I never knew he had dyspepsia.” In spite of -his dislike for Mr. Barton, Harry could not help feeling a trifle sorry -for the unfortunate victim of so painful a malady. - -“I wouldn’t lay awake nights thinkin’ about it,” was the operator’s -succinct advice as Harry stepped out of the cage at the tenth floor. - -“I never lie awake nights thinking about anything,” he retorted -sharply. The boy’s utter lack of sympathy jarred on him. He could not -help wondering, as he made his way to the section reserved for the book -stock, whether, after all, Mr. Barton could really be blamed for his -perpetual snarling. Long since he had forgiven the aisle manager for -the injustice which had merely been the means of placing him under the -guidance of Mr. Rexford. His ready sympathy awakened by what he had -just heard, Harry was sure that if at any future time his path should -cross Mr. Barton’s, he would be charitable enough to make allowances. - -“Hello!” he exclaimed. “What’s been happening here, I’d like to -know.” His active mind swung from the subject of Mr. Barton’s woes to -confront a most astonishing change in the stock designed for the sale, -which he had arranged so neatly before starting on his vacation. In -the bins where order had reigned supreme, the hapless volumes were -jumbled together in reckless confusion. Uneven piles of books, that the -lightest touch would scatter, rose from various points on the floor. -Wherever his eye chanced to rest, Harry marked plentiful signs of -dust. The hand of neglect lay heavy upon his treasures, and he emitted -a low whistle of consternation as he investigated a nearby bin in -which crazily commingled an expensive edition of the great poets and a -quantity of low-priced books for boys. - -His whistle at least was productive of instantaneous results. Hearing a -sudden shuffling sound behind him, he whirled. From a bin at the lower -end of the stock-room a black, tousled head emerged. It was followed by -a long, wiry body that gradually straightened itself. A pair of thin -arms stretched themselves lazily. From under a thatch of black, rumpled -hair two half-shut black eyes resentfully viewed the newcomer. The -stretching process continued, and a wide mouth opened more widely in a -yawn. - -“Whada you want?” came the ill-natured challenge, issued between yawns. - -“Who are you?” Harry returned in crisp, business-like tones. - -“I’m the stock boy. Who you whistlin’ for? What’s missin’ downstairs? A -fellow can’t more’n get up here until somebody’s after him.” - -“The stock boy!” Harry’s tone registered incredulity. “How long have -you been stock boy? Where is Fred Alden?” - -“How do I know where he is? I’m no direct’ry. I’ve been here a week, -but that’s none of your business. If you’re talkin’ about the kid that -had this job before me, he’s left.” - -“Why did he leave?” Harry’s eyes grew wide at this news. - -“Ask the employment office. Now whada you want? I got a lot to do and I -can’t stop to fool around with you.” - -“You seemed to be very busy--sleeping when I came here.” Harry launched -this barb merely by shrewd guess. - -It struck home. The tall boy’s sallow face grew red. He made a menacing -step forward. “Cut that out,” he growled. “Say what you’re after and -beat it.” - -“So _you_ are the new stock boy.” Harry regarded the other lad with a -calm, unfearing glance. “I must say that I am surprised. As it happens, -I came up here to _work_. So I’m going to stay. I can see that I shall -find plenty to do. If you’ve finished your nap it might be a good idea -for you to get busy, too.” - -“You’re a fresh kid.” The tall boy continued to advance threateningly, -his fists doubled for battle. “Are you goin’ to get out?” - -“No; I’m not. You might as well put down your fists for I sha’n’t fight -you. I’m here to work, not to fight. I’m not the least bit afraid of -you. If you _must_ fight, I’ll meet you anywhere you like outside the -store.” - -For a moment the two boys faced each other in silence, Harry coolly -defiant, his adversary too greatly enraged for speech. The determined -glint in Harry’s eyes, backed by his fearless demeanor, warned the -bully to caution. Step by step he backed slowly away from the fight for -which he apparently yearned. “I’ll fix you yet, freshie,” he muttered. -Turning a prudent back on danger he shuffled toward the bin he had -recently occupied and began pitching into it the tottering heaps of -books that lay nearest to his ruthless hands. - -“This is a nice mess,” was Harry’s inward comment, as he stood -speculating where to begin the much-needed reform. “How did Mr. Rexford -ever happen to hire such a stock boy? I’m surprised that Mr. Atkins -hasn’t reported him. Somebody must have been asleep at the switch or -that lazy bully would never be working for Martin Brothers.” - -With a sigh he dropped to his knees and began a piling up of the famous -poets, preparatory to transplanting them to their proper sphere. To -find Henry W. Longfellow sandwiched between “The Boy Castaways of -Snake Island” and “Umbasi, the Zulu Chief,” was an outrage that called -for instant reparation. He wished now that he had stopped to make a -few general inquiries before coming to the stock-room. Knowing that -Mr. Rexford was seldom in the department before nine o’clock, he had -lingered on the selling floor after receiving his orders from the -assistant buyer only long enough to greet a few of the salespeople and -to speak to Miss Welch. - -A repeated whacking and banging of books at the lower end of the -stock-room conveyed to Harry the fact that the unwilling laborer had -decided to work. The precise value of his noisy effort was yet to be -determined. Harry was not optimistic regarding the final result. From -what he had already discovered it was likely to be a thorough jumble. -But where was Mr. Atkins, who had charge of the incoming shipments of -books and who attended to the marking of their prices? It was not in -the least like him to allow a stock boy to thus neglect the surplus -stock. Harry now remembered that he had not seen the man about as he -passed through the receiving room. - -“I hate to go and tell tales the minute I come back to the store,” was -his reflection as he energetically delved and straightened the untidy -bins. “Perhaps they’ve kept this fellow so busy he hasn’t had time to -set things straight. But just the same he was asleep. I know he was. -If he’s going to be so lazy, I’ll work hard and keep the stock looking -nice anyway. That is, unless he loafs all the time. I’m going to find -out who he is and all about him. Mother says it doesn’t need to make -much difference to one what other people do or don’t do. It’s what one -does or doesn’t do oneself. I’m going to do my work just as if I were -the only stock boy here. If this boy isn’t playing fair with Martin -Brothers, somebody will be sure to find it out and without my saying a -word about it to anyone.” - - - - -CHAPTER III - -DECLARING WAR ON THE PERCOLATOR - - -But while Harry Harding was wrestling with a difficulty that had risen -on the very threshold of his Year of Promise, Teddy Burke had made a -most triumphant return to the humble kingdom of house furnishings. From -Mr. Everett, the buyer, down to Miss Newton, the Gobbler, Teddy was -hailed as a long-lost brother. - -“I am very glad to see _you_ back again, 65,” was Mr. Duffield’s -beaming greeting, and this genial sentiment was echoed by the others of -the department as Teddy flitted about among them, his thin little hand -stretched forth in ready comradeship, his freckled face wreathed with -smiles. - -“Well, Reddy, how’s business?” was Sam Hickson’s jovial question. -Having made the round of the department, Teddy now proceeded to line -himself up beside his old friend for a brief chat before his duties of -the day grew too brisk to permit further social amenities. - -“That’s a nice question to ask me,” sniffed Teddy. “How do you s’pose -I know how business is when I’ve been off in the country enjoying -myself?” - -“Well, you’ve answered it just the same,” teased the salesman. -“Enjoying yourself in the country was your business, wasn’t it?” - -“I guess you must have been chewing smart-weed,” retorted Teddy. -“Wonder if I’d be as smart if I ate some. Tell me where you get it and -I’ll try it.” - -“Same place where you get yours,” grinned Hickson tolerantly. “It only -agrees with red-headed folks.” - -Teddy’s jolly giggle at this witticism was infectious. Hickson laughed, -too, out of sheer pleasure at seeing his little friend again. - -“I’ll bet this kettles and pans crowd down here missed me,” was Teddy’s -next modest assertion. - -“You are just right about that. We all got a good rest. No more peace -in kettles and pans with you running around loose.” - -“I’ve reformed.” Teddy made this amazing statement with the air of one -who has donned the difficult mantle of reform with the utmost ease. - -“I didn’t quite get that.” Sam Hickson’s hand cupped his ear as an -assistant to hearing. - -“I’ve reformed.” Teddy repeated his announcement, looking slightly -ruffled. “I’m going to bee-have just like an angel. You watch me and -see. I’m going to give kettles and pans the biggest s’prise they ever -had.” - -Sam Hickson laughed uproariously. “I’ll warrant you will,” he agreed. -“You’ve already given ’em a few shocks along the line of ‘bee-having.’ -I guess they can stand a few more.” - -“I guess they can.” Teddy’s wide, roguish smile again sprang into -evidence. It faded as he leaned forward to peer owlishly at a short, -rotund young man who had just come into view from around a towering -pile of tinware on a table at their left. “Say, who’s he and where’d -he come from? I’ve seen him every two minutes since I struck 40, but I -haven’t been introduced to him yet.” - -Hickson shrugged his shoulders. - -“He’s our new assistant buyer. Willard left, you know, just before you -went on your vacation. What have you got to say about that? Look him -over. Name him and you can have him to take home with you.” There was -decided rancor in the man’s voice. - -Teddy made thoughtful inventory of the neat young man, surveying him -curiously from his aggressively smooth black hair to his narrow, -glistening shoes. An expression of seraphic innocence lurked in the -youngster’s black eyes as he murmured, “He--he--looks like a--one of -those fat, shiny little coffee-pots--a----” Teddy wrestled with the -word. “A percolator!” he cried out triumphantly. - -“Ha, ha, ha!” shouted Hickson. “You hit it that time, Reddy!” His face -sobered, however. The stout young man had heard both Teddy’s shrill -accents and Hickson’s accompanying burst of laughter. Now he charged -briskly down upon the culprits, rebuke in his eye. Luckily for them, -he had not the remotest idea that he was the object of their mirth. He -was merely aware of undue boisterousness in his vicinity that warranted -stern reproof. - -“What is the cause of so much noise?” he rapped out sharply. “How much -have you on your book, Hickson? And you,” he glared at Teddy, “go to -your own department. Don’t loiter here.” - -“I have to stay here.” Teddy regarded the questioner with the wistful -gaze of a prisoner. - -“What are you waiting for? Why must you stay here?” came the curt -challenge. - -“I’m not waiting for anything.” - -“Then you don’t have to stay here. Go----” - -“But I _do_ have to stay here,” contradicted Teddy with gentle, -tantalizing dignity. “I belong in this department. I’m s’prised that -you didn’t know it.” - -“Humph!” With an indignant snort the stout young man wheeled and -trotted off up the aisle. - -Apparently deep in enumerating his sales, Sam Hickson’s broad shoulders -were shaking with silent merriment during this interesting bit of -dialogue. - -“Oh, you Reddy!” he gasped when the disturber had passed out of -hearing. “That’s the time you put one over on--on the Percolator.” - -“What’s the matter with him, anyhow?” Teddy personified disgust. “I -s’posed everybody here had seen _me_ this morning. His ears must be -better’n his eyes. What’s he got to say about the way we act? Mr. -Willard never used to talk like that.” - -“I know it.” Hickson grew suddenly glum. “I’m going to tell you -something, Teddy, but keep it to yourself. This fellow is a -trouble-hunter! He’s got a game to play and I can see through him. I’ve -had my eye on him ever since he hit 40, and, between you and me, he’s -after Mr. Everett’s job. He’s what you call an efficiency man.” - -“I didn’t call him that. I called him a percolator. He’s just like one. -I’ll bet when he gets mad he fizzles up, the way those coffee-pots do -when the demonstrator pours hot water into ’em.” - -“He doesn’t get mad,” grumbled Hickson. “I wish he would. I’d feel then -that he was a man instead of a bossing machine.” - -“He might get mad some day,” predicted Teddy hopefully. “I’d like to -see him bubble up.” His fertile brain was already beginning to consider -ways and means by which this greatly desired result might be attained. -“Do you b’lieve he’s after Mr. Everett’s job?” The little boy shot a -peculiar glance at the gloomy-faced salesman. - -“I don’t believe it, I’m sure of it.” - -“Then I sha’n’t reform just yet.” Teddy drew himself up, mischievous -purpose in his declaration. “I’m going to make the old Percolator -bubble up. I’ll make him boil over so many times he’ll wish he’d never -heard of house furnishings. Course, if he lets Mr. Everett alone, -I’ll let him alone. But if he thinks he is going to be buyer of this -department instead of Mr. Everett, then he’d better look out. Mr. -Everett’s the best buyer that ever lived, and I’m going to fight for -him.” - -“You’re a good little friend, Teddy.” Sam Hickson patted the lad’s -slender shoulder. “You’d better go slow, though. You can’t do anything -much except get yourself into trouble for your pains. I’m sorry I said -anything. Maybe I’m wrong about it. Only I can’t help noticing things.” - -“What things?” persisted Teddy. - -“Oh, this fellow, Jarvis, that’s his name, runs to the front with -everything. Then he’s hard on the people in 40. Follows us up all the -time. Calls us down if we lose a sale. Won’t let us say a word to each -other. If he sees two of us standing together he chases us. When we -_are_ busy selling, he butts in with a crazy lot of talk and spoils -the sale. It makes the customers mad, but he can’t see it. Miss Newton -went to Mr. Everett about it the first time he bothered her. Mr. -Everett told him to quit it and he went to the front and told some kind -of a yarn that got Mr. Everett a call down. First one he’s ever had and -he’s been with Martin Brothers eight years. If this Jarvis can do that, -and here less than two weeks, what will he do when he’s been here a -year?” - -“Maybe he won’t be here a year.” Again confidence lurked in Teddy’s -speech. - -“You mean maybe _we_ won’t be here, but _he_ will.” Hickson was far -from optimistic. “There’s a customer. They’re few and far between these -hot days.” The salesman moved away, leaving Teddy to ponder over this -new unpleasant state of affairs. - -“Sixty-five.” Mr. Duffield’s voice sounded the beginning of action. - -Teddy darted off, obedient to the call. From that time on he found -no further chance to reflect over what he had heard. When he went to -his luncheon at twelve o’clock, he was kept busy by Harry and his boy -friends. Both Harry and Teddy had become too well known and liked among -the store messengers to escape notice when they appeared in the lunch -room. - -It was not until the two boys had passed the lunch-room time-desk on -their way back to their respective departments that Teddy found an -opportunity to say, “I’ve got something to tell you.” - -“I’ve something to tell, myself,” was Harry’s quick response. “We’ll -have to wait until after the store closes, though.” - -“Wait for me outside. No more assembly for us. I’m kind of sorry. I’ll -miss the line up.” - -“So shall I,” nodded Harry. “So long.” - -The two boys separated, each with his own problem to consider. - -The moment that Teddy reached Department 40, his alert eyes scanned the -wide expanse of house furnishings until they sought out a certain neat, -rotund person against whom he had vowed to wage a determined campaign. -Teddy strolled calmly down one aisle, then began a furtive dodging in -and out among the engines of housekeeping until he reached a spot where -he could conveniently observe without being observed. He studied the -elegant Mr. Jarvis with a thoughtful gaze that a philosopher might well -have envied, then he stole stealthily away to presently appear at a -distant end of the department. Had Mr. Jarvis been aware that he was -under the close surveillance of one small, red-haired, mischievous boy, -it would not have in the least disturbed his bland equanimity. But he -was destined to learn quite a number of things about Teddy Burke that -had nothing to do with efficiency, as he saw it. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -AN EVEN EXCHANGE OF CONFIDENCES - - -Across the street from Martin Brothers’ great store a very impatient -Teddy Burke was keeping a fidgeting vigil for Harry Harding. The -moon-faced clock on a neighboring tower showed twenty-five minutes to -seven. Indifferent to the ever-moving procession of eager home-seekers, -traveling their accustomed evening trail toward food, rest and -recreation, Teddy stood firmly planted against the sheltering wall of a -cigar store, well out of the path of the surging stream of pedestrians. -To active Teddy, thirty-five minutes of waiting seemed a long period -of time. He had taken up his watch at precisely six o’clock and now he -was growing restless. Only the reassuring thought that Harry would not -fail him kept him lingering on the corner. He sighed with relief as he -finally sighted Harry across the street, and, forsaking the friendly, -sustaining wall, advanced to meet his dilatory partner. - -“Did you think I was never coming?” greeted Harry. “I’m sorry to be so -late. I had to finish a job I began right after lunch. There’s to be -a mid-summer sale, beginning to-morrow. I was afraid I’d have to stay -longer, but Mr. Brady said I could hustle the stuff down early in the -morning.” - -“Oh, I s’posed you was lost in the stock-room, or twenty thousand -leagues under a truck, or up the elevator to the North Pole, or -captured by the trouble-hunters of 84,” invented Teddy derisively. - -Harry smiled whimsically. “I was in the stock-room, but not lost. -I was in a truck, but not twenty thousand leagues under it. I went -up the elevator, but only as far as the tenth floor, and I met a -trouble-hunter, but wasn’t captured.” - -“You talk like the answer to a riddle,” snickered Teddy. - -“And _you_ talk like a catalogue of boys’ books,” retorted Harry -good-humoredly. - -“I don’t feel like one,” grumbled Teddy. “I feel hot under the collar. -I’m mad. I’m so mad the freckles on my face hurt.” The boy’s black eyes -blazed an accompanying declaration of wrath. - -“What has happened?” Quick concern was mirrored in the sympathetic -glance Harry shot toward Teddy. Evidently his chum’s day had not been -free from annoyance. - -“It’s that old Percolator,” was the somewhat mystifying response. “He’s -got it in for Mr. Everett.” - -The announcement that so innocuous an article as a coffee-pot should -aspire to revenge might well have amazed Harry. The pronoun “he” was -enlightening, however. Teddy was merely resorting to his disrespectful -naming habit. - -“I suppose ‘he’ looks like a percolator?” The corners of Harry’s mouth -twitched suspiciously. - -“Yes, he does,” snapped Teddy. “Round and fat and shiny and hard. He’s -the new assistant buyer and he makes me sick.” - -“Have you told him his new name yet?” teased Harry. Privately, he had -jumped to the conclusion that Teddy’s grievance was not very serious. -“What did he call you down for?” - -“This is no joke,” flung back Teddy. “It’s serious.” He plunged into -a recital of his encounter with the stout young man, ending with -Hickson’s confidence. “I asked Mr. Hickson if I could tell you about -it,” he added, “and he said he guessed you could be trusted to keep -still.” - -“That was nice in him.” Harry looked pleased. Through the agency of -Teddy he and the red-haired salesman were on very friendly terms. “And -you say that this Mr. Jarvis is an efficiency man?” - -“Yep; he’s crazy. That’s just the same thing. I’d like to say something -about him to Mr. Everett, but I don’t know what to say or how to say -it.” - -“You’d better not.” Harry shook his head. “If Mr. Everett doesn’t know -it, I don’t believe he’d like to hear it from his stock boy. If he does -know it, then telling him that you know it, too, wouldn’t help him any. -All you can do is to keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. If you -see a chance to do something nice for Mr. Everett, go ahead and do it. -But don’t try to injure this other man. That would put you on the same -level with him.” - -“Oh, I’ll let him live,” assured Teddy sarcastically. “I won’t say that -he’ll have a real happy life, though. Can up the Percolator before he -does his winter canning’s goin’ to be my motto.” - -“Look out that _you_ don’t get canned,” was Harry’s warning advice. - -“I’d rather it’d be me than Mr. Everett,” Teddy returned, ungrammatical -but loyal. “I’ll watch myself. I gotta stay in 40 now to fight for the -man that’s good to me.” - -“I know how you feel. I hope you’re mistaken about this Mr. Jarvis. -Maybe he’s just fussy and not really underhanded.” - -“Time’ll tell,” prophesied Teddy gloomily. “What happened to you -to-day? You said you’d something to tell me.” - -It was Harry’s turn to make a recital of his day’s difficulties. -A brief stay in the book department after luncheon had put him in -possession of several facts that pertained strictly to his disagreeable -acquaintance of the stock-room. The boy’s name was Leon Atkins. He was -the son of the man in the book receiving room. Fred Alden had left the -store directly after Harry had gone on his vacation and Mr. Atkins had -asked Mr. Rexford to give his son the position thus open. The boy had -made regular application in the employment office and at Mr. Rexford’s -request had been placed in Department 84. He was far from a model stock -boy, but Mr. Rexford had been out of the city for over a week and, -consequently, was not aware of the youth’s delinquency. All this Harry -now related to Teddy, who listened with due solemnity. - -“I guess he’ll get fired when Mr. Rexford comes back,” was his sage -observation when Harry had finished. “I wouldn’t stand for a lazy kid -like that. He might make folks think you wasn’t any good either.” - -“I’ve thought of that. Still, I wouldn’t care to complain to Mr. -Rexford. Mr. Denby told me that poor Mr. Atkins has had an awful time -with this boy. He was expelled from school and after that he went to -work. He’s had half a dozen positions and lost them all. Mr. Atkins -only gets twenty dollars a week and he has a wife and six children to -support. This boy is the only one old enough to work, and his father -needs his help. I’m sorry for Mr. Atkins.” - -“I’m sorry for _you_,” snorted Teddy. “You’ll be sorry for yourself, -too, if you let this fellow put it all over you and say nothing.” - -“He sha’n’t impose upon me.” Harry’s lips set in a decisive line. “I’m -going to do my work just the same as if he weren’t around. Then he -can’t hurt me.” - -“If he gets too smart just show him to me.” Teddy puffed out his chest -like a belligerent bantam rooster. - -“Ha, ha!” Harry’s boyish laugh rang out. - -“You think I couldn’t settle him?” sputtered Teddy. - -“He’s twice as large as you, Ted. Thank you, just the same, but I’m not -afraid of him. All I ask is for him to let me alone.” - -“I’ll bet I could lick him.” A mere matter of size was nothing to the -undaunted Teddy. Privately, he registered a vow to get in immediate -touch with the bully and find out his weak points. - -“There isn’t going to be any fighting if I can help it. That’s not what -I’m in the store for. Maybe if he sees that he can’t bother me, he’ll -mind his own business. I hope so. By the way, Teddy, I’m going to start -for the store to-morrow at the same old time.” - -The two boys had reached the point where their ways diverged as Harry -made this announcement. - -“I’m not. Catch me getting in before I have to. Eight o’clock for mine.” - -“Then I won’t see you here in the morning. Good night.” Harry turned -away. - -Teddy’s freckled face fell. “Aw, rats!” he muttered. “Hey, there!” - -Harry turned, trying hard not to smile. He knew how to deal with Teddy. -His decision had been reached after sober thought. He was confident -that it would be wise for him and his chum to adhere to their original -hour for entrance in the store. He had expected a revolt on Teddy’s -part and calculated accordingly. - -“You wait here for me in the morning,” commanded the little boy. “I -guess I can stand seven-thirty, if you can. Good night. Don’t you -forget. I’ll be here same as ever.” - -“I’ll wait for you. Good night.” - -With a farewell wave of his hand to Teddy, Harry set off to cover the -few blocks that lay between him and home, his mind busy with Teddy’s -problem rather than his own. He had already chosen his own course and -intended to stick to it. A happy little smile played about his lips as -he recalled his partner’s ungrudging loyalty not only to him but to Mr. -Everett. Were Mr. Rexford in Mr. Everett’s position Harry felt sure -that he would leave no stone unturned in his effort to be of service to -this esteemed friend. He hoped, however, that Mr. Everett would have -no need of his chum’s kindly offices. Close acquaintance with Teddy had -taught him that the inflammable youngster was quite apt to catch fire -from a single spark. That which loomed large on his horizon to-day was -likely to dwindle into insignificance to-morrow. Before the end of the -week, Teddy’s opinion of Mr. Jarvis might undergo a marked change. - -Taking the narrow stairs two at a time, Harry burst into the tiny -living-room, and swooped down upon his mother as she sat stitching away -for dear life on a half-finished blouse. - -“My land, Harry, you are a regular cyclone,” she protested. Her sewing -slipped from her lap as she wound her arms about her tempestuous son -and returned his bear-like hug. - -“That’s because I’m anxious to let you know how much I love you, -Mothery. After spending every day for two whole weeks with you, you -can’t blame me for trying to make up to-night for missing you to-day.” - -“I’ve missed you, too.” The little woman sighed and patted her son’s -curly head. “I am afraid that two weeks in the country completely -spoiled me. I certainly had a wonderful rest, but now I must sew as -hard as I can to pay for taking a holiday.” - -“You needed it, Mothery. I wish you could have lived in that dandy -bungalow all summer.” Harry’s happy face clouded. “It’s a shame for -you to have to come back to this hot old city and sew, sew, sew.” - -“We ought to be thankful for even two weeks away from it, Son,” -reminded his mother gently. “How did you get on at the store to-day? -You are awfully late to-night. I waited to eat supper with you, though. -I can’t bear to eat alone. I suppose I’ll have to, when you begin night -school.” - -“Only two nights a week. It doesn’t begin until October. I had a pretty -good day. Mr. Rexford’s away, so I couldn’t see him. I saw Miss Welch. -She’s as pretty and funny as ever. The stock boy that worked with me -has left. I met the new one to-day, but he isn’t much like Fred. His -name is Leon Atkins, and his father is in the receiving room of 84.” - -Mrs. Harding listened interestedly as Harry rattled off this -information. She was always glad to learn of his doings at the big -store, yet she never made the mistake of questioning him too closely. - -“Speaking of Mr. Atkins reminds me, Mothery, that I want to ask you -something. It would be very hard for a man to support a wife and six -children on twenty dollars a week, wouldn’t it?” - -“I should say it would.” Mrs. Harding nodded with emphasis. “It -would take pretty close managing to do it. With rent and food and -clothing--children are so hard on shoes--twenty dollars would melt -away like snow in the sun. But what made you ask me that?” - -“Oh, Mr. Denby, the new fiction salesman, told me that about Mr. -Atkins. I was thinking that he must be glad that his son can work and -earn something to help him. You see, Mothery, it’s just like this. I -don’t like this new boy very well, and I’m afraid he doesn’t like me. -It isn’t going to be pleasant for us to work together. I feel as though -I ought to be nice to him because he’s helping his father earn their -living. But it’s going to be hard to get along with him.” - -“What sort of boy is he?” Mrs. Harding regarded her son with an anxious -face. “I hope he isn’t a bad, worthless boy, Harry?” - -“He’s a big bully, and he hates work.” Harry’s young voice rang with -disapproval. “He wanted to fight me in the stock-room this morning. Of -course, I wouldn’t think of doing such a thing in the store. But if he -tries to bother me outside the store, I’m afraid I’ll have to pitch -into him and give him a good licking. I don’t want to do it. If Mr. -Keene heard of it he might discharge us both. He needs the work and so -do I.” - -“What does Teddy think about it?” Mrs. Harding did not appear shocked -at her quiet son’s sudden warlike attitude. - -“Oh, he says he’ll do it himself if I say the word. Only this boy’s -about twice as big as Ted.” - -Their eyes meeting, mother and son laughed. Mrs. Harding’s face grew -grave instantly as she said: “I don’t like to think of your getting -into a fist fight, Harry. Such things are brutal and better avoided. -But you must not forget that you have as much right to stand up for -yourself as any other boy. I believe if you try hard you can find some -other way to make this boy respect your rights.” - -“I’m going to try, of course. But, Mothery, if I should come home from -work some evening with a black eye, you’ll know what’s happened. I’m -only telling you this beforehand so that you’ll understand if anything -like that _does_ happen. If you say I mustn’t then I won’t, no matter -what he says or does.” - -Mrs. Harding looked long at the earnest young face of her boy. “I’m -not going to say you mustn’t,” she returned rather wistfully. The -realization that Harry was rapidly coming into man’s estate filled her -with a curious sense of sadness. The curly-haired baby whose first -tottering steps she had so patiently guided had little to do with -this resolute, keen-eyed youth at her side. “You must do as your own -conscience dictates. Above all things, Harry, I wish you to be a good -man and true; the kind of man your father was. If you were to pick a -fight with some boy merely because you didn’t like him, you’d only be -wronging yourself. But if it were the other way round, remember even a -worm will turn. But if some of these fine evenings you _do_ come home -with a black eye, well--I suppose I’ll doctor you up, cook you an extra -good supper and ask no questions.” - - - - -CHAPTER V - -AN UNPROMISING DAY - - -On entering the stock-room the following morning Harry was agreeably -surprised to find no trace of his unwilling fellow-worker. Far from -feeling the loss of the pugnacious Leon’s presence, he flung himself -energetically into loading his truck with tempting bargain books, -designed to arouse the enthusiasm of heat-fagged shoppers, and put new -life into sluggish mid-summer trade. During the hot, breathless days of -July and August those who have the wherewithal to buy books, turn their -steps resolutely away from the scorching cities to the revivifying -atmosphere of seashore and mountain. At such season, the lure of even -the newest fiction wanes into insignificance. It is only when hazy -September flashes forth her first faint signals of nearing Autumn that -the reign of literature begins anew and comes rapidly into its own as -the nights gradually chill and lengthen. - -Due to Mr. Rexford’s tireless effort, the book department of Martin -Brothers’ never languished, even during the sultry summer months. -Year after year he had labored to build up trade that would withstand -the attacks of hot weather and vacation flitting. The sale for which -Harry was now preparing was an annual event, which invariably brought -satisfactory patronage. As he placed pile after pile of gaily-jacketed -books for boys and girls into the deep truck, he halted briefly now -and then to peep between the alluring covers, wistfully wishing that -he might own them all. Purchased by Mr. Rexford from a firm that had -fallen into the receiver’s hands, this particular lot of juvenile -literature, though undamaged, had been marked down from higher prices -to the modest sum of fifty cents. - -“My, but I’d like to have some of these,” murmured the lad, as he -fingered an especially attractive volume. “Fifty cents is too high for -me, though. If I ever get rich I’m going to have all the books I want. -But I must stop looking at these beauties or I’ll never get my truck -filled.” - -Thrusting temptation resolutely aside, Harry rapidly emptied the -contents of the bin into the waiting truck and trundled it out of the -stock-room in the direction of the freight elevator. - -“Jerk those books out o’ there and hustle back t’ the stock-room,” -ordered a surly voice, as he wheeled his load into the midst of the -tables reserved for the sale. “Think I c’n wait all day for you? I -gotta get this table filled up.” - -“Oh, good morning. I was wondering what had become of _you_. I thought -you might be lost or overcome with the heat. It’s very warm this -morning, isn’t it?” Harry addressed the black-haired, scowling youth of -the previous afternoon’s encounter with ironic politeness. - -“Fresh as ever, I see,” sneered the other. “But I ain’t going to notice -you now. I gotta work. Put those books on that table and don’t be all -day about it.” - -His loud tones were purposed to reach the ears of a man who was -striding down an adjacent aisle. The man paused. Three or four long -steps brought him to where the lads were standing. - -“What’s this? What’s this?” he snapped. “You go on about your business -and let this boy alone. He wants to work if you don’t.” - -The rebuke fell directly upon Harry, for the man was Mr. Barton and he -had deliberately and without justice espoused the cause of the real -offender. - -Harry measured the aisle manager with a cool, direct glance. Without -a word he turned to the truck and began the work of unloading his -freight. For an instant Mr. Barton glared at the boy’s back, then went -on his ill-natured way minus the satisfaction which an angry retort -on Harry’s part would have afforded him. He had never forgiven the -lad; the very sight of him aroused animosity. After the trouble over -the missing money he had deemed it prudent to keep very quiet. In -Mr. Rexford, Harry Harding had a champion whose influence Mr. Barton -respected and feared. Now though he had come upon Harry purely by -chance, he had been unable to resist showing his spite. - -His blue eyes blazing, poor Harry was making short work of his task. He -was perfectly sure that Leon Atkins had designed to make him appear in -the wrong. Knowing Mr. Barton’s fault-finding disposition he had thus -raised his voice with malicious intent. - -“He, he, he!” chuckled Leon. “That’s the time you got yours. How do you -feel now, Smarty?” - -Harry made no reply to the taunt. Diving into the truck for the -remaining books, he piled them on the table, then paused, undecided -whether to commence their arrangement or to take his truck and be off. -As it was his usual custom to help with the tables, he peered about in -search of the highest stack of one title. Finding it, he shoved it into -position at the back of the table and began to build up smaller piles -around it. - -“Never mind that, 45. Hurry back to the stock-room and bring down some -more books.” The querulous voice of a saleswoman interrupted his -cogitations. “Don’t stand there and dream. Mr. Brady is anxious to have -these tables ready before the customers get here. I am to have charge -of them during the sale. Leon will fix the books as soon as you bring -them down. Now run along and don’t keep me waiting.” - -“All right.” Pleasantly obedient, Harry started away, pushing the -truck before him. As assistant buyer, Mr. Brady’s wishes were law in -Mr. Rexford’s absence. Yet, as he proceeded toward the elevator, the -boy experienced vague resentment toward the dictatorial saleswoman. He -had frequently suspected that she disliked him, and he often wondered -why. Now he pondered a trifle bitterly on the change that two short -weeks had wrought in his beloved realm of books. Yesterday he had been -briefly disappointed at the absence of Mr. Rexford. Following that had -come the annoying meeting with Leon Atkins and the news of Fred Alden’s -departure from the store. This morning it was again Leon Atkins; -and Mr. Barton, too. Harry had fancied himself free from the aisle -manager’s further persecution. Now Miss Breeden had spoken sharply to -him. He longed with all his heart for Mr. Rexford’s speedy return. -Everything went so smoothly when he was about. - -“It’s babyish in me to mind such little things,” was his inward -reproof, as he shoved his truck out onto the tenth floor. “That Atkins -boy isn’t worth minding, and I am not surprised to have Mr. Barton call -me down. I always thought he’d do it if ever he got the chance. I guess -Miss Breeden didn’t mean to be cross. She’s only anxious about getting -the tables fixed.” - -This philosophical view of things brought a ray of comfort to light the -gloom of the morning. Bravely shaking off his depression, Harry rolled -the truck into position before a partially filled bin of cheaper books -for boys that would presently flash forth their own special merits -for public approval and purchase. He was back on the selling floor -with them in an incredibly short time, where Miss Breeden not being in -evidence he had surly directions from Leon to “dump ’em down there on -the floor and get out.” - -Directly afterward he was sent out to a neighboring store to purchase a -copy of a book which was out of stock. Failing to secure it there, he -went on to another store, and, still unsuccessful, tried a book shop -several blocks further down Commerce Street. In so doing Harry knew -that he was within his own particular province. Mr. Rexford himself had -issued the instruction that whenever he was sent out of the store in -quest of a special book he was privileged to go from shop to shop until -he obtained it. - -It was twenty-five minutes past nine when he left Martin Brothers, but -it was a quarter to eleven when he returned, the product of his search -under his arm. Casting his eyes over the stretch of tables he spied the -assistant buyer in the clutches of a customer, whose flushed, indignant -face showed patent indications of her displeasure. On one side of Mr. -Brady ranged Mr. Barton, wearing a thundercloud frown; on the other was -Miss Breeden, looking equally glum. - -“But, Madam,” Harry heard Mr. Brady expostulate, “you can see for -yourself that the price mark in this book is ‘50 cents.’” His -forefinger pointed out the pencilled symbols on the white of the pasted -inside leaf at the back of the book. “It was originally a dollar book, -marked down to half price.” - -“Then why do you stick up a sign advertising your books at thirty-five -cents, when they’re fifty? That’s what I’d like to know. This salesgirl -takes the book and makes out a check for thirty-five cents. When it’s -handed to the girl at the desk, _she_ says it’s half a dollar. How am I -to know that you’re not overcharging me? I must say this book doesn’t -look as if it was worth half a dollar, let alone its ever having been a -dollar. I can go to Dunlap’s and buy all the boys’ books I want for a -quarter apiece.” - -“Come with me, Madam. I will show you that there is a noticeable -difference between this and a thirty-five cent book. No doubt this -book has merely been laid on that table by mistake and become mixed -with the cheaper stock.” With the patient air of a martyr, Mr. Brady -led the way to the fatal table. He was followed by a procession of -three. Picking up the first volume on which his hand chanced to rest, -he said: “There, you can judge for yourself, Madam.” - -The customer stared, then judged. “Why, they’re almost alike!” she -exclaimed. “If that,” she touched the book the buyer had chosen for -comparison, “is thirty-five cents, this one isn’t worth any more.” - -Before she had finished judgment, Mr. Brady’s face had turned a dull -red. He cast a dark glance at the pricemark of his unlucky choice, -muttered unintelligibly and, one after another, hastily examined -a succession of books. Fixing stern eyes on Miss Breeden, he said -shortly: “This is really too bad. You have made a thorough jumble of -this table. Part of these books are one price; part another.” His tone -prophesied further reckoning when the customer had departed. - -“But do I get this book for thirty-five cents?” persisted the customer -impatiently. “Please don’t keep me waiting. I have to make a train.” - -“No, Madam, that book is fifty cents. I regret to say that a serious -mistake has been made in the arrangement of this table.” - -“Then I don’t want it. Give me my money back. I’ll go to Dunlap’s, -then I’ll know what I’m paying for.” The now irate woman made a -determined bolt for the desk, pursued by Mr. Barton and Mr. Brady. - -Miss Breeden’s face also registered wrath, as she watched the trio -descend upon the desk of remittal. Happening to catch sight of Harry, -who was quietly awaiting the opportunity to deliver his purchase into -Mr. Brady’s hands, she darted up to him. - -“_You_ made all that trouble,” she hissed. “That was all _your_ fault. -I told you not to meddle with the books on that table. Now the store -has lost a customer who will go out and tell people that we have two -prices for a book. Mr. Brady will blame me for your carelessness, and -Mr. Barton will rave because he has to void my check. This isn’t the -first trouble you’ve made for me, either. Last Spring----” - -Angry as she was, the young woman broke off abruptly, leaving Harry -uninformed of the nature of at least one offence. Under the scathing -tirade he had grown very white. He had heard the beginning of the -customer’s complaining, and, although he had not followed the quartette -to the table, he guessed what had happened. He knew if no one else -knew that Leon Atkins rather than he was the author of the unfortunate -mix-up. - -“Miss Breeden,” he replied, his low, even accents contrasting sharply -with the woman’s shrill tones, “you told me not to stop to fix those -books, but you _didn’t_ tell me not to put them there. You _saw_ me -do it and you didn’t say a word about that. When I brought down these -cheaper books you weren’t around and that new stock boy told me to put -them on the floor. I supposed they were to go on another table. I would -have had more sense than to mix them like that.” - -“That’s right. Try to crawl out of it. Just you wait until I tell Mr. -Brady.” Miss Breeden flounced off in a rage, leaving Harry to stare -soberly after her. It was evident she did not believe him. - -“I guess I’m in for it,” he shrugged. “If she had let me fix that table -I’d never have made such a mistake. Where was she that she didn’t -notice it herself? It was Leon who mixed those two lots of books, but -it’s her fault that they stayed mixed. I can’t tell Mr. Brady that. -It isn’t nice for a man to shift the blame onto a woman’s shoulders.” -Harry had decided ideas on the subject of chivalry. - -Though Harry did not know it, the charge of the special sales tables -had not troubled Miss Breeden seriously. On entering the store that -morning she had immediately asked for a shopping pass, returning to her -post only a moment or two before Harry had deposited his first load of -books. After giving him directions to go back to the stock-room, she -had wandered up the aisle to gossip with another saleswoman, leaving -Leon to arrange the books at his own sweet will. - -As has been already stated, Leon Atkins and the proverbial busy bee -were not even distantly related. While Miss Breeden’s eyes were upon -him he worked, but the instant she went shopping his brief energy -vanished. The number of fifty-cent books that Harry had brought down -had been sufficient to fill the table. Due to his lack of skill in -arranging them, a good-sized vacant space appeared on the table when -he had finished. His knowledge of books and prices being limited and -his interest in them still less, he carelessly bundled the second -consignment of cheaper books into that vacant space. To complete the -outrage, he hastily consulted the back of one of that lot, confiscated -one of the two “35 cts.” signs that graced the next table, and hoisted -it triumphantly over the havoc he had created. - -The instant the customer was lost to view around an elevator shaft, Mr. -Barton and Mr. Brady formed themselves into an inquiry committee. - -“What do you mean by allowing that table to get in such a mess, Miss -Breeden?” censured the assistant. - -“Give me your book,” ordered Mr. Barton. “That check must be voided. It -seems to me----” - -With lips compressed for fight, Miss Breeden tendered her salesbook to -the aisle manager. He made cabalistic signs on it with a blue pencil -and scrawled a huge “voided” across the page. Before he could deliver -the stinging reproof that lay on his lips, a summons from the exchange -desk sent him galloping up the aisle. - -“That table was all right when I came back from shopping,” was Miss -Breeden’s angry defence. “It was 45 who put those books there. I told -him not to when he brought down the first load, but you can see for -yourself how much good it did.” - -“You should have noticed it,” was the unfeeling rebuke. - -“How could I? I was busy. I never thought 45 would keep on putting -books there when I told him not to. I waited on several customers for -thirty-five cent books and didn’t notice anything out of the way.” Miss -Breeden craftily refrained from stating, however, that the books she -had sold were from the next table. - -Her excuses, however, were not sufficiently good to ward off Mr. -Brady’s sharp lecture. Strange to say she made no mention of Leon’s -disastrous hand in the matter. Unfortunately for Harry, Mr. Brady also -had not observed the other boy at work at the table. The assistant had -been engaged with a traveling salesman in Mr. Rexford’s office. From -there he had been called to the selling floor in time to officiate as -pacifist to the offended customer. - -In consequence of all this, Mr. Brady was not in a lamb-like mood as -the boy approached to deliver the book he had been sent out to buy. -Harry squared his shoulders to meet the impending scolding. He knew he -was doomed to receive a rebuke which he did not merit. - -“See here, Harding,” lashed out the man, “why don’t you do as you are -told? If you can’t, this department doesn’t need you.” The arraignment -that followed cut Harry to the quick. He longed to cry out the truth, -but boyish chivalry to a woman and the distaste for shifting the blame -on the shoulders of a boy who needed work held him silent. All he could -find words to utter was, “I am very sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.” - -“You won’t be here if it does,” were the assistant’s parting words. -Seizing the book Harry proffered, he turned on his heel and strode into -the buyer’s office. - -Sick at heart, Harry walked dejectedly toward the table of disaster. -Miss Breeden was already there, engaged in separating the figurative -sheep from the goats. Pausing uncertainly for a moment, he directed -his course toward the elevator. Again he wondered painfully why it -was that the young woman appeared to dislike him so heartily. What -did she mean by saying he had already made trouble for her? He could -recall no such instance. Why had she said “last Spring,” then abruptly -checked her speech? His distressed mind reviewed the events that had -transpired since his advent into Department 84. He could recall but one -disquieting incident. It had to do with the exposure of Mr. Farley, the -thieving salesman, and in no respect even remotely touched Miss Breeden. - -“I am afraid my Year of Promise isn’t going to be very promising,” was -his rueful thought. “I don’t know why Miss Breeden doesn’t like me and -I certainly sha’n’t ask her. I’ll just find out for myself. As for that -Atkins boy, I’ve a few things to say to _him_, and I’m going to say -them before this day is over.” - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -HARRY SPEAKS HIS MIND - - -For reasons best known to herself, Miss Breeden had chosen to make -Harry the scapegoat for Leon Atkins’ sins of omission. In her heart -she knew exactly who was at fault. Although she had shielded Leon from -the assistant’s displeasure she did not intend that he should escape -scotfree. The moment she had finished bringing order out of disorder, -she set out on a diligent hunt for him about the department. The object -of her search, however, was elusive as well as lazy. After a fruitless -march about the narrow aisles of 84, she gave up her quest and directed -her attention strictly to the business of selling books. - -Thus the real culprit dodged at least one evil. After leisurely -strolling about the first floor on pleasure bent and being ordered out -of half a dozen departments in which he had no excuse for loitering, -he retired to the stock-room for a nap. But there he ran into another -evil, full tilt. - -“I’ve been waiting for you,” was Harry Harding’s sharp salute as the -tall, ungainly youth slouched into sight. - -“Well, you see me now, don’t you? Whada you want?” With Leon, this last -had become a challenge to be used on the world at large. - -“I want to tell you that the next time you make a mess of a table, like -the one you fixed this morning, you are going to take the blame for -it.” Harry was advancing on the newcomer with an air of purpose that -brought the latter to a sudden standstill. - -“What’s wrong with you, you boob?” he growled, doubling his ready -fists. “Whada you mean by such smart talk?” - -“Just what I say. You took that last lot of books I brought down and -put them on the wrong table. You got me into trouble by it. I stood for -it because--well, it doesn’t concern you to know why. But I won’t stand -for it again. The next time I have books to bring down I’ll fix them -on the table myself and don’t you dare interfere with me. I thought -perhaps we could work together, just as Fred and I always did, but I -see we can’t. Hereafter you do your work and I’ll do mine; then I won’t -be blamed for your faults.” - -“You’re a nut,” sneered Leon. “You’re so crazy you don’t know what -you’re talkin’ about. I guess I can fix a table a whole lot better’n -you, freshie.” - -“Can you?” Harry smiled bitter sarcasm. “Just ask Miss Breeden about it -and see what she says.” - -“You’ve been tellin’ lies about me! I’ll fix you!” Leon made a vicious -lunge at Harry, his voice rising to a howl. - -“Here, here!” Mr. Atkins had recognized the familiar bellow of his -offspring and hurried to the scene. “What’s all this racket about?” - -“He won’t let me alone, Pa. He keeps pestering me all the time.” Leon -pointed a grimy, accusing finger at Harry. - -Mr. Atkins rose to the duties of fatherhood. “You let my son alone, -you young puppy, or I’ll report you to Mr. Rexford as soon as he comes -back,” he threatened, glowering at Harry. “Now get to work, both of -you.” - -“I’m not bothering your son, Mr. Atkins,” burst forth Harry in -indignation, “and I’m not going to let him bother me, either.” - -“Don’t talk back to me.” Mr. Atkins’ small, black eyes snapped fire. -“Do as I say. Get to work. Leon, you come with me.” - -“I wish he’d stay with you,” muttered Harry under his breath, as the -persecuted one shambled off after his parental bulwark of defense. “I’d -like to tell Mr. Rexford a few things, too. But I won’t. I’ve warned -that boy to let me alone, and I’ll see that he does it without any help -from other people.” - -Nevertheless, his sturdy determination to keep his grievances to -himself could not prevent Harry from seeing that his future path was -more than likely to be carpeted with nettles. It hurt his pride to feel -that, instead of advancing, he seemed doomed to be thrust back into the -unhappy rut from which Mr. Rexford had rescued him. What hurt him most -was the knowledge that he was in no sense to blame for the train of -unfortunate events that had dogged his return to the store. From those -who were most intimately concerned in them, he could expect neither -fair dealing nor justice. - -As he took up his half-completed task of making the untidy stock-room -presentable, Harry mentally lined up the disturbers of his peace and -gave himself over to sombre speculation. First of all, there was Leon. -It was useless to dream that this slothful, quarrelsome boy and he -could ever be friends. They had nothing in common. The only solution of -this problem lay in an alert avoidance of the ill-natured youth. - -Second came Mr. Brady. He was laboring under a false impression. -Conscientious, daily work, perfectly performed, would perhaps -counteract it. Third, Mr. Atkins was now arrayed against him by -reason of the family tie. Then, too, there was Miss Breeden’s strange -hostility to be considered. If only Fred were here, he might be able -to discover the source of it. He had always cheerfully affirmed that -he “knew the book department like a book.” Without his help there was -small chance of learning the cause of the saleswoman’s grudge. - -Last of all, there was Mr. Barton. Harry regarded him as the least of -his woes. Mr. Rexford could be relied upon to see that _he_ kept his -place. Mr. Barton always “walked softly” when the energetic buyer was -about the premises of 84. The very fact that the crabbed aisle manager -had dyspepsia was sufficient to excuse him. Harry wondered if Miss -Welch knew that the man was thus afflicted. As his mind reverted to the -pretty exchange clerk, he was inspired with a sudden idea. He would -privately ask Miss Welch to find out for him, if she could, what it was -that Miss Breeden cherished against him. - -At lunch time he paused at exchange desk Number 10, only to find Miss -Welch busily engaged in ministering to a long line of petitioning -shoppers. Directly after luncheon he left Teddy to volubly mourn his -loss and hurried back to the exchange desk, determined to devote the -last fifteen minutes that were his to the business of inquiry. To his -deep disappointment, the line had lengthened and he was forced to leave -the questions he longed to ask until a more convenient season. - -Afternoon brought him the task of moving and rearranging a colony of -popular-priced shelved books that were to take up their residence on -the other side of the department. He did his work so well as to win -from Mr. Brady the somewhat grudging admission, “I see you can do -things right when you try, Harding.” Even this doubtful praise sounded -sweet to Harry and he forgivingly crossed Mr. Brady off his black list -of oppressors. - -It was well after five o’clock when the last of his charges found -itself tightly fitted into its new home. Harry glanced at the clock, -then at the exchange desk. It was invaded now by a lone woman of -meek aspect. He saw Miss Welch’s dimples in evidence as she called a -messenger, then pointed down the aisle with her pencil. This meant that -she was in a good humor. - -“This ought to be a good time to ask her,” decided Harry, as he watched -the customer leave the desk. “I won’t wait to wash my hands. I’ll go -over there now while I have the chance.” - -“There goes one woman that’s willing to do as she’s told. Ain’t it -funny, the difference in some people?” Miss Welch straightened up with -a sigh of relief and pushed back a refractory curl. “Well, if here -isn’t 45! What have _you_ got to be trotted back into stock? I s’pose -that cut glass punch bowl you bought don’t go good with the kitchen -furniture. Or mebbe you bought the ‘Lives of the Presidents,’ thinking -it was ‘My Great Aunt’s Last Stand as a Cook.’ If you’ve read it you -can’t bring it back and exchange it for a tennis racquet. We’re strict -here, we are.” - -Miss Welch’s ferocious scowl vanished in a merry laugh as she saw -Harry’s grave face break into smiles. “That’s more like it, old -Sobersides. I thought you’d come to tell me you was dead and what kind -of a floral piece you wanted us to take up a collection for. But now I -see you’re no dead one. What’s on your mind, Kiddy? Tell your troubles -to your old friend Irish.” - -“That’s just what I’m going to do. I mean, I’m going to ask you if -you’ll help me about something.” - -“Sure I’ll help you. What is it?” Miss Welch leaned forward, her blue -eyes two shining signals of good will. - -“It’s about Miss Breeden,” began Harry in a low voice. “She--I--always -had an idea she didn’t like me, and----” - -“You should worry,” interrupted the listener with a boyish grin. “She -didn’t put the ‘u’ in universe. You ought to feel happy. She’s got some -healthy little hate for yours truly, but I’m not crying my eyes out -about it. After what happened in 84 last Spring you couldn’t expect -we’d be her bosom friends, could you?” - -Harry pricked up his ears at the words “last Spring.” It looked as -though he had come to the right person for information. Miss Welch -evidently knew something hinging on that fateful season that he did -not. His hands nervously gripped the edge of the desk as he regarded -the exchange clerk with a puzzled frown. He could think of but one -incident in which he and Miss Welch had been concerned at that time. - -“But I don’t see how----” His perplexity deepened. - -Miss Welch’s keen mind had already grasped the situation. “So _that’s_ -the way the wind’s began to whistle, has it?” A knowing smile curved -the corners of her red lips. “I guess I ought to of wised you to a -few things, Innocent, but I never thought of _her_. Anyway, you ain’t -supposed to run a social register. You see it was just like this, -Kiddy. When you spotted Farley helping himself and a few others to -Martin Brothers’ goods, you put an awful crimp in Breeden’s plans. She -was, mebbe she is now for all I know, getting ready to be Mrs. Farley.” - -“What?” Harry gasped his amazement. - -“You heard me say it. They was going to get married. Just like that. -Now you know why Farley was trying to annex upholstery and a few other -departments. Poor Breeden didn’t know he was crooked. I give her credit -for that. Still, she wasn’t exactly hilarious when he got fired for -stealing. That’s why you can’t never be her little brother Harry. She -isn’t thinking about adopting me for a sister, neither.” - -“Oh!” A sorrowful expression settled on Harry’s sensitive features. “I -never knew. I’m sorry all that had to happen. But I couldn’t----” - -“Course you couldn’t,” comforted Miss Welch. “You did what was right, -Harry. You wasn’t to blame any more’n I was. Nobody was to blame, but -Farley. When you’ve held down a store job as long as I have you’ll know -that such things can’t happen without hurting some innocent party. -What’s she been doing or saying to you?” Miss Welch became fiercely -inquiring. - -Harry reluctantly repeated the saleswoman’s words to him. “I couldn’t -think what she meant,” he ended. “I suppose she thought I knew. I can’t -blame her now, but I’m sorry she feels that way toward me.” - -“You can’t stop Niagara Falls, so you might as well let ’em go on -falling,” consoled Miss Welch. “Just you keep out of her way and don’t -let her get anything on you. If she gets too gay, put me wise and I’ll -read her a few lines that she won’t find on her application card.” - -“Oh, you mustn’t ever say a word to her, Miss Welch,” entreated Harry. -“Now that I understand, I’ll try not to make her mad. I’m not afraid, -you know. My mother says no one can really hurt a person if that person -isn’t doing wrong himself.” - -“Some straight talk,” nodded Miss Welch, “but it don’t always work in -a place like this. I’ve seen pretty good people get theirs because -somebody else had a knife out for ’em. You can’t always squash the -trouble-bug by being an angel. Mind, I ain’t saying she’s out for -_your_ scalp. Only just you be careful and don’t let her double-cross -you.” - -“I will,” promised Harry. “Thank you ever so much, Miss Welch.” - -“Anything else on your mind? Now’s the golden dumping time.” - -“No.” Harry shook his head. “Oh, yes; there is. I wanted to ask you if -you knew what makes Mr. Barton so cross?” - -“Ask me something easy. I never could guess riddles. I don’t believe he -knows himself.” Miss Welch shrugged her shoulders. - -“A boy told me that he has dyspepsia,” informed Harry. “He says Mr. -Barton goes up to the hospital almost every day.” - -“I’ve heard that myself. I never sent him a card of sympathy, though. -Dyspepsia don’t excuse the way he performs. I tell you he’s got -crankitis and there isn’t no cure for that. Forget him. What do you -care what he has, so long as he lets you alone? Here he comes now, the -precious pet. Beat it before he chases you.” - -Harry glanced over his shoulder, but did not move from his stand before -the desk. He had no mind to scurry off like a frightened rabbit at -Mr. Barton’s approach. Nevertheless, he braced himself for a scolding. -The aisle manager was sure to accuse him of loitering. Greatly to his -surprise, the man paid no attention to him, but passed on hurriedly in -the direction of the little room where he kept his supplies. - -“Never even saw you,” congratulated Miss Welch. “I guess you was wise -not to run. He looked kind of sick, didn’t he? Mebbe I’d better send -him that card, after all.” She giggled at the thought. - -Harry smiled absently. His thoughts were on the tall, gaunt aisle -manager, who had made his early days in the store so unhappy. But it -was not of those dark days he was thinking. He dwelt only upon the -haggard face and pain-filled eyes of the man who had just passed. A -curious wave of sympathy swept over him. He wondered if Mr. Barton had -a home and someone to care for him when his hard day’s work was done. -But he did not dream as he stood there how much was yet to come from -that random, kindly thought. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -TEDDY BURKE, AVENGER - - -The return of Mr. Rexford to Department 84 marked the beginning of a -respite from the misfortunes that had visited Harry. Two days after his -unexpected clash with Miss Breeden the buyer walked into the department -and resumed his kindly but undisputed sway. Mr. Rexford was a man who -thought twice and spoke once. Consequently, his speech was productive -of instant results. Conscientious to a degree he worked untiringly for -the good of the firm who employed him and insisted on the same loyalty -from the members of his department. - -It did not take him long to reach a correct estimate of Leon Atkins. -After one exceedingly brief but crushing interview with the man in -authority, Leon turned over a new leaf in a hurry and made craven -promises to “do better.” Privately, however, he had no intention of -redeeming himself. When under Mr. Rexford’s critical eye he proceeded -with the utmost caution. When the stock-room sheltered him from the -latter’s observation, his pretended energy fell from him like a cloak. - -After the mid-summer sale was over and the stock that remained unsold -was again put to rest in the tenth-floor bins, to reappear later when -the fall trade had quickened, the book department settled down to the -inevitable lull that August always brought. This did not mean that no -one wanted to buy books. There were always the libraries which required -attention at all seasons of the year. Their needs helped swell the -summer trade, and many regular customers browsed about 84’s tempting -aisles. The mail-order, also, gave good account of itself and with the -various consignments of new books that were continually arriving, Harry -Harding always found plenty to do. - -The very fact that Leon was a shirker incited Harry to do his utmost to -keep things moving. To frequently stumble upon the sluggard, asleep in -a bin or deep in a book, was naturally an aggravation. Yet Harry never -complained to Mr. Rexford of his companion’s worthlessness, neither did -he appear to notice what went on day after day under his very eyes. For -one thing he was at least thankful. Leon no longer persisted in his -former mania to fight. Not that he had relinquished it. Although Harry -could not then know it, the other boy was merely biding his time. -While trade was dull and Mr. Rexford was so much in evidence about 84, -it behooved him to go cautiously. Later, when the department had swung -into its usual business stride and Mr. Rexford had his hands full, -he resolved to renew his persecution of Harry. So long as the latter -allowed him uninterrupted liberty to shirk and was foolish enough to do -double work in consequence, Leon was content to let matters rest. - -Yet patient, long-suffering Harry Harding was not the only one who -knew the exact truth about Leon. Mr. Atkins was well aware of his -troublesome son’s deficiencies. Far from taking him to task for -them and insisting that Leon should do his share of the work of the -stock-room, he stolidly ignored the truth and on all occasions treated -Harry with a gruffness that was both unnecessary and unreasonable. The -marked contrast between this neat, industrious, courteous boy and his -own untidy, lazy, impudent son galled him beyond measure. - -Instead of admiring Harry for his good qualities, he appeared to resent -them. Harry’s devotion to duty made his son’s lack of it altogether too -apparent to suit him. He was in constant fear that some day Harry might -suddenly turn and make a complaint to headquarters that would result in -Leon’s discharge from the store. With that thought ever before him, he -kept up an attitude of menacing suspicion toward the boy, hoping thus -to intimidate Harry into remaining silent regarding Leon’s laziness. - -Quick-witted Harry was not slow to discover this. He understood that -Mr. Atkins feared him on account of Leon and felt sorry, rather than -indignant. More than once he was on the point of going to the man -and assuring him that he could rest easy on that score. Only the -possibility of being misunderstood held him aloof. Manfully ignoring -that which he could not change, he delved unceasingly through the long, -hot days of August, making silence and endeavor his watchwords. As the -majority of his orders emanated from Mr. Brady, he was able to keep -fairly clear of Mr. Atkins, whose work lay, for the most part, in the -receiving room. Nevertheless, the lad was always on his guard against -squalls which were quite likely to blow from that quarter in the -twinkling of an eye. - -The middle of September brought with it vast consignments of new books -from the numerous publishing houses. It also brought a heat wave that -July might well have envied. Day after day the sun beat down upon the -city, as though determined to visit a special penalty upon its wilted -inhabitants. Even the nights obstinately refused to be cool, and as -one fierce, sultry, rainless day merged into another, the heat became -well-nigh unbearable. - -“You don’t catch me walking home this night,” grumbled Teddy Burke, as -he and Harry met on the corner at the end of a particularly trying -afternoon. “Me for a street car. I don’t b’lieve it’s ever going to get -cool. Maybe it wasn’t hot in 40 to-day. Even the old wash boilers and -coffee pots were jawing about it.” - -“You don’t say so!” Harry raised amused brows. “I suppose you heard -them?” - -Teddy grinned. “Well,” he confessed, “I fell over a wash boiler and -it groaned, and I dropped a coffee pot and it rattled. I s’pose that -was about as much as they could do. Mr. Hickson says that even the -ice-boxes had a grouch. One of ’em pinched his finger when he went to -shut the door of it.” - -“You’re a funny boy.” Teddy’s quaint fancies were always vastly -entertaining. “Sometimes I almost wish I were down there in house -furnishings with you. You and Mr. Hickson always find something to -laugh at.” - -“What’s the matter with books?” inquired Teddy. “Don’t you like ’em any -more?” - -“Oh, books are all right and so is Mr. Rexford,” sighed Harry. “Only I -wish some of the people in 84 were like Mr. Hickson. I miss Fred Alden -a good deal. He was always cheerful and funny and wasn’t afraid of -work.” - -“How’s the Clothes-pole behaving?” On first glimpse of the lengthy -Leon, Teddy had immediately likened him to the above wash-day prop. -“He’s about as fat as one,” had been his discerning comment, “only -he isn’t half so useful. Still, that’s what he looks like, and that’s -what I’m going to call him when he isn’t around.” Thus named, Leon was -destined so to remain in Teddy’s imaginative mind. - -“The Clothes-pole, as you will call him, is the laziest boy I ever -saw.” Harry’s voice quivered with vexation. “When he’s in the -stock-room he doesn’t do much except read and sleep. It’s a shame! I’ve -been doing his work all summer, but I’m getting pretty tired of it. His -father knows it, too, but he doesn’t seem to care much. I just wish Mr. -Rexford would come up some day and catch him asleep in one of those -bins.” - -“Maybe he will.” A daring idea had sprung to life in Teddy’s fertile -brain. His freckled face grew preternaturally solemn; a sure sign that -he was planning mischief. - -“He hardly ever comes up to the stock-room.” Harry had failed to catch -the significance that lay behind Teddy’s casual remark. - -“Is that so?” Teddy relapsed into sudden silence, as he considered ways -and means of bringing Leon’s ill-timed siestas to an end. “Aw, see -here!” He had become aware that they had left the corner behind them -and were well up the street. “Didn’t I say I wasn’t going to hoof it -home?” - -“Come on,” urged Harry. He had slyly begun the homeward walk, knowing -that Teddy would keep pace with him from sheer force of habit. “You -don’t want to ride in one of those crowded cars. It’s a lot better for -us to be out in the air, even if it is so warm.” - -“Might as well keep on now,” grumbled Teddy. “Say, when does the -Clothes-pole generally take his nap?” - -“Whenever he gets a chance. There’s one big bin at the end of the -stock-room that he is fond of. He goes to lunch at one o’clock and as -soon as he gets back he crawls into it. He puts a truck close to the -bin. After he gets in he rolls the truck in front of it and then no one -can see him.” - -“Lazy loafer,” was Teddy’s scornful opinion. “But see here, Harry. You -ought to report him. Don’t you know what it says on the application -card about reporting anyone you see doing something against Martin -Brothers? You signed it, you know.” - -“Yes, I know. I’ve thought of that a good many times, but I can’t make -up my mind to report him. I’ve tried to even up for it to the store by -doing his work. You see I know what it is to be poor. My mother had a -hard time taking care of just the two of us before I went to work. Even -with what help I give her, it’s pretty bad. Everything costs so much -now. If it’s hard for us, what must it be for poor Mr. Atkins with that -large family of his? It’s better for this boy to be with his father. He -might be a good deal worse off away from him. Mr. Atkins is afraid I’m -going to make a fuss about Leon. That’s why he is so cranky to me. He -never used to act like that before his son came to the store to work.” - -“You make me tired.” Teddy’s impish face registered his disapproval. “I -wouldn’t be good to folks that treated me so mean. I’d treat ’em mean, -too. What’s the use of working your head off for that Atkins pair? -Either one of ’em would get you fired if he could. I’d do as I promised -on my application card, if I was you. Suppose somebody found out about -the way the Clothes-pole loafs? Then you might get blamed for knowing -about it and not saying a word.” - -“I’ve thought of that, too,” confessed Harry, “but I guess I’ll have to -take chances against it. As long as I keep the stock-room looking neat -and tidy, no one can say much. What Leon does when he’s downstairs on -the floor is none of my business.” - -“I hope he does something awful then,” scowled Teddy. “Anyway, he won’t -last long. See if he does.” - -On just what grounds the resourceful Teddy based his prophecy he -neglected to mention. The following morning, however, he was hardly in -his department before he approached good-humored Mr. Duffield and asked -solemn permission to leave the floor. - -“Very well, Teddy, you may go. Don’t stay away long and don’t get into -any mischief.” The placid little aisle manager felt it necessary to add -this last mild admonition. - -“I never get into mischief.” But the roguish gleam in the boy’s black -eyes told a different story. - -Mr. Duffield merely smiled behind his stubby gray mustache. He knew -Teddy Burke. - -Straight through Department 40 toward the nearest basement stairs Teddy -flitted. - -“What’s your hurry?” called out Sam Hickson as Teddy flashed past him -with a grin. - -“I’ve got business to ’tend to,” he flung back over his shoulder. - -“More likely it’s mischief,” muttered the salesman. “I can always tell -when that youngster is up to something.” - -Up the stairway route to the third floor Teddy scurried, scorning to -wait for an elevator. Reaching the third-floor landing, he steered -directly for Mr. Keene’s office. There Teddy had a friend on whom he -proposed to call. - -“Why, good morning, Teddy.” The brown-haired, pink-cheeked girl glanced -up from her typewriter with a welcoming smile. She had ushered himself -and Harry into Mr. Keene’s office on the day they had applied for work. - -“Good morning, Miss Phelps.” In the presence of this delightful person -for whom Teddy cherished unbounded respect, Teddy’s usually ready -speech left him. - -“Did you come to see Mr. Keene?” - -Teddy shook his ruddy head. “No; I came to see you.” His bright eyes -met the young woman’s surprised gaze rather shyly. Since his advent -into Martin Brothers he had come to know Miss Phelps fairly well, but -he was now not at all sure of how she might regard him once he had -explained the nature of his visit. - -“Well, what can I do for you?” asked Miss Phelps, quickly noting the -lad’s embarrassment. - -“Oh, I thought--I wanted to ask you---- Say, do they use this kind of -typewriters all over the store?” - -“Yes.” Miss Phelps secretly wondered at the question. “At least, I -believe so.” - -“If you wrote a notice on this,” Teddy touched the machine, “and didn’t -sign any name to it, then no one would know where it came from?” he -continued eagerly. - -“I suppose not. But what a funny question!” A faint pucker appeared -between Miss Phelps’ dark brows. - -“Um-m!” Teddy studied the typewriter with due solemnity. Fishing in his -coat pocket he brought forth a bit of paper on which appeared a single -sentence. “If I asked you to typewrite this for me, would you do it?” - -Miss Phelps took the paper and studied it with some curiosity. “I can’t -do it unless you tell me why you want it,” she said. - -Teddy turned red and was silent. Then his impish grin came slowly and -widely into evidence. “All right. I’ll tell you.” - -He had not proceeded far before his listener began to smile. Then she -laughed outright. “You are a naughty boy,” was her indulgent reproof, -“but I’ll help you out this time. Your intentions are good and I don’t -know but I’d do the same if I were you. Wait a minute.” - -Opening a drawer of her desk she selected a small-sized sheet of office -stationery, fastened it in the machine and began a rapid clicking of -the keys. “There you are. Take it and run, and don’t you ever tell -anyone I typed it.” - -“Thank you ever so much. Hope I can do something for you some day.” -Teddy clutched the sheet of paper and darted away with as much speed as -was decorous to that vicinity. The further progress of his plan meant -the climbing of two additional flights of stairs, but he mounted them -with gleeful abandon. - -At the extreme end of the fifth floor was a tiny railed-in space that -held a single desk. As Teddy approached it he became joyfully aware -that it held no occupant. Luck was certainly with him. Noiselessly -swinging the wooden gate behind him, he slipped to the desk, and, -drawing out a slide, deposited his precious paper carefully upon it, -then discreetly fled from the spot. He had successfully carried out his -part of the plan. It remained for others to carry out the rest. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A SANE LUNATIC - - -At precisely two o’clock that afternoon, Leon Atkins sought the -seclusion of the cradling bin, where he was wont to take his afternoon -nap, and shoved a sheltering truck in place before it. After a -strenuous morning’s labor in the book department, to which he had -been driven by Mr. Brady like a lamb to slaughter, Leon felt the need -of rest. But the god of sleep had scarcely weighed down his willing -eyelids when he was brought back to earth by the loud, protesting -rumbles of the screening truck. - -Forgetting his limited quarters, the slumberer sat up with a jerk that -brought his head in violent contact with the top of the bin. “Ouch!” he -ejaculated, ruefully rubbing the injured member. This mishap faded into -insignificance, however, as his drowsy eyes came to rest on an angry -face peering into his stronghold. - -“Come out of there, you young loafer,” commanded a sharp voice. “This -is a nice time to sleep! Where do you think you are? If this is a -sample of these bins, I guess they do need inspecting.” - -Leon hastily emerged amid a torrent of sarcastic rebuke that fell from -the lips of a small, energetic man whose sharp eyes seemed to cut -straight through him. - -“Whada you want?” The usual challenge fell from the lips of the -transgressor. - -“You’ll find out.” The man turned on his heel and began a shrewd -peering into the adjoining bin. Around the stock-room he went, -examining every nook and corner of it with the air of a bloodhound hot -on the scent of a criminal. Every now and then he ran his finger over a -stack of books, or about the inside of a bin, then examined it with the -air of a scientist. - -Leon watched him in open-mouthed consternation. As it happened he -had been alone in his glory until disturbed by this strangely-acting -intruder. As the man continued to peek and prowl, the watcher began to -wonder if he were crazy. A coward at heart, he promptly decamped for -the security of the receiving room. His father, not he, should deal -with this lunatic. - -“Pa, there’s a nut in the stock-room,” was his alarmed cry, as he -sighted his parent. “He’s peekin’ in the bins and actin’ like he was -crazy. He jumped all over me.” - -“In the stock-room?” Mr. Atkins raised startled eyes from a pile of -books and headed for the scene of danger on the run. He, at least, was -valiant. Several young women who were engaged in marking books dropped -their pencils and followed him. From the safety of the door a group of -frightened faces viewed the little that was to be seen of the madman. -For the moment the major part of him was lost in the depths of a bin. - -“Stand back, girls.” Mr. Atkins forged boldly toward the danger spot. -The lunatic was now slowly backing out of the bin. His attention -arrested by the sound of voices, he peered owlishly over one shoulder. -Mr. Atkins gave a gurgling gasp of amazed disgust. In the madman he -recognized an inspector whose business it was to wage unending warfare -against dust. - -The dust man straightened up and favored the unexpected audience with a -scowl. He was far from pleased with the results of his investigation. -The immaculate cleanliness of both books and bins did not accord with -the typed notice which he found on his desk, which stated, “Kindly -inspect bins in book stock-room, tenth floor, at 2.00 P. M.” Trained -to implicit obedience of orders he had followed this particular -command to the letter, expecting to discover a liberal coating of his -enemy, dust, on everything in that vicinity. He had set forth on his -mission with blood in his eye only to stumble upon a lazy boy and lay -bare a dustless condition of affairs that filled him with indignant -disappointment. He had a feeling of having been cheated and he -determined that the sluggard who had roosted in the bin should pay for -it. - -“You won’t find any dust in this place.” Mr. Atkins had fully recovered -from his recent shock. “I’d like to know who reported such a thing.” - -This was exactly what the dust man yearned to know. Still, he had -no intention of admitting it. Someone had made a mistake, that was -certain. He had not the slightest suspicion that he had been sent on -a wild-goose chase. At the “front” was an august body of individuals -who explained their motives to no one. He had been sent on the trail -of dust and dust was missing. All he could do now was to return whence -he had come. His mission had not been without fruit. He would at least -have something to say to the book buyer. Without deigning to reply to -Mr. Atkins’ hostile comment he marched out of the stock-room and to the -nearest elevator. - -The total collapse of Leon’s madman theory sent a very sheepish group -of employees back to the marking room. Mr. Atkins lingered, however, to -inquire into details. But Leon had none to give him. He was craftily -mute regarding his interview with the indefatigable dust destroyer. -Now that he knew the man’s business he was no longer alarmed at his -threat. Very likely the fellow had forgotten about him already. - -Thus comforting himself, Leon made a pretence of work until his father -had vanished into the receiving room. After a few minutes’ interval, -during which no one appeared, he deemed himself safe from interruption. - -Again coiling his lazy length to fit the limits of the bin, he was -about to draw his truck in place when the sound of brisk approaching -footsteps assailed his ears. Giving the truck a vigorous shove he was -about to crawl from the bin when a stern voice addressed him. - -“So this is the way you do your work, young man.” - -Leon scrambled awkwardly to his feet to confront a person who in no -sense resembled a lunatic. This severe-featured person, who fixed him -with a withering eye, was Mr. Brady. - -“I wasn’t doing nothin’,” he mumbled, hanging his head. - -“I know you were not, but I propose you shall. If you can’t be trusted -in the stock-room we don’t want you. If I catch you lounging in a bin -again, or even hear that you are shirking I’ll see that you don’t stay -long in this store. Now get downstairs and don’t come up here again -this afternoon unless I send you. Go to Mr. Denby and he’ll give you -something to do that will keep you awake.” - -Mr. Brady waited only long enough to see Leon on the move, then he -strode into the receiving room. - -“Atkins,” he called sharply, “if you can’t make that boy of yours work, -he can’t stay in this department. We are not going to pay him for -lounging in the bins when he ought to be hustling.” - -“I am sure there has been some mistake,” began Mr. Atkins -apologetically. “Leon never----” - -“Don’t tell me that. I caught him coming out of a bin. I’m not the only -one who has seen him using the bins for a bed, either. See that he -keeps busy or out of the store he goes.” - -Without further words Mr. Brady stalked from the receiving room. The -discomfited father muttered under his breath, then hurried into the -stock-room in time to meet his erring son at the door. - -“Were you in one of those bins when Mr. Brady came up here?” he -snapped, taking Leon by the collar. - -“Aw, let me alone,” whimpered Leon. “I was just lookin’ in the bin and -he thought I was loafin’. He don’t know what he’s talkin’ about. I’ll -bet that fresh Harding kid tattled somethin’ about me and that’s why -Brady hot-footed it up here.” - -Mr. Atkins slowly relaxed his hold. Mr. Brady’s words, “not the only -one who has seen him using the bins for a bed,” struck him forcibly. -Strangely enough he did not connect the dust man’s visit with that of -the assistant. Resentment of Harry made it easy for him to fix the -blame on the industrious lad. - -“Where is Harding?” he growled. - -“Downstairs, I s’pose. How could he send Brady up here if he wasn’t? -That smarty has it in for me, I tell you. He’s jealous of me.” - -“I’ll ’tend to him,” menaced the wrathful father, “but you see to it -that you behave yourself.” - -“I’m behavin’. Now quit jawin’ me. I gotta go downstairs and help -Denby. Brady just said so.” - -“Go on then, and don’t fool along the way.” Mr. Atkins gave his son -an ungentle push through the doorway and returned to his own domain, -inwardly vowing vengeance on that “tattle-tale” Harding. - -Serenely unconscious of the shoals ahead of him, Harry entered the -marking room late that afternoon to meet with a stormy reception. Mr. -Atkins pounced upon him with a flow of vituperation of which every word -was “tattle-tale.” - -“I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Atkins,” he said helplessly. “I -haven’t said a word to Mr. Brady about your son.” - -“Don’t lie to me. Who told him Leon used the bins to sleep in, if you -didn’t? You know it isn’t so.” - -“I know it _is_ so.” Harry sprang into nettled defense at the ugly word -“lie.” His blue eyes grew steely. “Your son takes a nap in that end bin -every day. I supposed you knew it.” Harry could not resist this one -thrust. “But you must not say to me that I told Mr. Brady so, because I -didn’t.” - -“I’ll say what I please. You told Brady and I know it. You don’t like -Leon and you pick on him all the time. But it’s got to be stopped. You -let him alone or you’ll be sorry.” - -“I came up here to say to you that Mr. Rexford wishes to see you in his -office before you go home.” Completely ignoring the man’s threat, Harry -wheeled and walked into the stock-room, wondering with all his might -what had happened to raise such a storm. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE PARTY OF THE THIRD PART - - -“Something queer happened this afternoon,” were Harry’s first words, as -he and Teddy started homeward that night. - -“Is that so?” Teddy shot a sidelong glance at his companion, then -sternly repressed his ever-ready grin. “What was it?” - -“Oh, someone told Mr. Brady about Leon going to sleep in the bin. I -don’t know much about it. I don’t even know how it started. But Mr. -Atkins blamed me for it and gave me a terrible talking-to. Everything -has gone wrong since that boy landed in 84. I don’t care so much about -the scolding, but he told me I lied and that’s pretty hard to swallow.” - -“Who do you s’pose told him--Mr. Brady, I mean?” Teddy tried hard to -keep his voice steady. He wanted to shout with laughter. His scheme had -worked. The next moment he began to feel extremely serious. He had not -reckoned on involving Harry in it. - -“I don’t know. I suppose somebody besides me saw him asleep there. -Really, I’m glad of it. Mr. Atkins isn’t nice to me, anyway. What he -said this afternoon doesn’t hurt me because it isn’t true.” - -“And you don’t care at all?” inquired Teddy anxiously. - -“No, I don’t. Isn’t it funny, though? I said only yesterday that I -wished Mr. Rexford would catch Leon asleep in the bin. I got my wish; -only it was Mr. Brady who found him out instead of Mr. Rexford. Or else -somebody told Mr. Rexford and he sent Mr. Brady up to the stock-room. -He wouldn’t come himself for anything like that. But whichever way it -was, I had nothing to do with it.” - -“But _I_ did,” announced Teddy, visibly proud of his achievement. - -“_You?_” Harry stopped short in his tracks and stared incredulously at -Teddy. “Did you go to Mr. Rexford, or----” - -“I did not.” Teddy glared offended innocence of tale-bearing. “What do -you think I am, anyway?” - -“You are as clear as a dark night,” jeered Harry. “First you say you -did and then you say you didn’t. How am I to know what you mean?” - -Teddy’s grin rivaled that of the famous Cheshire cat. “Some puzzle,” he -snickered. “I’ll bet you can’t guess who it was that told?” - -“I sha’n’t try.” Harry rested a grateful hand on the red-haired boy’s -shoulder. “Whoever it was, you were back of him. You’re a loyal -pardner, Ted.” - -“It was the dust man.” Teddy’s revelation ended in a gleeful chuckle. -“It was this way,” he continued. Then followed a detailed account of -his ingenious method of exposing Leon. - -Harry could not help laughing immoderately as Teddy proceeded with his -story. “I don’t see how you ever happened to think of the poor dust -man. He has troubles enough of his own without being dragged into such -a scheme. You are a dangerous person, Ted.” - -“He didn’t know he was the goat,” asserted Teddy humorously. “What he -doesn’t know won’t make his head ache. All I’m sorry for is that the -Atkins man jumped you.” - -“Don’t let that worry you,” returned Harry lightly. “As long as I do my -work he can’t say anything very terrible about me.” - -“I’m glad of that.” Teddy appeared vastly relieved. “If he gets too -smart, let me know. I might make _him_ behave, too.” - -“You mustn’t try to fight my battles, old fellow,” objected Harry. “You -might get into trouble. I’m much obliged for what you did. It was kind -in you and you really did the store a good turn as well as helping me. -No one got hurt by it except Leon and it was coming to him.” - -“It wasn’t anything,” deprecated Teddy. “I wonder what happened when -the Dustless Duster blew into the stock-room? I wish you’d find out’n -tell me.” - -“I will,” promised Harry. “How are things going in your department? You -haven’t said much lately about that Mr. Jarvis.” - -“Huh!” snorted Teddy. “The old Percolator is still percolating around -40. Now that the Clothes-pole’s had a good walloping, I’ve got to see -what I can do in the coffee-pot line. Mr. Everett’s been having an -awful time with him. He butts in everywhere and talks like a book about -efficiency and such stuff. He’s always bubbling up at nothing. Somebody -ought to can him and jam the lid down tight.” Teddy did not add that -he cherished fond hopes of being that “someone.” His method was to do -first and crow afterward. - -For several days following his triumph in Harry’s behalf, Teddy -patiently lurked in Mr. Jarvis’ wake, the light of mischievous purpose -in his bright eyes. Thanks to him, Harry was no longer inflicted with -Leon’s slothful presence in the stock-room. Mr. Brady had decreed that -the idler should remain on the selling-floor where he would be under -close supervision. When sent on necessary errands to the tenth floor, -he was too rigidly timed to admit of his lingering there. Thus Harry -came into the luxury of deserved peace and Teddy turned his active -mind to a study of his own affairs. - -The advent of Mr. Jarvis into Department 40 as assistant buyer had -announced the beginning of trying days for the inhabitants of that -useful realm. Nathan Jarvis was an efficiency crank of the deepest dye. -Furthermore, he had an ambition to rule, which a prospective king might -have envied. From assistant to buyer was only a step. Secretly he had -determined to take that step. In his own estimation he was far more -capable to buy house furnishings than Mr. Everett, and he purposed that -sooner or later those in authority at Martin Brothers should be made to -see it. - -Their wits sharpened by constant contact with humanity, the salespersons -in 40 were not slow to see what was afoot. One and all they were up in -arms. Under Mr. Everett’s firm but kindly direction they had been happy. -He had treated them as equals, and they had ever shown their appreciation -by loyal, painstaking effort. He put them upon their honor and rarely -interfered with them. His assistant, Chester Willard, had also followed -his chief’s example. Now he had gone and in his place had bobbed up a -strange, unfriendly person who buzzed about the department like a huge -blue-bottle fly, and blazed a trail of rebellion wherever he buzzed. - -Had those active in the management of the big store known the -disturber’s true character, Mr. Jarvis’ outlook would not have been -rosy. The “square deal” was among the most revered traditions of Martin -Brothers. Nathan Jarvis had been careful to create the impression of a -man eager and ready to make every moment count toward the good of his -employers. He lectured earnestly and convincingly to the superintendent -on the beauty and necessity of efficiency as an asset to commercial -success. Hailing him as a really valuable acquisition he was already -regarded by those who put result before method as a person of unusual -judgment and ability. - -Black-eyed Teddy Burke, however, entertained no such fallacies -regarding the lively Mr. Jarvis. What he did entertain was a growing -desire to worst the usurper at his own game and thus glorify Mr. -Everett. While Mr. Jarvis secretly planned to oust the man who stood -between him and authority, Teddy was equally resolved upon displaying -Mr. Jarvis in his true character. - -This was easier planned than accomplished. As a mere stock boy, his -influence amounted to less than nothing. But the will to wage war -amounted to a good deal. So did his respect for Mr. Everett. These -weapons, in conjunction with so devastating a force as the ingenious -Teddy, spelled breakers ahead for the ubiquitous assistant. To all -outward appearance the red-haired boy was innocence personified, but -secretly his mind was a maze of darkly designed pranks. He only lacked -the opportunity to let them loose on the offender and he was serenely -confident that said opportunity would presently knock at his door. - -Late one afternoon, as he sat on the lower shelf of a table tightly -wedged between two immense stewing kettles, the sound of an unpleasantly -familiar voice smote his ears. It proceeded from the other side of the -very table under which he had crouched for a moment’s rest after a long, -busy day on his feet. - -“What this department lacks, Mr. Seymour, is an efficient hand to guide -it,” purred Mr. Jarvis. “The old methods of doing things are rapidly -disappearing. To-day our motto must be, ‘Save time by eliminating -all unnecessary motion.’ Think what glorious results we should have -from this department if we adhered strictly to this rule. Since my -appointment here, I have endeavored to do this. But in the face of the -opposition which I am obliged daily to encounter from _all_ sides, I -find it uphill work. Mr. Everett is, unfortunately, of the old school.” -The assistant sighed audibly. - -“You have the right idea, Mr. Jarvis,” was Mr. Seymour’s hearty reply. -“We need such men as you in the store. I am sure that Mr. Edward Martin -would be interested to hear your views in regard to the changes you -advocate in this department.” - -“I hardly feel that I ought to go to him,” deprecated the assistant -modestly. “It might appear to Mr. Everett as though I were taking these -matters above his head. It puts me in a rather delicate position. You -understand?” - -“Perfectly, Mr. Jarvis,” rejoined Mr. Seymour. “But don’t let that -trouble you. I will speak to Mr. Martin myself. My position here -insures me the freedom of doing so. I am sorry that Mr. Everett does -not uphold your views.” - -“It makes my position here a trifle difficult.” Hypocritical sadness -lurked in the wily assistant’s answer. “If we could only work together -without so much needless friction, then----” - -The remainder of this deceitful speech was lost to Teddy, as the two -men walked on up the aisle, unaware that a certain thin, ruddy-haired -youngster had been an unwilling listener to their talk. Teddy had -deemed it indiscreet to betray himself. It meant a double lecture on -lounging, which he felt he did not deserve. After a moment’s safe -silence had ensued a mop of red hair, followed by a small, tense body, -rose from its kettle fortress. Teddy watched the satisfied pair, as -they paraded the length of the department. He made a derisive face at -their retreating backs. - -“So that’s the way he does it,” pondered the little boy. “No wonder Mr. -Everett got jumped on at the front when he tried to help Miss Newton. -The old, slippery Percolator is certainly working hard to get Mr. -Everett out of here. I s’pose eliminate means to cut out. I’ve got to -get on the job and do something for my best boss. I’ve got to begin my -Fall canning.” - - - - -CHAPTER X - -TEDDY BEGINS HIS FALL CANNING - - -As the early October days waxed and waned, Teddy trailed his quarry -with the watchfulness of a sleuth. But Mr. Jarvis was not to be caught -napping. His self-lauded efficiency guarded him like a sentinel. He -buzzed, bubbled, nagged and tyrannized all in the name of the store. -Whatever and whoever he set out to reform, he pounced upon with an -awe-inspiring energy that none could combat. Even the Gobbler in her -most offended moments could not out-gobble him. - -“I never saw the beat of that man!” she exclaimed almost tearfully to -Teddy. “I can’t do a thing to please him. Here you and me have spent -pretty near a whole morning stacking these pans the way he wants ’em -and now he says it’s not the way he told me. I’d go to Mr. Everett -about it, but after what happened that other time I don’t like to. He -has enough to bother him since this miserable fault-finder came down -here.” - -“It’s too bad,” sympathized Teddy. “Mr. Hickson told me what he did to -Mr. Everett when you went to him. Never mind, Miss Newton, p’raps he -won’t be here always.” - -“He’ll be here long after poor Mr. Everett’s gone,” was the woman’s -gloomy prediction. “He’s one of the under-handed kind that won’t play -fair. When you think you’ve got him he switches things so as to make -you look like the guilty one.” - -“Sixty-five! Boy!” sounded the call. - -“Gotta go. I hear his gentle voice. I’m awful sorry, Miss Newton. I’ll -come back as soon as I can and help you.” With a genial nod of promise, -Teddy trotted off in the direction of the call. - -“Here, boy. Get these buckets out of the way.” Mr. Jarvis stood -surrounded by a vast array of large galvanized pails. From an almost -bare table, Sam Hickson was removing the last of them to a place on -the floor beside others of their kind. The salesman’s close-cropped -red hair seemed positively to be standing on end with rebellion. His -good-humored mouth drooped sullenly, and he looked as though he yearned -to say unutterable things. - -“Get a step-ladder. Be lively now. These buckets must all be put in -place instantly. I can’t understand why it should take so long to do -such a simple task. _I_ could have done it easily in ten minutes.” - -“You couldn’t if you stopped to wait on customers,” flashed Hickson, -coloring angrily. - -“That’s no excuse. It should have been done before the customers began -to arrive,” blandly reminded the assistant. “Now you are wasting time -arguing. Get to work and fill this lower rack with buckets. By the -time you’ve finished the boy will be here with the ladder. The idea of -allowing all that space on those racks to lie idle!” - -“Those racks are very unhandy for buckets,” retorted Hickson. “We tried -them and the saleswomen had so much trouble reaching up to them that -Mr. Everett said not to use them.” - -“Never mind what Mr. Everett says. _I_ am doing this. Don’t talk back -to me, either. Get busy.” Mr. Jarvis took decided umbrage at the -mention of Mr. Everett. - -Hickson said no more. Fighting savagely for self-control he laid hands -on a couple of the largest-sized pails and moved toward the despised -rack. - -“Not those large buckets,” objected the taskmaster. “Use your brain. -The smallest sizes must go on the lower rack; the larger ones above.” - -Hickson accepted the correction in morose silence and with a shrug of -his broad shoulders endeavored to carry out instructions. - -“Ah!” Mr. Jarvis emitted a satisfied cluck. “Here is our ladder. It -took you long enough to get it, boy. I could have done it in half that -time.” - -“Could you?” Teddy simulated a solemn, wide-eyed admiration that nearly -convulsed the abused Hickson. - -“I could.” Mr. Jarvis took his questioner seriously. “Set it there. Now -Mr. Hickson----” - -“Young man, will you please wait on me?” A plaintive voice was heard at -the assistant’s elbow. - -“Certainly you shall receive attention.” Mr. Jarvis beamed patronizingly -on the woman. “What can we show you this morning?” - -“I’d like to look at a small oven. You see I do light housekeeping -and----” - -“What _you_ need, Madam, is a fireless cooker. You have no idea of the -time and labor you can save by installing one in your home. Now the -fireless cooker which we principally handle is a marvel of----” - -“I wouldn’t have one in the house.” The plaintive tones took on a shade -of belligerence. “I came to see an oven and it’s an oven I want. If you -don’t care to show it to me I guess I can go somewhere else. If I don’t -know my own mind, then I don’t know who does.” - -“Hickson, show this lady what she _says_ she wants.” Mr. Jarvis lost -interest suddenly in the customer. He waved her away as though in a -hurry to be rid of her. “Here, 65, you can put these buckets on the top -shelf. _I_ will hand them up to you. Set the ladder right there. Now, -hustle.” - -Teddy ran up the five steps of the ladder with the agility of a monkey. -The assistant seized a bucket in each hand, and, rising on his capable -toes, delivered them to the waiting Teddy. For the next five minutes -the efficiency man was in his glory. From a safe distance several -salespeople watched the scene with scornful grins. - -“I gotta move my ladder.” Teddy skipped down from his perch and shoved -the ladder along a few feet. - -“A little farther the other way. Right there. Now step lively. Two -minutes more will see us finished.” - -Teddy again ascended like a bird and waited. Four more buckets clanked -to rest on the heights. Only a lonely duo now adorned the floor. Mr. -Jarvis swooped down on them, then poised one of the pair in reach -of Teddy’s thin fingers. Teddy gazed soulfully down upon the round, -up-turned face of his helper. He leaned a trifle forward as though -to take the bucket. The ladder gave a sudden, threatening lurch. In -a wild effort to regain his balance, he waved the huge bucket over -the efficiency man’s head. Very curiously it turned upside down and -descended. - -The remaining bucket in Mr. Jarvis’ hand left it and careered down the -aisle with a wild rumble. But the bucket that had recently parted from -Teddy’s hand was denied that pleasure. It had found a resting-place and -remained fixed. - -Then the delighted spectators to the moving scene were treated to -a spectacle that furnished them with hilarious memories for many a -long day afterward. The hitherto inanimate bucket became miraculously -endowed with a short, pudgy body and a pair of furiously flapping arms -that had formerly belonged to Mr. Jarvis. Down the aisle it staggered, -crashing full tilt into a table of saucepans, a number of which bounced -to the floor in noisy resentment of the invasion. - -Stranger still, the magic bucket came into possession of speech. A -tumult of unintelligible sounds, such as only an animate infant bucket -could be expected to make, flowed forth from under it. Then its brief -debut into the animate was over. Violently it severed connections with -the body it had appropriated and hit the floor with a rattle and roll. - -“Oh, Mr. Jarvis, did it hurt you?” Two round, solicitous, black eyes -met those of the sputtering efficiency man. While Mr. Jarvis’ head -was imprisoned in its galvanized cast, Teddy had indulged in a silent -extravagance of glee that nearly spilled him off the ladder. He was now -as solemn as a judge. Angelic pity shone from his freckled face. - -“You--you----” Mr. Jarvis was absolutely bereft of speech suitable to -the crime. - -“I almost fell off the ladder myself,” comforted Teddy gently, “but -accidents have to happen sometimes. I guess I better pick up those -saucepans. If Mr. Seymour came along and saw them all over the floor he -mightn’t like it.” - -“What are all these pans doing on the floor?” a stern voice broke in. -Mr. Everett had come upon the scene just in time to miss the accident. -“See that they are put straight at once, Teddy. Such a litter is a -disgrace to the department, Jarvis.” - -Mr. Everett marched on down the aisle, secretly exultant that for once -he had caught his obnoxious assistant to rights. The efficiency man’s -face took on a poppy-red hue. For once he was dumb. The rapidity with -which things had happened fairly dazed him. - -“Pick up those pans,” he muttered. With one awful glance at the author -of the disaster he took himself off to the far side of the department -to think things over. - -Teddy gazed dreamily after him. Reaching into his coat pocket he drew -forth a tiny, leather-covered book. From another pocket he produced -a stubby pencil. Resting the book on a step of the ladder he wrote -briefly, “October 6. Canned the Percolator.” After it he made a long, -black mark. “Some time he’ll stay canned,” was his sage prophecy. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE MARTIN MINUTE MEN - - -“Well, Reddy, you did it.” Sam Hickson regarded the grinning knight -of the ladder with mirthful eyes. Half an hour had elapsed since Mr. -Jarvis’ temporary eclipse, and the redoubtable Teddy had purposely -sought out his friend to hear his views on the subject. - -“It was just like a play, wasn’t it?” chuckled Teddy. “Where the -villain gets canned in the last act and the hero comes up and gives him -the ha, ha! I was glad Mr. Everett got a chance at him. It took all the -bubble out of him.” - -“I’m glad you haven’t got it in for me,” retorted Hickson. “You’re not -a safe person to be on the outs with.” - -“Friendship is a golden tie,” murmured Teddy. “My last year’s copy-book -said so, and I say so, too.” - -“Much obliged.” The salesman slapped Teddy on the back with appreciative -vigor. - -“I didn’t say anything about knocking your friends down, though.” The -affectionate blow caused Teddy to ruefully rub the spot between his -thin shoulders where it had descended. “I’m not made of wood.” - -“You’re made of mischief,” laughed Hickson. “You’re chuck full and -running over with it.” - -“P’r’aps. Say, did that funny woman who wanted the oven buy one?” - -“No, she’s poking around here yet. She says she can’t make up her mind -until she looks things over. Maybe she wasn’t mad at Jarvis. She says -he thinks he is too smart. I hope she buys. It’s going to be a dull -day. Somebody just told me that it’s raining outside.” - -“Hm-m!” Teddy cast a roving glance across the department. “I guess I’d -better do a little work for a change. I’ll see you later.” He sauntered -off in the direction of the spot devoted to the display of ovens. From -afar he had glimpsed the woman who did not admire Mr. Jarvis. “Maybe I -can help her pick out an oven and get a sale for Mr. Hickson,” was his -kindly thought as he approached the undetermined customer. - -“I’ll open that door for you, Madam.” The woman was tugging fruitlessly -at the obstinate door on an oven that had caught her fancy. - -“Oh, thank you.” She favored this unexpected helper with a pleasant -smile. “Why, you are that boy who was standing there when that horrid -man tried to tell me that I didn’t know what I wanted. Who is that man? -I asked the salesman who showed me these ovens, but he didn’t hear me, -I guess.” There was a note of menace in her question that was not lost -on Teddy. - -“Oh, that is our assistant buyer. His name is Mr. Jarvis. He’s an -efficiency man.” - -“He’s not half so efficient as he might be,” snapped the woman. “Now -that I know his name I’m going to report him. This seems to be a good -oven.” Engaged now in peering into it, she did not mark the seraphic -joy on a small freckled face. - -“It’s a very good oven,” assured Teddy glibly. “If you’d like to buy it -I’ll get Mr. Hickson to wait on you.” - -“Very well. Have you a pencil and paper? I wish you’d put down that -man’s name and the number of this department. I shall write to this -firm about him.” - -Teddy got out his notebook and pencil. With deep satisfaction he tore -a leaf from the back and inscribed on it, “Mr. Nathan Jarvis, Dept. -40.” Before he put the book away he turned to the front page and -wrote, “October 6. Canned again by a customer.” A second sinister mark -followed this pertinent item. “That’s pretty good for one day,” he -murmured, as he tucked the record of the morning’s preserving in his -pocket. “If he gets bottled a few more times, he can have a label and -be put in Martin Hall for a decoration. Pickled Percolator would look -nice.” Teddy giggled to himself as his whimsical imagination pictured -the plump assistant unhappily confined in a huge glass jar, a gigantic, -awe-inspiring monument to the pickler’s art. - -Although Teddy’s sworn crusade against Mr. Jarvis might easily be -criticized, it must also be remembered that his motive, at least, was -prompted by loyalty alone. Had the assistant been merely a disagreeable -factor in the department the lad would have accepted him as such and -foreborne to play on him more than an occasional mischievous prank. Mr. -Jarvis, however, was engaged in an enterprise of the most contemptible -nature. By false words and gross misrepresentation he was laboring to -cut the ground from under Mr. Everett’s feet. - -Teddy knew this. His sturdy boy nature revolted at the very idea of -such unfairness. What he yearned to do was to expose the assistant’s -shortcomings to the public. He was too shrewd to be deceived by Mr. -Jarvis. He knew, as well as others in the department knew, that the -man was not even a truly capable assistant. His knowledge of the stock -he burned to become buyer of was not sound. Moreover, his methods -of running the department were too unsettled and flighty to insure -success. His superiors had yet to learn this. Now that the bugle call -for efficiency was blaring its warning note throughout the business -world, he was possessed of a valuable ally. Teddy believed that his -duty lay in catching the plotter in his own net. - -For a week after the fatal bucket episode, Mr. Jarvis had considerably -less to say than usual. The sixth of October had not been a red-letter -day for him. First of all he had been made the victim of what he -privately knew to be an intentional accident. Mr. Everett’s untimely -appearance on the scene had spoiled the arraignment he had purposed to -let loose on Teddy. The buyer’s reprimand had put him to rout. Later he -was glad he had said nothing to the lad. The red-haired boy’s air of -calm innocence would have proved impregnable. - -Three mornings afterward he had been summoned to the superintendent’s -office as a result of blandly accusing a woman of not knowing her own -mind. In the face of the indignant letter that he had been coldly -requested to read, his volubility deserted him. He was forced to listen -to a number of pointed remarks relating to courtesy to customers -and admonished that it was the policy of the store to humor rather -than antagonize the public. Nothing was left him save to apologize -hypocritically for what must “surely have been a misunderstanding,” and -retire with dark thoughts concerning “meddlesome women.” - -“The Percolator looks as if he’d like to bite to-day,” confided Teddy -to Harry Harding several days later, as the two sat eating their -noonday luncheon. Although Teddy was not aware of it, Mr. Jarvis had -that morning been taken to task by Mr. Everett for making a change in -the arrangement of certain stock, contrary to the buyer’s order. In -consequence, the assistant was immersed in his own wrath, and presented -a most war-like appearance as he marched up and down the confines of 40 -on the hunt for trouble. - -“You’d better be careful he doesn’t bite you,” was Harry’s playful -caution. - -“He’s afraida me,” grinned Teddy. “I’m such a good boy I scare him. If -he got after me, Mr. Everett’d take my part.” - -“But suppose you did something so bad that Mr. Everett couldn’t help -you?” Harry was merely teasing, but Teddy took it seriously. - -“I never do anything bad,” he boasted, elevating his sharp chin to a -lofty angle. “I’m s’prised at you, Harry Harding.” - -Harry’s boyish laugh rang out. “I was only joking, Teddy,” he -apologized. “I know you wouldn’t do anything very terrible. Dustless -Dusters and buckets that walk are your limit.” - -Teddy acknowledged his crimes with a snicker. “I’ve gotta turn over a -new leaf,” he announced. “Night school’s going to begin to-morrow. Did -you know it?” - -“Yes; I found out this morning. Mr. Marsh sent a messenger around the -store with a notice. I suppose you signed it, too.” - -“Yep. I wonder if we’ll like night school? Last year I was mad as hops -because I had to go to day school. Remember?” - -“I certainly do. How about it this year?” - -“Oh, I’d just as soon go. I don’t want to grow up a dummy. Besides, -it’s only two nights a week. I hope Mrs. Martin’ll give us a good -supper,” ended Teddy waggishly. - -Both boys giggled at the bare idea of the stately wife of the senior -partner in the rôle of cook for a horde of hungry boys. - -“I don’t care much what I have to eat. It’s school I’m thinking of.” -Harry’s eyes glowed at the prospect of resuming his studies. - -“Huh!” snorted Teddy. “I guess when I work all day I oughta have a good -supper. If I don’t like the stuff they give us to eat, I’ll make up for -it when I get home. What I like best is that we are going to be soldier -boys. We’ll be joining the ‘Martin Minute Men’ now. Some name.” - -“I suppose it came from the Minute Men in the Revolutionary war,” mused -Harry. “It’s a dandy name. Seems fine to think of being men instead -of just boys. We are to drill an hour after supper each night before -school begins.” - -“Yes, and we’ll wear khaki uniforms like the real soldiers and in -summer we can go to camp, and whenever our country needs us we’ll be -all ready to go. Hurrah for the good old United States!” Teddy’s voice -rose shrilly as he waved his spoon fantastically on high. - -“Sh-h-h!” cautioned Harry. The little boy’s joyful outcry could be -heard above the clatter of dishes and busily humming voices. - -But Harry’s warning came too late. The roomful of lively boys had heard -the cheer and now echoed it with a noisy fervor that made the walls -ring. - -“Now are you satisfied?” laughed Harry, as the tumult gradually -subsided. - -“I didn’t think I was hollering so loud.” Teddy appeared a trifle -abashed. “Anyhow, who’s going to care? Nobody that loves his country -could scold you for hurrahing for it.” - -Teddy was still more confused when in the next moment he found himself -and Harry completely surrounded by a crowd of merry-faced boys, all -talking at once. - -“What’s the matter with the U. S.?” demanded Arthur Worden joyfully. -“And what’s the matter with Teddy Burke?” - -“Nothing’s the matter with either of ’em,” was Howard Randall’s -tribute. His fat face was beaming approval of Teddy. Out of their early -squabbles had sprouted firm friendship. - -“We were talking about school,” explained Harry, “and Ted got excited -over being a Minute Man.” - -“We’re all crazy to get our uniforms,” put in another boy eagerly. “I -hope I’ll be in the same company with you fellows. We all have to go up -to Martin Hall to-night.” - -The lads lingered about the table until the last moment of their lunch -hour. Teddy and Harry were deservedly well-liked and outside of Leon -Atkins’ dislike for Harry, neither had an enemy among the boys of the -store. - -Teddy’s fears in regard to the supper that night were groundless. The -management of Martin Brothers furnished for their young men a plain but -substantial meal that was exactly suited to their needs. Both lads were -supremely happy as they sat at table in the great dairy lunch room with -a goodly number of other young men, still the raw material from which -was to come the new life and blood of the great establishment that -housed and protected them. - -Again they thrilled with pride as they sat beside their comrades in -Martin Hall and listened to the inspiring speeches of Mr. Keene and -Mr. Marsh. Then came a general looking-over and registering of the two -companies. These were named Company D and Company E to distinguish them -from those of the store messenger force who had yet to graduate from -day school. All those whose last names began with one of the first -thirteen letters of the alphabet were consigned to Company D. The -others fell to Company E. - -Company D, to which Harry and Teddy now belonged, had Tuesday and -Friday assigned to them for their school work. Company E went to school -on Monday and Thursday nights. At the conclusion of the registration -and assignments Mr. Keene again mounted to the stage and addressed his -flock. - -“Boys,” he said, “I am glad to see that you are glad to come back to -school. You’ve shown us that to-night by your attention and enthusiasm. -This year you are going to do more than be good pupils. You are going -to be good soldiers. That means a great many different things. I know -that there isn’t a boy here to-night who wouldn’t willingly lay down -his life for his country.” - -Mr. Keene was interrupted by a frantic burst of cheers. He smilingly -waited for the demonstration of applause to die away. Then he continued: - -“Your cheers prove you are patriots. Love of country is the highest -form of patriotism, but there’s another kind of patriotism that counts, -too. It is loyalty to the house that employs you. If you try to do the -best that is in you for those who are trying to do their best for you, -then you are patriots. A patriot at work will become a patriot at war. -Wherever you may be placed, boys, whether it’s in this store or in the -trenches, be loyal to your trust; obedient to your orders. Whether it -means business or war, remember you are on the firing line and must -prove yourselves to be good soldiers. That’s all.” - -Mr. Keene smilingly nodded down at the rows of upturned faces. As he -left the stage he received a tribute of boyish adoration that echoed -and re-echoed through the great hall. There was but one Mr. Keene. - -“I guess anybody’d want to be a good soldier just to please Mr. Keene,” -glowed Teddy, when, half an hour later, the chums trotted homeward -together through the crisp, starry October night. - -“He’s splendid.” Harry reinforced Teddy’s enthusiasm. “Isn’t it -wonderful, Ted, that we can work in a store like this?” - -“Yep. I’m going to stay in Martin Brothers’ store till I’m dead. When -I get too old to be superintendent, I’m going to get a job in the -transfer gathering up packages.” - -“If you ever got to be superintendent, you’d have money enough to live -on when you were too old to work,” smiled practical Harry. - -“That’s so,” admitted Teddy, “but I wouldn’t have much fun. I’d rather -hustle a truck than get old and sit in the sun and have only crackers -to eat and think about the Dragoness and the Clothes-pole and the -Percolator and all my dear friends. I guess I won’t grow up. I’d rather -stay a red-haired boy with 65 for a number.” - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -THE BOY WHO COULD FORGIVE - - -With the beginning of school a fresh era of interest arrived for Harry -and Teddy. As October waned, faded and finally gave up the ghost in the -icy arms of November, the two boys found themselves in the thick of -many happenings. Being soldiers was a never-ceasing source of delight -to them. They looked forward with the eagerness to their semi-weekly -drill which preceded lessons. Companies D and E were recruits to the -regular Minute Men of the store and were under the efficient guidance -of a retired officer of the National Guard. A wound received while with -his regiment on the Mexican border had unfitted him for the further -strenuous service required of the regular militia, but he proved an -admirable instructor and Martin Brothers were highly gratified to -obtain him for their purpose. - -The night school was a true commercial institute. Its curriculum of -study included such subjects as would be most useful to a working -boy. Arithmetic, English, spelling and simple book-keeping were taught -in the first year’s course. One evening was devoted to arithmetic and -English; the other to spelling and book-keeping. As the night school -did not take the students from their store duties, it remained in -session until the last week of December to reopen immediately after the -annual counting of stock. - -As a soldier boy Teddy was in his glory. When not at drill, he marched -about, his thin little body erect with military precision. At home -he was never tired of going through the manual of arms for his proud -mother’s benefit, and more than once in Department 40 an obliging broom -or mop furnished him with a make-believe gun with which to exploit his -newly learned tactics of war for the benefit of his friend Sam Hickson. - -Affairs in house furnishings had been progressing a trifle more -smoothly of late for Mr. Everett. A two-weeks’ illness had removed his -guileful assistant from the lists. During that time the department -had thriven and rejoiced, and the worried expression on the buyer’s -clean-cut face had completely disappeared. In the fervor of being a -good soldier, Mr. Jarvis’ absence suited Teddy down to the ground. “I’m -sorry for anybody that’s sick, but I can’t cry because the Percolator’s -not percolating for a while. I gotta lot of business of my own to tend -to and if he was flying around here I’d just have to fly after him.” -Teddy had confided this to Hickson, who laughingly agreed that Mr. -Jarvis’ absence was a good thing for everybody all around. - -In Department 84, Harry Harding was also proceeding far more peacefully -through November than he had hoped. Mr. Atkins was too much rushed -by the heavy consignments of books that daily poured in upon him to -trouble himself greatly about Harry. Since Mr. Brady had established -lazy Leon on the selling floor, where he could be watched, a load had -been lifted from both Mr. Atkins’ and Harry’s shoulders. The latter -could readily have given points to the proverbial busy bee. Work, when -uninterrupted by the disagreeable Leon, was a pleasure, and he waded -into it for all he was worth. - -The early part of November found him dividing his time between -the stock-room and the department. On the selling-floor he was at -everyone’s beck and call, where he was so uniformly cheerful and -willing as to create a constant call from the various salespeople for -his services. Miss Breeden alone held aloof. Whatever she wished done -she ordered Leon to do and this showed Harry plainly that she had not -forgiven him for the unfortunate incident of last year. - -It was while he was helping Mr. Denby arrange a table one snowy morning -that he made a discovery. Mr. Barton was missing from his usual -environment. As the day passed he failed to materialize and Harry -wondered vaguely where he was. Three days passed and still he was not -among those present. A strange young man walked about the missing aisle -manager’s domain and from Mr. Denby, Harry learned that Mr. Barton -was ill. In answer to his query, “What is the matter?” the salesman -shrugged and replied that he didn’t know, nor did he seem to care. - -“What ails Mr. Barton, Miss Welch?” It was now the fourth day of the -man’s absence and after making fruitless inquiry about the department -Harry had come to the pretty exchange clerk for information. Why he was -so anxious to find this out he did not know. From within had sprung a -certain strange prompting to inquire into the cause of Mr. Barton’s -malady. - -“Poor Smarty Barty’s in bad,” informed the exchange clerk. “He’s got -something the matter with his stomach, I guess. He was sicker than the -sickest the last day he was here. I almost felt sorry for him. After -all it ain’t no fun to be down and out in a boarding house with no one -to care whether you live or croak.” - -“I thought he had a home.” Harry frowned thoughtfully. - -“Now who’d wanta live with him?” demanded Miss Welch with fine disgust. -“He’d wear out the patience of a saint. Just like that.” She snapped -her fingers. “Say, it’s awful for me to talk so, now isn’t it? But -never mind, maybe I’m just a teeny bit sorry for him. Poor old Smarty.” - -“Of course you are,” nodded Harry. “You are too nice and kind not to -care when someone’s in trouble.” - -“Listen to him. Soft soap, Kiddy, soft soap.” Miss Welch dimpled -prettily at the compliment. - -“It’s not soft soap. I mean it. Where does he live, Miss Welch?” - -“You’ve got me, boy. Wait a minute now. Come to think of it his address -is kicking around this desk somewhere. Was you thinking of paying him -a visit?” The girl’s voice held a note of good-natured raillery. She -fumbled obligingly about her desk. “Here it is. Amos Barton, 6143 -Wayland Street. That’s way up on the north side.” - -From his pocket Harry took a note-book and gravely copied the address. -“Want to go with me, Miss Welch?” he asked. “I’m going there to-night -as soon as I’ve had my supper.” - -“Sure I’d go, but I’ve got a date with a coupla girls to take in a -show. The tickets are bought, too. Don’t you get lost out there.” - -“I can find it. I’m sorry you can’t go. I’ll tell you about how I came -out to-morrow.” - -“Be sure you do, Harry. Is this the pattern counter?” She repeated the -question of a sad-faced man who peered timidly at her through his -glasses. “I hope not yet.” Her dimpling sally made the sad man smile. -“Over the other side, two aisles to the right. - -“Now what do you think of that?” she giggled, after watching the man -depart. “The idea of sending a _man_ out to buy a pattern. I’ll bet he -can’t tell a bath-robe from an evening dress. No wonder he looked like -a whole buncha gloom.” - -“Maybe he’s a tailor,” guessed Harry. “I must go. Thank you for the -address.” - -“Keep the change and buy an aeroplane. Give my regards to _Mister_ -Barton and tell him I miss him. You needn’t say it’s a good miss, -though.” - -More than once during that day Harry debated within as to whether or -not he had best call on Mr. Barton. He had told Miss Welch that he -intended to go, but still he was not quite sure that it was the thing -to do. On the way home he confided his project to Teddy, who received -it with derisive hoots. “Catch me going to see that old crank!” was the -little boy’s scornful exclamation. - -Mrs. Harding, however, viewed it from a different angle. “If you feel -that it is right to go, Harry, then go by all means. I am glad to see -you can sympathize with another in distress.” - -That settled it. The moment he had finished his supper, Harry put -on his hat and coat and set out through a blinding flurry of snow -that had begun to fall before Teddy and himself had reached home that -evening. It was several blocks to the point where he could catch a -Wayland street car, but he plodded manfully along, frequently brushing -the snow from his face. - -It was a fairly long car ride to 6143 Wayland Street. The house in -which Mr. Barton lived was a four-story brick structure set in the -middle of a row of similar residences. A stout, gray-haired woman with -hard blue eyes answered his ring. When he timidly asked for Mr. Barton -she frowned as though seized by an unpleasant memory. - -“He’s not here,” she said shortly. “They took him to the hospital -yesterday. I’m too busy to wait on a sick man and he didn’t have any -place else to go. He groaned and took on something awful. He owes me -for his board for this week, but I suppose I’ll get that. Are you any -relation of his?” - -Harry smiled faintly. He was dreadfully disappointed. “No; I work in -the same store he does. Will you please tell me to what hospital he was -taken?” - -“To the Cameron. Did you come here with his salary? If you did, I’ll -just take care of it. I can keep his board out of that.” - -Harry had hard work not to betray the indignation he felt as he -answered: “I only came to see how he was. I don’t know anything about -his affairs.” The woman’s unfeeling attitude made him doubly sorry for -the helpless man left to the mercy of strangers. - -“Well, he’s not here. You’d better go to the hospital.” She closed the -door in his face with a decisive slam. - -Harry walked away from the house undecided what to do next. He had no -idea of the location of the Cameron Hospital. “Maybe I’d better look -for a drugstore and telephone. I can’t go home and rest until I find -out about him,” was his thought. Two blocks further up the street the -red and green light of a drugstore shone. He hurried there, hastily -consulted a telephone directory and taking his only nickel, his carfare -home, telephoned the hospital. - -He was informed that Mr. Barton was there and “doing nicely.” Harry did -not know that this trite phrase was used to describe all conditions of -a patient, whether lightly or seriously ill. No, he could not see Mr. -Barton in the evening. He was in a ward. Visiting hours were on Monday -and Friday afternoons between two and four o’clock. He could come then. - -“A lot they know about it,” smiled the nettled lad, as he hung up the -receiver. “I’ll have to ask for some time off and go. Thank goodness, -to-morrow’s Friday. It looks pretty bad. Poor Mr. Barton. Now I’ll have -to walk home. I’ll get there late, too. Mothery’ll be worried.” - -It was half-past ten when a veritable snow-man stamped into the -Harding’s little living room. Harry was wholly correct in thinking that -his mother would worry. - -“Child alive, what made you stay so late?” she cried, her brown eyes -full of anxiety. “I thought something awful had happened to you.” - -“Not a bit of it. Wait till I get off my coat and I’ll kiss you.” - -“Take off those wet shoes and clothes and get into your pajamas and -bathrobe. Hurry now, or you’ll catch cold. I’ll fix you some hot milk.” -The little woman bustled about in behalf of the returned wanderer. - -Ten minutes afterward Harry was comfortably arrayed and curled up at -his mother’s feet, a cup of steaming milk in his hand. “My, but this is -comfy. Now listen, Mothery, while I tell you about Mr. Barton.” - -“The poor thing!” Mrs. Harding brimmed with sympathy at Harry’s story. -“Be sure you get off to-morrow and go to see him. But why didn’t you -wait till morning, Son, to telephone? That was an awful walk for you to -take.” - -“I couldn’t, dear. I couldn’t rest until I found out about him. Are -they good to folks in hospitals?” - -“If you have the money.” Mrs. Harding’s reply was tinged with -bitterness. “It’s all right if you can pay. If you can’t they do the -best they can for you, I suppose. They have so many patients who are -too poor to pay their way that they get so they don’t sympathize much -with them. I should think an aisle manager could pay his way. He must -get twenty-five dollars a week.” - -“I don’t know. I’ll have to find out.” Harry viewed his cup of milk -with a sober gaze. “I was just thinking how much I’ve got to be -thankful for. You and health and work and a home. And Mr. Barton hasn’t -anyone. I never told you, Mothery, but he wasn’t very good to me last -year. I thought then that I hated him. I found out just lately the -reason he was so cross. He’s had dyspepsia for years. He might have -been real pleasant if he’d been well. It just shows that one person -never knows much about what’s going on inside another person, after -all.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -THE ERRAND OF MERCY - - -“And he’s in a hospital! Well, what do you know about that?” Miss Welch -regarded the bearer of this astounding information with the air of one -who is completely flabbergasted. “The Cameron, did you say? That’s not -so far from here. ’Bout a mile, I guess. And you’re going to see him. -Well, take it from me, you’re the whitest kid I know.” - -Harry colored a trifle at this blunt tribute to himself. “I’m going -this afternoon. Mr. Brady said I could.” - -“Did you tell him what you wanted to get off for? I’ll bet you my hat -you didn’t.” - -Harry’s color deepened as he shook his head. “I thought I’d find out -all about Mr. Barton first,” he explained. “If I had told Mr. Brady -that I went to Mr. Barton’s boarding house last night, he might have -thought it funny. Maybe he wouldn’t have let me off. He might have -said it wasn’t necessary and just telephoned the hospital himself. -That wouldn’t suit me. I want to see him myself.” - -“Foxy little kiddo,” commented Miss Welch. “That’s just about Brady’s -speed. Talk about hospitals! You might as well try to pry open a safe -with a toothpick as to get those frosties to talk over a ’phone. They’d -say, ‘he’s doing nicely’ if he was at his last gasp. That’s a little -sidetrack they’re fond of laying. I know. I had a brother down with -typhoid at the Stevenson a coupla years ago. I almost had to break down -the doors to get to see him.” - -“The man on the telephone said last night that Mr. Barton was doing -nicely,” admitted Harry. “I didn’t know they always said that. It’s -a good thing I asked off. After I’ve seen him I’ll know if there’s -anything I can do for him. That lady where he boards didn’t seem to -care for anything except what he owes her.” - -“She’s no lady,” contradicted Miss Welch. “She must have a chunka rock -for a heart. I wonder if poor old Barty had any coin? It’s a chilly day -for him if he’s broke.” - -This was a point which Harry also had gravely considered. “Would the -store pay him his salary just the same if he were sick a long time?” -was his anxious question. - -“Nope. They hardly ever do it in such a big place as this. Of course, -there’s the store beneficiary. He’ll get something every week from -that as long as he’s sick. Not more than six or seven dollars, though. -That might see him through, but seven-dollar-a-week patients don’t get -any better treatment than the free ones. They chuck ’em together in the -same wards and serve ’em all alike. That’s what they did to my brother, -and we paid seven.” - -Harry left the exchange clerk’s desk considerably enlightened on the -subject of hospitals. Now that he was ready to embark on his errand of -mercy, he was somewhat concerned as to his reception at the Cameron. -“I suppose hospitals have to be as strict as stores,” he reflected. -“Probably they have so many poor folks to look after they can’t afford -to treat them better.” In reality this is the precise truth as regards -the majority of hospitals in a large city. Except in the case of those -which have been liberally endowed, a constant struggle goes on to meet -the heavy demands made upon them by poverty-stricken humanity. - -The boy’s heart beat a trifle faster that afternoon, when at five -minutes to two o’clock he stopped for a moment at Miss Welch’s desk to -tell her he was about to set forth on his pilgrimage of comfort. - -“Have you any word to send to Mr. Barton?” he asked. “You said for me -to stop and see you when I was ready to go.” - -Miss Welch gave a short, embarrassed laugh. Reaching under her desk she -brought forth a long, narrow pasteboard box, bearing the name of a -nearby florist. - -“I couldn’t let you beat me to it, Harry,” she said almost -apologetically. “When I went to lunch this noon I blew myself to these -carnations. They ain’t much, but mebbe they’ll help some.” She did not -add that the silver dollar they had cost her was her week’s spending -money. - -“Oh, Miss Welch, you are splendid! I know he’ll like them. It will help -me, too, to be able to give them to him. Then he won’t think it queer -of me to go to see him. Besides, he’ll be glad to know you remembered -him and are sorry he’s sick.” - -“Away with you!” Miss Welch’s eyes were misty as she waved Harry off -on his errand. “Who’d ever thought I’d be sending posies to Smarty? -It’s that blessed boy’s fault.” She dashed her hand across her eyes -and plunged with relief into crisp discussion with a woman who vainly -strove to exchange a wedding present of silver for cash. - -The Cameron Hospital was situated on the corner of Tremayne and Harris -Streets, a distance of about fourteen blocks from Martin Brothers. It -was a huge, overwhelming, gray stone building, extending almost the -length of the block. Harry felt curiously timid and insignificant as he -mounted the wide stone steps. He had never before entered a hospital -and the prospect dismayed him. Half expecting to be rebuffed by the -grim-faced man at the door, he was agreeably surprised to receive -prompt attention when he had explained his errand. - -The ward in which Mr. Barton lay ill was on the fourth floor. Carefully -following directions, he presently reached it to be challenged at the -door by a white-capped nurse. Again Harry was called upon to state his -business, then followed the young woman into a long room and down a -wide aisle formed by row after row of narrow white beds. - -“Here is a visitor for you, Mr. Barton.” The nurse had halted beside -the very last left-hand bed in the row. Standing directly behind her, -Harry’s heart was filled with pity as he caught sight of Mr. Barton’s -familiar features, now too plainly stamped with suffering. He lay with -closed eyes, which opened languidly at sound of the nurse’s voice. -An expression of unbelieving amazement swept his gaunt face as he -recognized his caller. - -“Good afternoon, Mr. Barton.” Harry smiled and held out his hand. “I -heard you were sick, so I thought I’d come to see you.” - -Without speaking, the man weakly clasped the proffered hand. In his -tired eyes was a dumb agony of contrition that words could never have -expressed. “I’m glad to see you, my boy. It was kind in you to come,” -he said faintly. - -“I would have come to see you before, but I didn’t know you were so -sick. I’ve brought you some flowers. Miss Welch sent them. She is sorry -for you, too.” Briskly Harry opened the box and displayed the pink, -fragrant token of sympathy. “Aren’t they cheerful?” he asked, holding -them up. “Before I go I’ll ask the nurse to put them in water and set -them on that little table. Then you can see them all the time.” - -To his utter consternation, Harry saw a tear roll down the sick man’s -cheek. “This won’t do at all,” he decided. “I’ve got to cheer him up. -I’d better pretend not to notice and start in and tell him about last -night.” With a gay, boyish laugh he began: “I went to your house last -night, Mr. Barton, and got caught in a snow storm. I was a regular -snow-man by the time I got home. It was an awful night, but it’s nice -out to-day, only the streets are full of snow.” - -To his relief no more tears fell. A flash of interest crossed the sick -man’s face as he heard this information. “What--did--the woman at my -boarding-house say to you?” he inquired. - -“Oh, she said you had left there for this hospital yesterday. So -I telephoned right away to ask about you. I wanted to see you -because--well--I hoped I could do something to help you. I wish, if you -feel you’d like to, that you’d tell me just how things are with you.” - -Mr. Barton studied Harry in silence. Something in the lad’s direct, -friendly gaze compelled confidence. He sighed, then said huskily, -“Things look pretty bad for me, Harry.” It was the first time he had -ever addressed Harry by name. Formerly it had always been, “Boy,” or -“45.” - -“Would you care to tell me just how bad they are?” queried Harry -gently. “You can trust me, you know.” - -“I know that.” Mr. Barton sighed again. “You’re a good boy and I’ve -been very unjust to you.” - -Harry made a quick gesture of dismissal. “Just tell me about yourself,” -he urged. “How serious is your sickness and must you stay here long -before you’re well again?” - -“It’s my stomach,” replied the man. “I’ve had trouble with it for -years. I always thought it plain dyspepsia, but there’s a complication -that only an operation will cure. But it’s too expensive. Not only the -operation, but afterward. I’d have to rest for several months. I can’t -afford to do that, and yet I can’t afford to lie here. I don’t know -what to do. I’ve never saved any money. I’ve just been able to live on -my salary and send a little each month to a sister who’s an invalid.” -His speech trailed to a despairing whisper. - -“I see how it is,” Harry nodded seriously. “If you could somehow get -enough money for the operation and afterward, you’d be all right. -Perhaps if you’d send for Mr. Edward Martin and tell him this, he -might help you.” - -“I couldn’t do that.” The aisle manager shook his head stubbornly. -“I’ve never asked anyone for help yet and I’d rather die than do it -now.” A dull flush of humiliation rose to the pale cheeks. “He has so -many demands made on him. I couldn’t do it. Could you?” - -“I don’t believe I’d like to,” confessed Harry. “Still, there ought to -be some way out for you. I’m going to try to find it. I’ll think as -hard as I can and next Monday I’ll try to come here again. If I can’t -I’ll write you.” - -“You’re a good boy; a good boy,” repeated Mr. Barton. “I don’t deserve -it. I never did anything for you except make you trouble. You shame me, -Harry.” Again he appeared on the verge of breaking down. - -“Now, Mr. Barton,” Harry laid his hand lightly on that of the sick man. -“You mustn’t think of that. It’s not good for you. We’re going to be -friends from now on and I’m going to help you. I must hurry back to -the store at once. Oh, yes, I wanted to ask you, will your beneficiary -money pay your board here?” - -“Yes; it’s seven dollars a week and that is what I am entitled to draw. -There is one thing I’d like to ask you to do. Draw the salary that’s -coming to me from the store and pay my board at Wayland Street. It’s -nine dollars. There’s just about money enough owing me to pay it. Ask -the nurse for a pen and paper and I’ll write you an order. Give it to -the pay-master and he’ll give you the money. I haven’t anyone else that -I can ask. I could write to the store, but it would be quicker for me -to have you attend to it. Will you do it?” he quavered anxiously. - -“Of course I will.” Harry’s pity was doubly aroused. What a dreadful -thing it was to be so lonely and friendless! - -As Harry left the hospital with the order for Mr. Barton’s salary in -his pocket, his mind was painfully bent on how he might accomplish the -impossible. He was not afraid to go to the senior partner of the store -with Mr. Barton’s case, but in the face of the man’s strong objection -he was loath to do so. During the balance of the afternoon he devised a -number of wild schemes to help the stricken aisle manager, every one of -which he renounced as impracticable. - -It fell to Teddy Burke, however, to present him with an idea that he -marveled he had not thought of himself. Harry related the details of -his visit to Teddy as they trudged home from work through the snowy -night. Although the little boy kept up a running fire of skeptical -comment, he was none the less deeply impressed. - -“I know what I’d do if I was you,” came Teddy’s inspiration. “I’d give -a show and then take the money and give it to his nibs.” - -“A show!” Harry looked startled. “What kind of a show and where could -we give it?” - -“Well, let me see.” Teddy considered owlishly. “You could have--I know -what you could have. You could have a show in Martin Hall with singing -and dancing and such stuff. You’d better go to Mr. Keene and tell him -about this Barton fellow and why you want to have a show. Then, if he -says it’s a go, I’ll ask Miss Verne to help. She knows all the people -in the store that do stunts. We could have it the evening before -Thanksgiving and have notices all over the store that it’s a benefit -for a sick employee. You don’t have to say who he is.” Teddy paused -after this brilliant outburst. - -“Teddy Burke, you’re a real genius. That’s a dandy idea. I’ll see Mr. -Keene to-morrow.” - -“I’d just as soon sing if you want me. That ought to count some,” -offered Teddy pompously. “Everybody made a fuss over me when I was in -that play last year.” - -“Oh, you will be the star performer,” promised Harry happily. “We’ll -have to hurry to do it, though. It’s only a little over two weeks until -Thanksgiving.” - -“I’ll do my part, if you do yours. If we make a lot of money for old -Smarty, who’s had all the smartness taken out of him, we’ll be some -folks with the people in the store.” - -“See here, Ted, I hate to say it, but if we do this we ought not to let -anyone know that we were back of it. It would be better to have Mr. -Keene and Miss Verne take the credit. We are just boys, you know. If -we went around saying it was our show, people might not care to come. -I don’t want any glory. I want the money for Mr. Barton.” Harry shrank -from the thought of letting his right hand know the deeds of his left. - -“I s’pose that’s so.” Teddy saw his dreams of becoming a public -benefactor vanishing in thin air. “Folks might say that a show got up -by a coupla kids wasn’t much. We’d better let Mr. Keene and Miss Verne -run it. That is, if we have it. Anyhow, I’m going to sing, and believe -me, I’ll be some little old singer, just to make up for that time I -called Smarty a crank and got you into trouble.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -TEDDY SCENTS A MYSTERY - - -Mr. Keene’s astonishment at Harry’s proposal, made on the following -morning, was soon swallowed up by his readiness to carry out Harry’s -laudable plan. “It takes a pretty broad-minded boy, Harry, to suggest -helping a man who once made matters uncomfortable for him,” he said -with a significance that brought the blood to the boy’s cheeks. Mr. -Keene had learned from Mr. Marsh of Harry’s trials of the previous year. - -“He needs help,” was Harry’s quiet reminder. “I think giving a show -would be a nice way to help him. Teddy Burke was the one who thought of -it. I didn’t know what to do. We don’t care to have anyone but you and -Miss Verne know that we had a hand in it.” - -“I will talk with Miss Verne about it this afternoon,” promised Mr. -Keene. - -Here Harry’s part in the plan ended. Confident that Mr. Keene would -set things in motion, he went light-heartedly back to his department, -patiently to await further developments. Already he felt assured that -Mr. Barton’s chances for proper treatment and health were rosy. - -True to his promise, Mr. Keene sent for Miss Verne that very afternoon. -An hour’s earnest consultation put Harry’s plan in a fair way of being -speedily accomplished. The next day Miss Verne went about the store -interviewing those whose special talents would be needed for the coming -benefit. Mr. Keene also busied himself in seeing to it that a goodly -number of typed notices were established at various points of the store -where they would attract the most attention. At his own expense he gave -orders for the printing of tickets of admission, setting the price at -the modest figure of thirty-five cents. He had wisely reckoned that a -crowded house at the price was more to be desired than one half-filled -at fifty cents. - -By the time the tickets were ready, the performers were diligently -rehearsing for the event and the whole project proceeded with a -smoothness that promised brilliant fulfillment and many dollars. - -Aside from Teddy, Harry, Mr. Keene, Mr. Marsh and Miss Verne, only one -other person in the store had been let into the secret. Privately, -Harry had confided the whole affair to Miss Welch. The exchange clerk -expressed her delight in her usual warm-hearted, if inelegant fashion, -and clamored to be allowed to sell tickets. Mr. Keene had already given -ten tickets to each boy on the store messenger force with smiling -orders not to return one of them. He had also shrewdly offered a -prize of five dollars to the boy who should sell the most tickets and -competition ran high. - -Several days previous to the entertainment, the first lot of tickets -ran out and another lot was hastily printed. Many of them had been -purchased by the employees of the store who were ready and willing to -contribute their mite to so worthy an object. But customers and members -of employees’ families rallied to the cause and it was generally -conceded by those intimately interested in the benefit that on the -great night Martin Hall would be filled to overflowing. - -Teddy Burke was down on the programme for two songs. In consequence, he -was highly pleased with himself. Every night he rehearsed them at home -with his mother at the piano. On the evening before the benefit, Mrs. -Harding and Harry were to take dinner with the Burkes, and Teddy was -to sing them for his friend’s edification. Mrs. Burke and Mrs. Harding -were, of course, in possession of the inside facts of the benefit. It -was in the natural order of things for Harry to confide in his mother. -Teddy, however, who delighted in being impressive, had exacted his -mother’s solemn vow of secrecy before imparting to her the information. - -The one bitter drop in Teddy’s cup of satisfaction was Harry’s -interdiction which forbade him to acquaint his friend Sam Hickson -with the inside facts of the coming benefit. The red-haired salesman -obligingly bought two of the tickets Teddy had for sale with the -flattering comment, “I guess it won’t kill me to hear you sing, Reddy.” -His accompanying smile plainly said that it was solely on that account -that he bought them. - -“Are you going to take your girl?” was Teddy’s pointed question. - -“Do I have to tell that?” grinned the man. - -“Sure you do, when _I_ ask. You tell me that and some day, ’bout two -years from now, I’ll tell you something that’ll s’p’rise you.” - -“What if I’m dead by that time?” teased Hickson. - -“Aw, keep it to yourself.” Teddy prepared to take himself off. “I don’t -want to know, anyway.” - -“Then I’ll tell you. I’m going to take my mother. She’s my best girl.” - -“My mother’s going to be there, too. Let’s introduce our mothers to -each other. You wait till the benefit’s over and I’ll bring mine around -to where you are.” - -“That’s a go.” Hickson looked well pleased. - -“I’ve sold twenty-eight tickets,” boasted Teddy. “I’ve got two more -yet to sell. Guess I’ll ask the perky Percolator to buy ’em. Just for a -joke, you know.” - -“Better not,” advised Hickson. “He’s as cross as two sticks since he -came back. Being sick upset his calculations, I guess.” - -“Oh, I was only fooling.” Teddy really meant it. Yet later in the day, -when the two tickets still reposed in his pocket, he changed his mind. -Sidling up to the assistant, his black eyes two wells of seraphic -confidence, he said sweetly: “Would you like to buy a coupla tickets -for the benefit, Mr. Per--Jarvis? They are only thirty-five cents -apiece. It’s to help a man who’s very sick.” - -Mr. Jarvis threw up his plump hands in an impatient gesture. “Don’t -say tickets to me, boy. I have been asked a dozen times to buy tickets -for that ridiculous affair. Benefits are a needless nuisance. If this -man, whoever he is, had saved his money he would not have become a -public burden. He failed to practise efficiency; now others are asked -to pay for his failure to provide for himself. Such improvidence is -disgraceful.” - -Teddy’s freckles stood out darkly against the angry red that burned -behind them. “S’pose _you_ got sick and hadn’t anyone or anything to -help you. Wouldn’t you be glad if somebody gave you a benefit?” - -“I cannot imagine any such situation,” came the pompous answer. “My -efficient methods protect me against any emergency. Instead of wasting -Martin Brothers’ time selling tickets, you had better attend to -business. Come with me and I will give you something useful to do.” - -“Something useful” turned out to be the distasteful labor of -transferring a flock of unwieldy kettles from their abiding place on -the under shelf of a table to the same lowly position beneath another. -When Teddy had thumped the last one into place he rose to his feet -filled with wrath and bedecked with dust. Thoughts of compassion for -Mr. Barton, which had swayed him since the preparations for the benefit -had been in full swing, were now obliterated by his old desire to -torment Mr. Jarvis. - -“Wish I could make him eat his old efficiency,” was Teddy’s savage -reflection, as he started for the lavatory to wash his grimy hands. -“I’ve been so busy selling tickets I’m ’fraid I’ve neglected Mr. -Jarvis. I’ll have to get on the job again. My efficiency tells me it’s -about time to do some more canning.” - -Yet for several days following Teddy’s renewal of his crusade, Mr. -Jarvis bustled about house furnishings, triumphantly uncanned. Anxious -to make up for lost time the assistant had again resumed his badgering -of the salespeople in 40. He and Mr. Everett were continually at -loggerheads, and the old, worried frown had returned to the buyer’s -brow. Teddy was indefatigable in his efforts to catch Mr. Jarvis at a -disadvantage, but the latter trotted about the department, scathing in -his fault-finding, himself unscathed. - -Three days before Thanksgiving found Teddy divided between anticipation -and despair. Anticipation of the entertainment which was to be held -Thanksgiving eve; despair of catching Mr. Jarvis off his guard. As he -stood eyeing his pet aversion, who was superintending the disposal of a -consignment of long-handled floor brushes with the gentle behavior of -a section boss, Teddy wished with whimsical cruelty that said brushes -would suddenly rise up and thump him. - -“Why, Teddy Burke, how are you? I haven’t seen you since you left day -school.” A soft voice broke in on his vengeful meditations. - -Teddy whirled about at sound of the clear, sweet tones, to confront -Miss Leonard, his teacher of last year. The young woman smiled radiant -pleasure at sight of her pupil and held out her hand. The boy shook it -with joyful fervor. He was very glad to see Miss Leonard. - -“I’m ever so glad to see you,” he said, looking up rather more shyly -than was his wont. “How did you happen to be down here? Don’t you work -in the store now?” He noted that Miss Leonard wore her coat and hat. -“You used to be in the mail-order department afternoons, didn’t you?” - -“Yes. I am still in the store. I teach in the mornings, but in the -afternoons I go about the store and do a great many different things. -Some days I am in the Correspondence or the Bureau of Adjustment. -Then, too, I work in the Catalogue or Comparison departments. But just -now, well, I’m doing something else.” She smiled mysteriously. “If you -happen to see me down here now and then in the next few days, don’t be -surprised.” - -“I won’t.” Teddy wondered mightily as to the nature of Miss Leonard’s -enterprise, but he asked no questions. He had a conviction that it -would not be proper. If Miss Leonard had wished him to know she would -have told him. Nevertheless, his ever ready curiosity came to the -front. When she left him after a moment’s pleasant conversation, Teddy -had fully decided to find out a few things for himself. - -After Miss Leonard had left him to walk slowly about the department, he -flitted after her, keeping at a safe distance. He watched her eagerly -as she stopped Miss Newton. He saw Miss Newton wag her head and point -toward an elevator. He noted, too, that instead of going directly to -it, Miss Leonard waylaid Sam Hickson and addressed him. Hickson’s -lips moved in an answer. Miss Leonard nodded and smiled. Instead of -proceeding to the elevator she turned and walked out of the department -in an opposite direction. - -“Say, do you know that pretty young lady with the brown hair? She spoke -to you.” Teddy had hastily pursued Hickson to ask the question. - -“What lady? Oh, I know. You mean that woman who asked me where she -could find down pillows? No; I never saw her before.” - -“Humph!” ejaculated Teddy. “That’s funny.” - -“Why is it----” began Hickson, but Teddy had already scuttled up a side -aisle to where Miss Newton was laboriously counting her sales. - -“Did a brown-haired, pretty lady just ask you where the elevator was, -Miss Newton?” quizzed the boy, his black eyes full of curiosity. - -“Why, no.” Miss Newton looked up from her sales book. “A young woman -asked me where school supplies were. I told her first floor, and -directed her to the nearest elevator.” - -“Thank you.” Teddy had departed as suddenly as he appeared. A moment -afterward his red head bobbed up in the immediate vicinity of Sam -Hickson. - -“You back again!” teased Hickson. “Where did you beat it to so quick?” - -“See here, I’ve got something on my mind. It’s the Mystery of Miss -Leonard; or, why does a teacher ask questions?” - -“You’ve got me. Talk English. I’m no mind reader.” Hickson leaned -against a table and beamed tolerantly at his small questioner. - -“That lady that spoke to you is Miss Leonard, my teacher last year. -She’s been in the store quite a while. She knows where everything is, -but she goes and asks you and Miss Newton ’bout where things are. I was -talking to her just before she stopped you. She used to be in the mail -order afternoons. Now she says she goes all over the store. She said I -needn’t be s’prised to see her down here again soon. Now what do you -s’pose she’s doing?” ended Teddy, bent on unravelling the mystery. - -“How should I know?” Hickson said lazily. “I’m not hired to keep tabs -on her. By George!” His indolent expression vanished. “I wonder if -she’s being sent around as a spotter? I’m glad you told me that, Teddy.” - -“What’s a spotter?” Teddy demanded. - -“A spotter is one who spots,” defined Hickson humorously. - -“Clear as mud,” jibed Teddy. “Spots what?” - -“Salespeople, of course. This girl has been sent around to find out -if we know where the different departments are. Customers are always -kicking because they get directed wrong. Every once in a while the -front sends girls around to ask questions. They ask you where such and -such a thing is? If you don’t answer correctly, they get your number -and report you. Then the front gives you a call down. Salespeople -are supposed to know where everything is, so that they can direct -customers. See?” - -Teddy considered. “Could she report anyone; buyers or assistants or -aisle men?” - -“Anyone at all. The higher up they are the worse it is for them,” was -Hickson’s cheering information. - -“I guess I’ll go’n take a look at the demonstrator. She might give me -a hand out. She’s been making little cakes all day. I’ve had three -already. I might bring you one.” - -Teddy strolled toward the stove-haunted regions in charge of the kindly -demonstrator. But his mind was not on cakes. He stared at that stout, -amiable person with vacant eyes, and when she presented him with cake -number four he thanked her and absent-mindedly stuffed it into his -pocket, thereby reducing Hickson’s promised treat to crumbling ruins. - -No; Teddy Burke’s mind was not on cakes. His fertile brain was seething -with a brilliant idea in which cakes played no part. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE PLOT THICKENS - - -Thanksgiving Eve saw Martin Hall crowded to the doors. With the -prospect of a day’s rest and feasting ahead of them, the sympathies of -those in attendance had gone out to the lonely sufferer in the Cameron -hospital. A few of the employees had guessed his identity, though they -could not be sure of it. In so vast a business establishment as Martin -Brothers it was hard to trace the comings and goings of one particular -individual. It was gossiped about Mr. Barton’s domain that he was -the man for whom the benefit was to be held, yet so well did the few -who were in the secret keep it that no one knew the exact truth of -the matter. The very fact that the sufferer’s identity had not been -disclosed lent a piquant air of mystery to the benefit. - -It is always the needy who respond first to the call of charity. -Those who know best the pinch of poverty give most ungrudgingly of -the little they have. Those who work hardest for their daily bread -understand best the tragedy of being caught unawares by sickness. -Although many of the higher-salaried men and women of the store had -bought tickets, only to pass them on to others or return them to be -resold, the greatest rallying to the standard had been done by the -humbler employees. - -An unusually good programme had been arranged, for the store boasted -of many clever singers, dancers and elocutionists. Miss Verne had -worked unceasingly. Aided by one or two professional friends outside -the store, several attractive singing and dancing numbers had been -perfected and from beginning to end the audience was delighted with -what was offered for their amusement. - -The honors of the evening, however, were divided between Teddy Burke -and a young girl whose really remarkable dancing proved a veritable -sensation. Teddy’s high soprano voice had never rung out more clearly -and sweetly. Miss Verne had taken great pains in the selection of his -songs and he was encored until he positively rebelled and refused to -show himself further on the stage even to bow. - -But the wildest demonstration of the evening occurred when immediately -preceding the final number, Mr. Keene made a speech, thanking the -audience and announcing that over four hundred dollars had been cleared -as the result of the benefit. He wished them all a happy Thanksgiving, -and sent them home with the pleasing reminder that they had helped to -bring a wonderful Thanksgiving to one in need. If Mr. Keene had had -his way he would have liked to call Harry Harding to the stage and -introduce him as the author of the affair. He even suggested this to -the boy, who became so distressed that he relinquished the idea. - -Down in the audience, seated between his mother and Mrs. Burke, Harry -Harding’s earnest face irradiated happiness. He had no desire for -glory. He was glad that he would not even be called upon to go to see -Mr. Barton again. Mr. Keene had taken all that off his hands. Harry -had visited the sick man three times. On his second visit he had told -the aisle manager that his case had been laid before Mr. Keene and -that plans for a benefit were in progress of being carried out. Of his -own part in the affair he had said nothing, and so adroitly had he -managed that Mr. Barton had accredited the benefit to Mr. Keene. He -was intensely grateful, however, to Harry for his kindness and humbly -promised the boy that, once back in the store, he would make ample -amends for the past. - -Due also to Harry’s suggestion, Mr. Keene had interviewed the -superintendent, who promised that Mr. Barton should be reinstated in -his former position whenever he was able to return to the store. Thus -Harry was content to remain a nameless force for good, but he could -not know that the results of his splendid behavior were to be far -reaching. - -“Maybe that wasn’t a great little show,” was Miss Welch’s opinion, as -she left the hall that night in company with several girl friends. -“I’ll bet Barty’ll sing a Thanksgiving hymn. I know one person that -ought to get a lotta stars in his crown for that benefit.” She -neglected to state the identity of that person. Miss Welch could keep -her own secrets. - -On Thanksgiving Day the Burkes and the Hardings made merry together -under Mrs. Burke’s hospitable roof. Teddy and Harry spent a long, -delightful day with Teddy’s numerous games. It ended after supper with -an old-fashioned sing at the piano, when everybody warbled with a will -and no one criticized the quality of the singing. - -The Friday after Thanksgiving was a busy day for Teddy Burke. While -he did his work in his usual brisk, commendable fashion, he kept a -starboard eye out for the return of Miss Leonard. To his intense -disappointment she did not appear. Still he had strong hopes of -Saturday. It was usually a banner day in house furnishings, and should -Miss Leonard be sent there, she might easily trip a busy salesperson -who was too much rushed to use caution in replying to her apparently -innocent inquiries. - -“The Percolator is pretty perky to-day, isn’t he?” remarked Teddy to -Hickson, as he stopped for a word with the salesman when on his way to -lunch. - -“He’s the limit,” growled Hickson. “Do you know what he did yesterday? -He told Seymour that the way Mr. Everett ran this department was a -disgrace to the store. Someone, I won’t say who, heard him. You know -Seymour. He believes everything he hears and runs to Mr. Edward Martin -with it.” - -“But can’t Mr. Everett prove that it isn’t so?” Teddy frowned in -troubled fashion. - -“How can he, except by his returns?” demanded Hickson savagely. “If -this fellow keeps things in such a hub-bub here, we’re going to lose -sales and the department’ll run behind. He keeps Mr. Everett in such a -stew that he can’t do as well as if he wasn’t half worried to death. -The best man can’t stand everything. This dub has made ’em believe that -he’s the king of tin pans. How’s anyone going to prove that he isn’t -until Mr. Everett’s out of here and he gets a chance to queer himself? -When the mischief’s done, it’ll be too late. If Everett once goes out -of here, because of this ignoramus, he’ll get something better. He’ll -never come back here. These people up above can’t see it. I can.” - -“So can I,” agreed Teddy. “If Mr. Everett goes, I’ll go too. I guess -that’d be some loss to Martin Brothers!” - -“Ha, ha!” jeered Hickson. “You certainly think a lot of yourself, don’t -you? Who are you, anyhow?” - -“I’m _Mr._ Burke, and I’ve got feelings. I’m going to lunch.” Teddy -stalked grandly toward the elevator. The moment he had turned his back -on Hickson he snickered. Then his mirth died away as he muttered: “I -hope I see Miss Leonard to-day.” - -About the middle of the afternoon Teddy’s hopes were realized. He spied -his former teacher at the far end of the department moving slowly up -and down the aisles formed by the tables, her interest apparently -absorbed by the various engines of housekeeping. As she continued to -wander innocently about, every now and then she halted a salesperson -to converse briefly. At the conclusion of one of these momentary -interviews Teddy saw her take a little book from her shopping bag and -write in it. Directly after that she stopped Mr. Duffield as he hurried -by her. The alert watcher then noted that she pointed out to the aisle -manager the salesperson she had just addressed, and again jotted -something down in her book. - -“Mr. Duffield’s in it,” was the boy’s wise conclusion. “Guess I might -as well get in the game, too.” - -Marching jauntily up to the teacher, Teddy boldly addressed her. “Good -afternoon, Miss Leonard. Looks as if you’d catch a lot of folks this -afternoon. It’s so busy down here, though. You can’t blame the sales -much if they give you a wrong direction.” Teddy presented the acme of -affability as he launched this dart. - -It struck home. Miss Leonard flushed to the roots of her brown hair. -She frowned with vexation, then she laughed. “You are a wise little -boy, Teddy. Who told you so much?” - -“Oh, I’m not ’sactly blind.” Teddy grinned cheerfully. “Say, Miss -Leonard, I know a fellow here who doesn’t know where some of the things -in this store are. He thinks he does, but he’s got another think -coming. One day he sent a man clear to the fourth floor for sporting -goods. They’re on the balcony, you know.” Teddy’s sad experience of the -previous year with a refractory baseball had irrevocably fixed in his -mind the location of sporting goods. - -“Those are the very persons I wish to trip,” returned Miss Leonard. -“You see, Teddy, of late there have been so many complaints from -customers who have been misdirected by employees of the store -that something had to be done about it. Just a little while back -the management distributed printed lists of the location of every -department in the store, which every person was supposed to study. I -wish you’d point this man out to me. I’ll test him.” - -“See that fat man over there?” Teddy pointed toward a not far distant -spot where a plump, sleek individual stood raptly gazing at a select -company of blue and white agate ware that adorned a long, low shelf. -“He’s the one. Ask him--ask him where soda straws are. His name’s -Jarvis. He’s an efficiency crank and our assistant buyer.” - -Miss Leonard looked a trifle blank. As a matter of fact, she herself -did not know the answer to this simple question. Privately, she -determined to find out. Still it would never do to admit such ignorance -to this guileful child. - -“Thank you, Teddy,” she said with an elaborate carelessness that in no -wise deceived the wide-awake youngster. Her change of face had already -informed him of her defective information. - -“If he doesn’t answer right will he get reported?” was Teddy’s eager -question. - -“He surely will,” smiled Miss Leonard. “If he preaches efficiency he -ought to practice it.” - -“That’s what I think.” Teddy wriggled with wicked satisfaction. “If -I see you writing in your book after you ask him, I’ll know that he -didn’t know.” - -Miss Leonard cast a quizzical glance at the small plotter. “Would you -like me to report him, Teddy?” was her amused question. - -“Well, if a fellow doesn’t know where things are, I s’pose he ought to -be reported.” Teddy took an evasive but firm stand for duty. - -“I suppose so.” The teacher flashed Teddy a mischievous glance and -moved briskly down upon the unsuspecting victim. Assuming the -bewildered air of a shopper who implores guidance she paused before the -smug assistant and inquired sweetly, “Will you please tell me where I -can find soda straws?” - -“Soda straws?” Mr. Jarvis repeated uneasily. “Oh, yes. Certainly, -Madam, delighted to be of service to you. Soda straws are--they are--at -the soda fountain, of course.” - -“But where is the soda fountain?” - -“It is----” Mr. Jarvis gulped nervously. His efficient manner of living -flouted the delectable concoctions of the soda fountain. Hence he was -unprepared to disclose the location of so useless a haunt. “You will -find it on the first balcony.” Providentially, he had chanced to recall -seeing ices served there at small tables. He wildly guessed the soda -fountain to be in the immediate vicinity of these tables. - -“Thank you.” Miss Leonard turned abruptly away in time to hide the -dimpling smile that lighted her attractive features. Retiring to a safe -distance she gleefully recorded Mr. Jarvis’ wild attempts at direction. -She had no doubt that from some safe nook a pair of mischievous black -eyes were bent on her as she made the fatal record. But before she -wended her steps officeward, she passed through a wide, high-arched -doorway that divided house furnishings from a flourishing commercial -village devoted to women’s wear. On and on she went through busy seas -of feminine apparel; through an enterprising display of trimmed hats. -At the very end of the basement, where a huge sign spelled “Subway,” -she turned a corner and brought up at a hissing marble fountain, -surrounded by long counters before which sat rows of persons busily -engaged in the partaking of delicious cheer. - -Leaning over an end of the counter she beckoned a white-jacketed young -man. “Can I buy soda straws here?” she questioned. - -“No, Miss. We don’t sell them here. You’ll find them all the way back -in house furnishings.” He darted away to appease a clamoring patron. - -“The little imp!” muttered Miss Leonard. She was not referring to the -white-coated young man. Nevertheless, she smiled and continued to smile -as she made further notes in her faithful journal, then sought a nearby -elevator. - -Meanwhile, in Department 40, Teddy Burke was also engaged in making a -few notes. A new line now appeared in his tiny leather-covered book. It -read: “November 30th. Canned again.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -AN UNLUCKY DISCOVERY - - -On the following morning Mr. Jarvis was distinctly nonplussed by a -summons to the office of the system manager of Martin Brothers. Once -there he was shown a neatly typed report of his lapses of yesterday -and sarcastically taken to task for his lack of knowledge in regard -to store geography, and, yet more reprehensible, his ignorance of a -certain very humble portion of his own stock, namely soda straws. - -To complete his humiliation he was handed a printed list of the store’s -departments and their location and curtly requested to study it. The -manager’s dry comment, “One of the first principles of store efficiency -should consist in a thorough knowledge of the store itself,” rankled in -the assistant’s soul. He left the office consumed with a dull, helpless -rage against the unknown spotter who had brought him to grief, little -dreaming that the prime offender marched daily about Department 40. - -In some peculiar manner, explainable only by a certain Titian-haired -youth, the story of Mr. Jarvis’ fatal attempts at direction crept -about the department and the salespeople of 40 enjoyed a good laugh -at his expense. Although Teddy could not know it, his little joke on -the assistant had been the means of striking the first definite blow -for Mr. Keene. The shrewd system manager had not been impressed by Mr. -Jarvis, and he mentally ticketed the assistant as a man of pretension -rather than worth. Later this secret opinion was destined to be brought -to bear on a number of conditions in house furnishings hitherto -unrevealed. - -But while Teddy Burke was sailing serenely along from one day to -another, Harry Harding’s working hours were not filled with unalloyed -content. With the beginning of December the book department saw the -first stirrings of the rush, which, until Christmas, made it one of the -busiest spots in the store. - -The vast amount of books that had to be carted from the stock-room to -the department made Leon Atkins’ frequent presence on the tenth floor a -disagreeable necessity. The moment he was out of Mr. Brady’s sight he -fell back into his slothful habits. True, he no longer napped in the -bins, neither did he distinguish himself by any really useful effort. - -He deemed it prudent, however, to let Harry strictly alone. He firmly -believed that Harry had been the one to call Mr. Brady’s attention -to his derelictions, and he was a trifle afraid to court a further -exposure. Intent on exacting petty revenge, he made it a point to -aggravate Harry by every possible means that would defy detection. -To return from his luncheon only to find a certain bin he had left -in perfect order reduced to chaos was a common occurrence with -Harry. Books which he placed in one bin had a trick of mysteriously -disappearing at the very time they were needed. Later, after he had -listened to the grumbling of the salespeople because he had failed to -produce instantly the stock they required, a distracted search would -reveal them roosting placidly in an alien bin. - -Harry knew only too well by whose hands his truck was spirited away -on a busy morning when he needed it most. Unable to secure the loan -of another truck he had toiled wearily throughout a whole day lugging -heavy piles of books downstairs by hand. When in desperation he had -spent almost the whole of the following morning in frantic search for -his missing truck, he had finally discovered it in a remote corner of -the tenth floor securely chained and padlocked to a staple in the wall. - -Harry felt that he was above noticing such petty meannesses. Were he to -accuse Leon as author of them he knew that the latter would make loud -denial. He had no wish to reopen the squabbles of early Fall. Still, -the frequent admonitions of the impatient members of the department, -“Now do try to hurry those books down, 45,” or “What makes you so slow, -boy?” cut him to the quick. - -Of late it seemed to him that Mr. Rexford had treated him a trifle less -kindly than was his wont. He sadly wondered if anyone had complained -of him to the buyer. Before he had gone on his vacation he and Mr. -Rexford had been on the most friendly terms. As a matter of fact, the -increasing business of the department had completely occupied the -buyer. Only one adverse criticism against Harry had reached his ears, -but that was a long one. - -In speaking to Mr. Brady of the boy’s usefulness, the assistant had -said with a shake of his head: “Harding is not the boy he was last -year. You’ve spoiled him by making too much of him. That Farley affair, -together with winning that prize for his address last June, has given -him a swelled head. He’s one of the sly, quiet kind that pretends to -be an angel, but just the same he’s careless and a trouble maker. When -he’s in the stock-room he picks on Atkins’ boy all the time. Atkins -himself told me so. He’s getting so he can’t be relied on to fix a -table right. He mixed one for Miss Breeden a while ago and we had a row -with a customer over two-priced books under a one-priced sign. I called -Miss Breeden down for inattention to her stock, but it was more young -Harding’s fault than hers.” - -“It is hard to believe all that, Brady,” had been Mr. Rexford’s -incredulous reply. - -“Can’t help it. It’s the truth,” Mr. Brady had insisted. He was really -honest in this. Mr. Atkins and Miss Breeden had done their best to thus -impress him. - -Mr. Rexford had silently reserved judgment of Harry until hearing -the boy’s side of the story. Twice he had set out to seek the lad -and question him. Both times he had been interrupted in his quest. -Afterward business stress had driven it from his mind. If he had -chanced to encounter Harry face to face an understanding would have no -doubt ensued, but, as it happened, he saw him only from a distance and -at times when he was occupied with other things. And thus an intangible -shadow rose between the boy who was ever earnestly striving to do his -best and the man whose good opinion he valued above all. - -Several mornings after Harry had rescued his truck from durance vile, -his work took him to the selling-floor for the morning. A long row of -shelves that ended where the jewelry department began were awaiting a -refilling of titles temporarily out of stock. The shelves were under -the charge of a pleasant young woman who handled the rebound fiction -and her confidence in Harry was sufficient to allow him to go on with -the work she had begun while she served a steady stream of customers. -From his position before the shelves, he glanced now and then toward -the exchange desk where Miss Welch reigned supreme. He also had an -excellent view of the jewelry department and in his boyish way he -marveled at the number of people who were able to purchase the costly -articles that lay beyond his reach. - -At either end of a counter very close to him which was devoted to -the display of expensive rings lounged a detective. During the month -of December the great department stores are obliged to keep an -especially vigilant watch over their jewelry sections. At such a time -light-fingered gentry are always abroad and each year the stores suffer -from their depredations. - -It was in one of the occasional glances which Harry leveled at the ring -counter that his cursory attention became fixed on a well-dressed woman -who was engaged in critical examination of a small tray of rings. Harry -watched her in fascination as she tried on one ring after another and -held up a plump white hand to view the effect. Now and then she turned -for approval to her companion, a slender, very blonde young woman with -shifty blue eyes. By the alert watch which the salesman behind the -counter kept on the tray Harry knew that the rings must be valuable. - -At length the woman narrowed her field of selection to one ring, a -good-sized ruby set between two equally large diamonds. She held it -up for her companion’s inspection. The blonde girl shook her head and -shrugged her disapproval of it. Harry noted that she immediately turned -her eyes to another part of the tray. While the elder woman focussed -the salesman’s attention, Harry saw the other’s slim fingers dislodge -a ring at the extreme edge of the tray. She regarded it casually, made -a move as though to return it to its velvet bed, examined it again -and carelessly laid it on the counter close beside the tray. Had the -salesman been less occupied he might have noticed this. His attention, -however, was on the prospective buyer of the other ring. The woman -was holding it toward him, her forefinger on the ruby. As she touched -it she shook her head vehemently. The man smiled a refutation of her -protest. Reaching into a coat pocket he drew forth a small lens. -Holding it to his eye he took the ruby ring from the older woman’s hand -and peered at it through his glass. - -Just then Harry saw something which made him grow hot and cold. While -the salesman was thus engaged, the older woman kept her eyes directly -on him. One plump hand lightly grazed the edge of the tray as she -leaned far forward. With the swiftness of lightning it left the counter -and dropped to her side, carrying with it the ring which the younger -woman had carelessly neglected to replace. - -Amazement of the daring theft dazed the boy for an instant. Then he -realized that he must act with all speed. It was evident that he had -seen something which had not been observed by even the detectives. He -glanced toward one end of the counter to note that one of them had -disappeared. At the other end stood Mr. Prescott, his gaze focussed on -a group of women near him. - -For a second the obnoxious duty of fastening theft upon a woman caused -Harry to falter briefly. Then he squared his shoulders and walked -resolutely to where Mr. Prescott stood. A backward glance informed him -that the two pilferers were still at the ring counter. Had he looked -back once more he would have discovered that the blonde young woman was -no longer in evidence. Her companion alone remained there, still deep -in conversation with the salesman over the ruby ring. - -“Mr. Prescott.” Harry’s voice sank to a breathless whisper. “Come -quick. I saw a woman steal a ring. She has it in her coat pocket now. -She’s still at the counter talking to the salesman.” - -Mr. Prescott’s eyes narrowed. His face became an emotionless mask as he -muttered without perceptible movement of the lips, “Which is she? Don’t -point. Walk toward her, stop for a second directly behind her, then -walk on. Don’t look back at me.” - -Implicitly Harry followed the detective’s directions, then went back -to his work. He dared not look again toward the ring counter, although -he knew nothing would happen there. Mr. Prescott would trail the woman -entirely out of the store before seeking to detain her. When an hour -later he was summoned to Mr. Prescott’s office, he went trembling -in every limb. Having done his duty to Martin Brothers, a painful -experience was ahead of him. - -As the door of the detective’s office closed behind him, he -instinctively felt that something had gone wrong. True, the prisoner -was there, seated on an oak bench, the picture of raging innocence. -Mr. Prescott, too, looked like a thundercloud as he beckoned Harry to -his desk. “Is this the woman you say you saw steal a ring?” he coldly -questioned. - -Harry quailed inwardly, but his tones were firm as he replied: “Yes, -sir. This is the woman.” - -“He lies,” burst forth the prisoner furiously. “I wouldn’t dream of -doing such a dreadful thing!” - -“Please be still, Madam,” snapped the detective. “I’ll hear what you -have to say later.” Scowling at poor Harry, he continued: “What kind of -a ring was it? Tell me what you saw.” - -“I can’t describe the ring, sir.” Harry went on to relate what he had -seen. - -“It’s not so,” shouted the accused. “I was alone. A young woman who -stood beside me asked me several questions about the prices of the -rings in that tray, but she was a stranger to me. I never saw her -before. I merely spoke to her because she spoke to me. Your store will -pay for this insult! I’ll bring suit against Martin Brothers.” - -“Now, now, Madam. Not so fast. If you have been unjustly accused we -will do all in our power to make reparation. I have sent for one of our -woman detectives. You will have to submit to being searched.” - -“Let her search me then,” defied the prisoner. “I am not afraid. The -idea of taking a boy’s word against a customer’s! Oh, you’ll regret -this.” - -“You may go, Harding.” Mr. Prescott’s face was an angry red as he -issued the stern command. The woman’s censure had flicked him on the -raw. Remembering Harry’s clever work in the case of Farley, he had -taken the boy’s word and made the arrest. Now he wondered if he had -made a fool of himself. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -DECORATING A DÉBUTANT - - -Sick with humiliation, Harry hurried from the office. He was conscious -of having done his duty, yet the woman’s amazing willingness to submit -to search filled him with consternation. He had seen her drop the ring -into her coat pocket. If it were not there now, then where could it be? -What had become of her companion? Ah, that was it. In some mysterious -fashion, known only to a shoplifter, she had passed the ring into the -blonde girl’s keeping. Yet she declared that her companion at the -counter was not her companion but a stranger. Harry did not believe -this statement. Yet how was he to prove that she had spoken falsely? If -the ring were not found in the woman’s possession, it would place him -in an unenviable position. He was quite sure of that. - -The moment he returned to the department, Mr. Brady pounced upon him. -“Where were you, 45? I’ve been looking for you for the last twenty -minutes.” - -On receiving the summons from Mr. Prescott, Harry had not asked -permission to leave the floor. His work took him so constantly from the -department to the stock-room that he had not counted on being missed. -Not wishing to explain the nature of his brief withdrawal, he had for -once taken a chance. - -“Mr. Prescott sent for me,” he replied in a low tone. - -“What!” exclaimed Mr. Brady. Sudden suspicion leaped into his face. -“Why did he send for you? What have you been doing?” - -Harry grew distressed. “_I_ haven’t been doing anything wrong,” he -faltered. “A woman took a ring; I saw her take it and reported her to -Mr. Prescott.” - -“Humph! You’ll gain more by attending to your work and letting the -detectives run their own affairs,” grumbled the assistant. “Now get -busy and finish those shelves. Then go up to the stock-room and bring -down a load of those ‘Children’s Classics.’ Miss Porter’s waiting for -them.” - -Harry was thankful that Mr. Brady did not exhibit much interest in his -disastrous attempt at sleuthing. He wished with all his heart that he -had not seen the theft of the ring. Where and how would the affair end? - -Directly after luncheon a second summons came from Mr. Prescott. -This time Harry was careful to obtain Mr. Brady’s permission. It -was grudgingly given and the boy had hardly turned away before the -assistant made straight for Mr. Rexford’s office, disgust written in -his face. - -Harry’s second interview with Mr. Prescott was one that lingered long -and painfully in his memory. The prisoner had departed, vindicated and -threatening. A thorough search of her clothing by a woman detective -had revealed no trace of a ring. The salesman had been interviewed and -declared that he had missed none of his stock. Privately he was not at -all sure of this, but he was too cowardly to say so. A missing ring -meant trouble for him. - -Mr. Prescott was in a fine fury. He had taken too much for granted and -he knew it. Were he to complain of Harry to the front, he was quite -likely to court censure for acting merely on the word of a boy, without -waiting to see for himself. He had been too sure of Harry. On this -account he was doubly bitter and the scathing words he hurled at the -cause of his discomfiture would ordinarily never have issued from his -lips. He ended with, “You’ve made a nice mess of things. This woman -will sue the store for heavy damages and it’s all _your_ fault. But -_I’ll_ be the one that will have to take the blame. Now get out of -here, and, after this, try to mind your own business.” - -Harry went with flaming cheeks and quivering lips. But another ordeal -was still before him. He had hardly returned to the floor when he -received notice from Mr. Brady that Mr. Rexford wished to see him. - -“What is this Mr. Brady tells me, Harry, about you seeing a woman steal -a ring?” Although the buyer’s tone was kindly, it lacked much of its -old heartiness. - -Harry’s heart sank. He read faint disapproval of himself in the -question. Briefly he rehearsed the sordid details of the affair. Mr. -Rexford listened thoughtfully and not without interest. - -“You may be right about the other woman being a confederate,” he mused. -“Still the whole thing looks rather bad for you. I wouldn’t think -too much about such things if I were you, Harry. Leave them to the -detectives. That’s their business.” - -“But I _saw_ her take it, Mr. Rexford,” was Harry’s distressed cry. “If -I saw someone stealing a book from your department, wouldn’t you want -me to report it to the detectives before they got away with it?” - -This was a poser. Mr. Rexford’s grave face relaxed a trifle. “I suppose -I would. Still you may have been mistaken to-day.” - -“I wasn’t mistaken. I saw her take it. I know the other woman slipped -away with it. I’m going to keep my eyes open. If I ever see that -light-haired woman again I’ll know her.” - -Mr. Rexford frowned. “I’m afraid that Farley affair put foolish ideas -in your head, my boy,” he said with a touch of impatience. “You must -remember that you belong to the book department, not the detective -bureau. Brady tells me that you are not so dependable as you were last -Spring before that happened. I think a great deal of you, Harry, and -I’m anxious to give you every opportunity. But you can’t succeed in -this business if your mind is on something else. Think it over and see -if I’m not right.” - -“I try to do my very best, Mr. Rexford.” Utterly crushed by the -unexpected and undeserved lecture, Harry could think of nothing else to -say. “I’m sorry about to-day. I thought I was doing right.” - -“I won’t say that you weren’t. Still you’ll find it better in the long -run to busy yourself so thoroughly with your own work that you won’t -have time to watch what goes on outside your department. I’m saying -this to you in all kindness.” - -“Thank you. I’ll try to follow your advice.” For a moment he stood -silent, fighting back his outraged feelings. He longed to tell -Mr. Rexford that Mr. Brady had somehow received an entirely wrong -impression of him. He wished he could find words to tell him about Miss -Breeden and Leon Atkins, but he could not bring himself to the point of -doing so. With a long, sorrowful glance at the man whom he revered, -the man who did not understand, Harry turned and left the office. His -wonderful Year of Promise bade fair to be a Year of Failure. - -When on the way home from work that night Harry poured forth his woes -to Teddy, the little boy was divided between the excitement of the -shoplifting episode and wrath against Leon Atkins. - -“The old Clothes-pole’s to blame for it all,” he sputtered. “All the -things he is Mr. Brady thinks you are. It’s a shame. Why didn’t you -tell Mr. Rexford every single thing? Catch me keeping my mouth shut and -gettin’ blamed for what that dub does. Mr. Rexford must be a fathead or -he’d see with his eyes.” - -“You mustn’t speak so of Mr. Rexford.” Harry became immediately on the -defensive. “He’s a splendid man. Just think of all he’s done for me.” - -“He’d better get busy and do some more then,” grumbled Teddy. “I’m -going to watch out an’ can the Clothes-pole before he cans you.” - -“Let him alone, Ted,” Harry warned sharply. “I’m not going to see you -get into trouble on my account. I’ve told you that before. I oughtn’t -to have said a word to you about it.” - -“Huh, I’d find it out anyhow,” boasted Teddy. “Don’t you worry. I c’n -take care of myself and you, too.” - -“Thank you.” Harry smiled at Teddy’s boast. “I know you’d fight for -me to the finish. You mustn’t bother trying to get even with Leon. It -isn’t worth while.” - -Teddy’s views in this matter differed widely, however. Although he said -no more on the subject, he privately singled out Leon Atkins as his -next experiment in the canning line. With the innocence of a dove and -the eyes of a hawk he made it a point now and then to ask permission to -leave the floor. Once out of house furnishings he was prone on these -occasions to bob up in the aisles of 84. As it happened, Harry never -chanced to meet his little friend on one of these brief excursions. The -nearer drew the holidays the more he was confined to the stock-room. -Leon Atkins, however, was much in evidence on the selling-floor, and -Teddy had a splendid chance to study Harry’s enemy and decide what he -could do to worst him. - -This proved a hard nut to crack. Teddy was not at home in books, -therefore he dared take no liberties. Still, he did not despair. -According to his philosophy, something was sure to turn up at the -psychological moment. - -Several evenings after he and Harry had enjoyed their confidential -chat regarding Harry’s troubles, Teddy received the glorious privilege -of an early pass home. It meant that instead of waiting until twenty -minutes to six for the closing bell, he was free to leave the store at -fifteen minutes past five. With the gracious sanctioning bit of paper -in his hand, Teddy scudded joyfully for the time desk. Slipping on his -overcoat as he ran, he hurried out into the keen, wintry air. A minute -saw him hustling confidently in a customer’s entrance of the store. -Straight toward the book department he headed. His bright eyes peered -eagerly over that realm of literature until they glimpsed Harry at the -far end laboriously bending over a truck. - -“Have you ‘The Stock Boy’s Revenge; or, Cutting the Clothes-pole up for -Kindling?’” squeaked a high falsetto voice in Harry’s ear. - -Harry straightened up with a start to see an impish, freckled face -grinning down at him. - -“Teddy Burke! How you startled me! What in the world are you doing -here, with your hat and coat on?” - -“I’m out early. It’s a reward for bein’ good.” Teddy’s grin widened. -“Ain’t you glad I came?” - -“Of course. Wish I was through work, too. Never mind, it’s almost half -past five. Take a walk around the department, Teddy. I’m busy just now. -You’ll have to go as soon as the bell rings. Wait for me across the -street.” - -“All right. So long.” Teddy strolled away on the hunt for the -Clothes-pole. He had seen Leon at a distance as he entered 84, now -he yearned for a closer inspection. “Don’t he think he’s it?” was -his mental opinion as from behind a protecting table he watched the -ungainly youth. His black head cocked a little to one side, Leon was -trying the effect of a large black and white picture at various points -of a table he had apparently just finished arranging. Disposing of the -picture to his satisfaction, he next fished a fat blue pencil from his -pocket and proceeded to sharpen it, glancing about furtively as he did -so. A stentorian call of “56” from the aisle man sent him suddenly -ambling off in the direction of the voice. - -Hardly had he responded when Teddy left his post of observation and -planted himself squarely in front of the table. With a gurgle of joy he -pounced upon the pencil that Leon, for some unknown reason, had left -lying on a pile of books. Teddy examined it thoughtfully. He was about -to tuck it securely between two towering piles of books where it would -defy detection, when his eyes came to rest on the picture which Leon -had jauntily set upright on a central wedge of books. It represented -a very pretty young woman in a low-cut, much befrilled evening frock. -Underneath the figure appeared the words, “The Débutante, by Marcia -Sheldon.” - -Teddy slowly spelled the one mystifying word. It did not specially -please his fancy. “Some name,” he murmured. “Maybe it’s Rooshun.” -Making a face at the smiling girl, Teddy went back to the pencil. He -drew it gently across the back of his hand. The result was a wide blue -mark. With the mild eyes of a ministering angel, he glanced calmly -about him. No one was paying the slightest attention to him. Scattered -about the department the salespeople were busily engaged in counting up -their books. - -Teddy reached a stealthy but powerful hand toward the lonely young -débutante and whisked her off her literary perch. A thin little hand, -clutching a blue pencil, traveled with amazing swiftness over the young -woman’s radiant features. - -“There, I guess she is ready to go most anywheres,” he chuckled, as he -set the picture in place. - -Clang! It was the first closing bell. - -“Guess I’ll have to leave you.” Teddy giggled and wagged his head at -the picture in derisive farewell. “Good night, Deebuttanty. Don’t be -s’prised if some other folks are s’prised when they see you to-morrow -morning.” Hastily depositing the blue pencil at the foot of the -picture, Teddy shook the dust of 84 from his feet and flitted through -a nearby entrance to the street, well pleased with his fantastic -conception of art. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -A QUEER TWIST OF FATE - - -The first person to receive the surprise which Teddy Burke had -predicted was Mr. Brady. What amazed and displeased him the following -morning was to behold a hilarious crowd of customers and salespersons -gathered about a table which displayed for its feature the remarkable -novel of modern society entitled, “The Débutante.” - -“What’s the meaning of this?” was his curt question as he forged into -the middle of the group. As the query left his lips he became petrified -with astonishment at the mysterious and cruel change that had assailed -the much-heralded society bud over night. Her sweetly smiling lips were -now decorated with a huge, bright-blue, upcurving mustache for which -a certain gentleman of royalty might well have yearned. Her soulful -eyes were hidden by round blue goggles, through which she appeared to -squint at the world. Around her hapless throat hung an ornamental blue -chain that would have more fittingly graced the neck of a benighted -heathen. Worse yet, her pretty ears had been extended to triangular -points. Altogether she was a most remarkable specimen of original but -terrifying art. - -“Who did that?” Mr. Brady choked with rage as he ripped the offending -picture from the table. “Why didn’t some one of you take it down at -once?” - -“It was so funny,” giggled Miss Porter. - -Scenting trouble in the air the few customers who had happened to swell -the group now moved off with smiling faces. - -“It’s a disgrace to this department,” stormed the assistant. “Go and -attend to your stock, all of you.” He shooed the lingerers away with an -impatient sweep of his arms. - -Remembering that he had set Leon Atkins to arranging the table the -previous afternoon he immediately suspected him of the outrage. The -next instant saw him clumping down the main aisle of the department, -the decorated débutante in one hand, on the trail of the miscreant. -His search ended when he bumped squarely into Leon Atkins, who was -lumbering toward him from the opposite direction. - -“Whada----” began Leon. This tone underwent a quick change. “Oh, excuse -me, Mr.----” - -“I’ll excuse you. Look at this!” The assistant thrust the blue and -white outrage before Leon’s eyes. - -Leon caught one glimpse of the picture and burst into laughter. - -“You’ll laugh on the other side of your face, young man, before I’m -through with you. You did this.” - -“Aw, cut it out. You’re daffy!” Amazed at the accusation, Leon forgot -to whom he was speaking. “Aw, excuse me, Mr. Brady. I didn’t mean that. -I was so taken back I spoke ’fore I thought. D’y’ think I did that?” He -pointed to the picture. “Not on your life.” - -“But you were the last one at that table,” persisted Mr. Brady. - -“Can’t help it. It wasn’t me that done it. Catch me carryin’ a blue -pencil. It’s against the rules of the store, ’less you’re a boss.” Leon -delivered this reminder with an air of virtuous wisdom. “Mebbe it was -45 that did it. Seems to me I’ve seen him with a blue pencil up’n the -stock-room. I won’t say for sure.” - -Although Leon was by nature a sluggard, his wits now sprang to work. -Only too well he recalled laying down the blue pencil he had been -sharpening to answer the call of the aisle manager. He now wondered -what had become of it. He calculated shrewdly that if it had been found -on the table Mr. Brady would now have it in his possession. Further, he -would have demanded of Leon if it belonged to him. Leon decided within -himself that the pencil had somehow escaped notice. He determined to -hunt for it as soon as he could and summarily dispose of it. - -Mr. Brady stared at him, as though half inclined to credit the -insinuation against Harry which Leon had just voiced. “This doesn’t -look like Harding’s work,” he declared. “How could he have done it -without your knowing it? It was after five o’clock last night when you -came to me for this picture. It was all right when I gave it to you. -Besides, he was away over on the other side of the department unloading -a truck. I remember seeing him.” - -Leon shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t tell you nothin’ about it, ’cept -that it was pretty near half past when I set that there picture on top -of a stacka books. It was all right then. Just’s I did it, Mr. Drayton -calls me and I goes to see what he wants. After that the bell rang and -I beat it outta here.” - -“Humph! Then how did _this_ happen?” Mr. Brady again thrust the -offending picture at Leon. - -“How do you s’pose I know?” whined the boy. “How do lotsa things happen -’round this dump? How did Miss Breeden’s table get mixed up that day? -You better ask 45 a few things. I ain’t done nothin’.” - -“This department is not a dump,” rebuked Mr. Brady severely. “Don’t let -me hear you again refer to it as such. As for this outrage, I’m going -to sift it to the bottom. If I find you’ve lied to me, I’ll have you -discharged.” - -“I tell you I didn’t do it,” called Leon after the assistant’s -retreating form. “Gee,” he reflected. “I gotta find that pencil. If I -find it I guess I know where I can hide it.” - -Making his way to the table from which the cruelly transformed -débutante had been mercifully snatched, Leon prowled cautiously about -it, at the same time keeping up a prudent watch for danger. Making sure -that he was not under special observation, he leaned upon a corner of -it, his black eyes roving desperately over its closely packed contents. -Of a sudden he emitted a grunt of satisfaction. Coyly resting between -two piles of books he had glimpsed the object of his search. When Teddy -Burke had flung it aside to beat a hasty retreat, it had rolled off the -book on which he had placed it and dropped to a shallow shelter between -the two stacks of volumes where Leon had discovered it. - -“I gotta hustle,” was his next thought as he moved with unusual speed -toward a stairway. Once on the tenth floor he hoped fortune would favor -him. Whether he could put into execution the cowardly act that he -purposed depended on two things. - -Up in the stock-room Harry Harding was manfully endeavoring to bury his -sorrows in zealous toil. The instant he had reported to Mr. Drayton -that morning he had gone directly to the tenth floor. A huge bulk -of surplus stock was awaiting a brief abiding place in the bins, and -Mr. Brady had decreed that it must be put there without delay. An -innate sense of neatness prompted Harry always to remove his coat -while performing a task of this nature. When Leon slouched into the -stock-room, Harry was energetically at work in his shirtsleeves, his -back turned to the other boy. - -Leon halted to grin sardonically at the patient, hurrying lad, too -deeply engrossed in his task to discover that he was not alone. His -straying, furtive glance leaped from Harry to a blue serge coat that -hung on a nail within easy reach. Breathlessly Leon tiptoed to it. -His hand glided into a convenient pocket. Then, silently as a shadow, -he withdrew and darted toward a stairway. He preferred the labor of -ascending and descending nine flights of stairs to risk being seen on -an elevator. - -Toward noon Harry finished his work. He was just about to draw on -his coat when Mr. Atkins appeared in the doorway of the stock-room. -“You’re wanted downstairs, 45,” he said roughly, then vanished into the -receiving room. - -Hastily donning his coat, Harry caught the first elevator down to -the department. The summons no doubt meant nothing more than the -appointment to some new task. Despite Mr. Brady’s disbelief that Harry -was up to the mark, he depended on the boy a great deal more than he -ever took the time to stop and realize. - -“Where’s Mr. Brady?” was Harry’s question of Mr. Denby. “Have you seen -him lately?” - -The fiction salesman cast Harry a curious glance. “He’s in the office -with Mr. Rexford. You’re due to catch it. It’s too bad. I’ll bet my -week’s salary you didn’t do it. Don’t let Brady put it all over you, -Harry.” - -“Didn’t do what?” Harry’s voice rose in bewildered anxiety. “Oh, Mr. -Denby, please tell me what you mean.” - -“By George, I will. I’ve got a right to warn you before----” - -A hand suddenly dropped on Harry’s shoulder. “You’re wanted in Mr. -Rexford’s office, 45. Don’t loiter here.” Mr. Drayton was frowning down -upon him. - -With one desperate, appealing look at Mr. Denby, Harry started for the -buyer’s office, his heart in his throat. - -“Good morning, Harry,” greeted Mr. Rexford as the boy entered. Mr. -Brady merely glared and said nothing. Other than the boy, only the -two men occupied the office. The buyer swung round from his desk and -leveled a peculiarly searching glance at Harry. Reaching to one side -of his desk his hand settled on something. “Do you know anything about -this, my boy?” He held the ill-fated picture up to Harry’s gaze. - -For an instant Harry was seized with a wild desire to laugh. No one -could view Teddy’s fanciful handiwork unmoved. With an effort Harry -kept his features sober. Amazement quickly conquered his inclination -for mirth. “How could I possibly know anything about it?” His reply -contained a note of wonder. - -“There, Brady. I hope you are satisfied.” Mr. Rexford’s comment was -tinged with cool reserve. He had given small credence to the tale the -assistant had brought him. - -“I’m _not_ satisfied. I wouldn’t take the word of any of these boys. -They are all alike when it comes to mischief. Now listen to me, 45. Are -you positively sure you know nothing of this?” - -“I am.” Harry lifted his head in a proud gesture of denial. “I know -nothing whatever about it. I can’t understand why and of what you are -accusing me. Won’t you please tell me?” His blue eyes sadly sought Mr. -Rexford’s. - -“Between five and half-past five yesterday afternoon, Harry, someone -deliberately took this picture from a table, spoiled it and then -returned it to the same table,” related Mr. Rexford. “Mr. Brady at once -suspected young Atkins. He denied it, but said something that led Mr. -Brady to suspect you of having a hand in it.” - -“Oh-h!” Harry drew a long, agonized breath. Again he had Leon to thank -for this new difficulty in which Mr. Brady seemed determined to place -him. - -“It is not only the spoiling of the picture that matters,” continued -the buyer gravely. “You see it has been marked with a blue pencil. You -know the rule regarding blue pencils.” - -“Yes, sir.” Harry’s response was very faint. Suddenly he brightened. -“But I never carry a blue pencil, Mr. Rexford. I wouldn’t dream of -doing so. This is the kind I always use.” - -Harry’s hand went to his left coat pocket. He made a curious, gasping -sound, then allowed it to remain there. - -“Let’s see the kind of pencil you use,” rasped the assistant. In that -audible intake of breath he read guilt. - -Slowly Harry’s clenched hand left his pocket and unclosed. On his -outstretched palm lay a blue pencil. - -“I knew it!” exploded the assistant. “You see now, Mr. Rexford? He -lied.” - -“Harry, I can’t believe----” - -“You mustn’t believe, Mr. Rexford.” Harry’s interruption rang out -with a fierce intensity that made the two men stare. All the pent-up -bitterness of his young soul flashed into hot words. “This pencil -doesn’t belong to me. I never put it there. I won’t stand for such -injustice. I won’t be accused of what I didn’t do. Do you hear me? I -won’t! I won’t!” - -“Harry, Harry!” remonstrated the buyer. Yet he gloried in the lad’s -vehement outburst. The boy’s whole bearing indicated truth and -innocence. - -“I can’t help it.” Harry refused to be thus checked. “Ever since I came -back from my vacation things have gone wrong for me. Neither of you -will ever know what I’ve had to put up with, because I’m not going to -tell you. But I’m not to blame for this. I’m going to leave the store -as soon as you’re through with me. There are some things a fellow can’t -and won’t stand.” - -“You are not going to leave the store,” put in Mr. Rexford firmly. “I -believe you, Harry.” - -“I don’t,” contested Mr. Brady stubbornly. “I’ve told you again and -again that this boy’s a sneak. If you choose to pet him and shut your -eyes to----” - -“That will do, Brady.” Mr. Rexford held up an imperative hand. -“Whatever I may choose to do is no concern of yours. Now I wish this -matter dropped. Don’t let me hear of it again.” With a decided hand he -ripped the troublesome picture across and dropped it into the waste -basket. “You may go,” he commanded the assistant. - -“Have it your own way,” Mr. Brady flung back over his shoulder as he -sought the door. - -Alone together man and boy faced each other. “Now, Harry, I wish you -to tell me what you meant by saying that things have gone wrong with -you.” Mr. Rexford rose and laid a kind hand on Harry’s shoulder. - -The boy’s lip quivered. He made no reply. Gradually mastering himself, -his mouth set in the old firm line of secrecy. “I’m sorry, Mr. Rexford, -but I can’t tell tales. You--oh, please don’t ask me to.” - -“All right, I won’t. I know you didn’t use a blue pencil on that -wretched picture,” mused the man. “Yet the other boy insists that -he didn’t. It may have been some mischievous messenger from another -department. Around half-past five he would not have been noticed.” - -Harry lifted a startled face to the buyer. He never heard the word -“mischief” without associating it with Teddy Burke. A swift flashing -panorama of facts crossed his brain. Teddy had sworn to be even with -Leon. Teddy had visited the department at that time last evening. Leon -had been arranging the table. It was all plain except the blue pencil. -Yet he could not betray Teddy. As he fitted the pieces of the puzzle -together he became painfully aware of Mr. Rexford’s acute survey. - -“What is it, Harry? I believe you have guessed the guilty party. -Whom do you suspect? Speak up. I told Brady to drop it just for your -sake, but if it is one of the messengers, I’ll take it up. I won’t -countenance strange boys making my department ridiculous.” - -Harry wavered between affection for Teddy and loyalty to Mr. Rexford. -“I’m not sure, Mr. Rexford. I do suspect someone. I can’t tell you his -name.” - -Mr. Rexford looked displeased. Harry’s secrecy piqued him. Under his -quiet, kindly exterior lay a strong vein of stubbornness. Harry had -aroused it. Yet his dignity would not permit him to continue the -argument. “Very well,” he said coldly. “I won’t try to force your -confidence. You may go.” - -As Mr. Rexford abruptly turned away from him to his desk, Harry saw a -towering wall suddenly erect itself between him and the man he revered. -His lips moved as though to make a last appeal, but no sound came from -them. With a long, anguished look at the stern figure before the desk, -Harry left the office with the bitter knowledge that one small boy’s -mischief had been the means of cutting him off from his best friend. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -TEDDY’S DARKEST HOUR - - -Once outside the office Harry’s thoughts were again directed toward -leaving the store. Nothing would ever be the same again between himself -and Mr. Rexford. The old friendly relations were now broken forever. -Mr. Rexford had defended him, and he had repaid the buyer’s kindness by -refusing to reveal the identity of the author of the mischief. Yet he -had not found it within his heart to betray Teddy. Had he done so, Mr. -Rexford might have decided to take the matter higher. That would have -meant dismissal from the store for Teddy. Harry could not bear to think -of it. - -But should he leave the store under a cloud? He knew himself to be -guiltless of any wrong doing. To leave Martin Brothers now would appear -as a direct admission not only of guilt but of failure. Resolutely -Harry put that thought away from him, also. He would stay. Some day -the clouds might lift. Some day Mr. Rexford might understand. There -was also the question of Teddy to be considered. Were he to acquaint -the impish little boy with the havoc he had created, Teddy would rush -to Mr. Rexford and confess his sins. He was too much of a man to allow -Harry to bear the brunt of his iniquities. That would probably mean -Teddy’s dismissal, too. Harry resolved that he would bear his cross in -silence. - -If Harry had entertained any doubt of Teddy’s innocence, it would have -been rudely dispelled by a question which the latter asked at luncheon -that day. - -“Say,” he blurted, fixing his round, child-like eyes on Harry. “What’s -a deebuttanty?” - -Harry did not fall into the trap. He divined instantly that Teddy -was burning to know the result of his prank. Assuming an elaborate -carelessness he was far from feeling, Harry replied, “I guess you mean -débutante.” He spelled the word. - -“Yes, that’s it. Is it Rooshun?” - -“No; it is a French word. It means a young lady who is just coming out -in society. What made you ask?” - -“Oh, I just wanted to know.” Teddy’s face fell. He wondered if -his splendid effort had amounted to nothing. “Very likely the old -Clothes-pole saw it and took it away ’fore anyone else got a look at -it,” was his disappointed reflection. He was on the point of telling -Harry what he had done. Then he changed his mind. It might not strike -Harry as a particularly clever trick. Nevertheless, as he returned to -house furnishings that afternoon he felt rather pleased with himself. -At least he had done his best to get the obnoxious Clothes-pole into -trouble. It was not his fault that Leon had thus escaped. Had he known -the true state of affairs he would have been a most distressed and -repentant Teddy. - -As Christmas drew nearer, however, Teddy was privately worried over the -peculiar change in Harry. He seemed sad and dejected. On the way home -after work he said little, allowing Teddy to do most of the talking. -The merry, boyish laugh with which he usually responded to his chum’s -funny sallies had quite deserted him. He had also ceased to confide the -annoyances he daily underwent at Leon’s hands. Teddy became possessed -of the idea that Harry’s subdued demeanor was entirely due to fresh -persecution. He longed more than ever to worst Harry’s enemy by holding -him up to the whole store in his true colors. Since the affair of the -picture he had not dared to more than skirt the book department. It was -now overrunning with salespersons hired for the grand Christmas rush. -Whatever he might find to do to add to Leon’s discomfiture was certain -to be observed. - -Night school was also an unsafe place for his operations. Unsafe in -that Teddy did not choose there to court risks. His semi-weekly drill -was the pride of his heart. While at it he had no inclination for -mischief. Although Leon was in company D, to which Teddy belonged, -the little boy kept his distance. Love of drill and school were too -strong to admit of trifling. To Teddy they were as things apart from -his usual prankish self. Occasionally while at his studies he would -forget himself far enough to make a derisive face at the ungainly -figure lounging at a desk on the opposite side of the room. He would -then concoct elaborate methods of “getting even,” only to let them die -a quick death as he made a fresh attack on his lessons. - -On the last evening of school, preparatory to its close until after -the holidays, Teddy left the dairy lunch for the fifth-floor barracks, -feeling unutterably lonely. Due to an overwhelming amount of night work -to be done in Department 84, Harry had been excused from school. He had -eaten supper with Teddy, then hurried back to work, leaving his chum to -make his disconsolate way upstairs to drill. - -In this dark mood Teddy scornfully eschewed taking one of the few -elevators now running and clumped dejectedly up the long flight of -stairs, pausing at each landing for a brief rest. Rounding the corner -of the third flight he halted to peer aimlessly down the long aisle -that opened into the picture department. Of a sudden his gaze came -to a focus on a tall, ungainly figure, bobbing about the decorative -entrance that was one of the beauty spots of the store. In that bobbing -form Teddy instantly recognized Leon Atkins. Here and there he flitted, -poking at one object, laying irreverent fingers on another. Now he -dipped grotesquely forward to seize what looked like a long, slender, -black stick. Pausing, he juggled the stick, catching it in one hand or -the other, balancing it first on the end of his nose then on the tips -of his long fingers. His eyes becoming riveted on something directly -in front of him, Teddy saw him raise the long, black stick on high and -leap forward as though about to annihilate an enemy. - -“What’s the Clothes-pole up to?” wondered Teddy. Soundlessly he stole -along the polished floor toward the cavorting Leon. The entrance to -“pictures” was illuminated by an overhanging arc light turned on for -the benefit of the night workers, most of whom were now at supper. By -its white radiance Teddy was able to discern clearly the object of -Leon’s capering attentions. It was a huge oil painting reposing on a -strongly built easel. - -On either side of the entrance to the galleries an imposing bronze -dragon supported from one upraised, gripping paw a gaily-colored -lantern of painted silk. These fantastic beasts were of Chinese origin. -In consequence, they owned many tortuous curves, from which terrifying -spines and points stood out in every direction. Under the lanterns -their savage heads drooped low, with glaring eyes, snarling jaws and an -array of sharp-pointed, bristling whiskers. A little to the right of -one of them stood the easel, its precious freight apparently under the -crouching watch of his formidable dragonship. - -Unaware of an audience to his manoeuvers, Leon brandished his weapon -and went through the performance of charge, retreat and charge again. -Curious to discover why the picture should call forth such unusual -action on the part of the sluggard, Teddy took advantage of the other’s -preoccupation to slip softly nearer. - -If in the past Dame Fortune had attended Teddy Burke, for once she -basely deserted her small favorite. As Teddy noiselessly advanced, -he had just time to glimpse a remarkably realistic representation -of a battle scene with a regiment in furious attack. Then something -happened. He caught a fleeting vision of a lengthy body plunging -riotously forward. This time Leon charged farther than he had intended. -Unable to check himself he dashed plump into the easel and fell -sprawling under it. The heavy canvas swayed, tottered, poised briefly -in air and descended sidewise like a huge avalanche. - -Crash! The major part of the heavily framed painting hit the floor -with a noise not unlike thunder. Simultaneous with the crash came an -ominous ripping sound. The baleful Chinese guardian had added to the -effect by impaling a side of the ill-fated painting on one of his -numerous murderous horns. - -Teddy darted forward, uttering a shrill cry of horror. Leon, however, -stood not upon the order of his going. Picking himself up, he tore -off in the direction from which Teddy had come and clattered down the -stairs, craven fear lending wings to his feet. - -“Stop!” yelled Teddy. Turning to pursue Leon, he felt himself being -spun about by the momentum of a heavy gripping hand on his shoulder. - -“Caught in the act!” roared a fearsome voice. It proceeded from the -owner of the gripping hand, a big man, who glared threateningly down -upon his captive. “Tried to run away, eh? But I got you, you young -vandal!” - -Teddy tried to twist himself free of that iron grasp. “Let me go,” he -choked, his black eyes blazing. “I didn’t do it. You’ve got the wrong -boy.” - -“Oh, no, I haven’t,” was the sarcastic reply. “Don’t try to put -anything like that over on me. You’re the only boy I’ve seen so far.” -Not for an instant did the cruel hold relax. - -Having heard the ominous crash from the interior of the picture -department, two more men now came running to the scene. - -“Whew!” ejaculated one of them. Both stared aghast at the wreck. -Stooping over the other grasped the maltreated painting, partially -raising it from the floor. The man who had indulged in the horrified -exclamation now sprang to the assistance of his companion. Between them -they disengaged it from the dragon’s horn and held it upright. - -But it was a sorry sight. The spiked bronze protuberance had been -the means of ripping a long gash in the canvas, which cut in two a -particularly fine figure of a soldier. - -“This is a positive crime,” burst forth the big man. “The picture’s -ruined. It’s one of the Martin collection, you know. Belongs to Mr. -Edward. It used to hang above the central archway on the third floor. -He had it moved up here over Christmas because he thought it would -look nice at this entrance. I was telling him only yesterday that I -wouldn’t risk a valuable painting like that on an easel. It _was_ worth -five thousand dollars. It’s not worth five now, thanks to this little -ruffian.” He cast a withering glance at poor Teddy. - -“I didn’t do it,” shrieked Teddy, his freckled face white with -righteous rage. “I won’t be blamed for something I didn’t do!” -Unknowingly, Teddy had uttered Harry’s very words of a few days past. - -“Tell that to the marines,” sneered the big man. “If you didn’t, who -did?” - -“It was another fellow. I’m not saying who. He was here before I -got here. He had that in his hand.” Teddy pointed to Leon’s hastily -discarded implement of warfare. It was a woman’s black silk umbrella, -tightly rolled. It lay on the floor precisely where Leon had fallen. “I -was going up to the barracks and when I got to this floor I saw this -fellow waving it around in front of that picture. I wondered what he -was doing, and I came up to see. Just’s I got here, he smashed into -the easel with it and tipped it over. Then he ran down those stairs. I -yelled at him, but he kept on running. That’s the truth. I never went -near the old picture.” - -“You’re a pretty foxy kid to cook up a mess of yarns as quick as all -that,” jeered his captor. - -“They’re not yarns,” contradicted Teddy. “I don’t tell lies.” - -“Oh, keep quiet, you little rat,” growled the big man, giving Teddy an -ungentle shake. - -“What do you suppose Mr. Edward’ll say when he hears about it?” said -one of the two men who had run to the scene. - -“Search me,” retorted the big man gloomily. “He’s got himself to blame -for putting the picture here. He’ll fire this rowdy, but what’s that -amount to when the damage is done?” - -It amounted to a good deal to Teddy Burke. “Won’t you please believe -me?” he pleaded, very near to tears. “I told you the truth. I did, I -did.” His voice rose to a desperate wail. - -“Maybe the boy is on the square,” suggested the other of the two men. -He had been somewhat impressed by Teddy’s plea. - -“Forget it,” growled the big man. “These boys are all alike. You can’t -believe any of them. They’re always ready for mischief and just as -quick to wriggle out of it. I’m going to take him to Keene. He’s up at -the barracks. These kids all work for him. He’ll read the riot act to -this one and can him. If he don’t, Mr. Martin will. He’ll froth at the -mouth when he sees this.” He jerked his head toward the picture. - -Teddy’s dejected face brightened at mention of Mr. Keene. There at -least, was someone who would believe him. “I wish you _would_ take me -to Mr. Keene,” he cried out vehemently. “He’ll see, if you won’t, that -I’m telling the truth.” - -“My, what a brave boy!” jibed the big man. “Come on. We’ll see how much -stock Keene’ll take in that fairy tale of yours.” - -To the little red-haired boy came the most dreadful moment of his short -life when he was marched into the well-filled drill room ahead of the -determined picture salesman. His Titian head drooped in shame as the -man loudly recounted the misdeed in which he had played no part to the -superintendent of the store messenger force. - -Mr. Keene made no comment as the salesman blared forth the wretched -tale. His kind eyes rested gravely upon Teddy, as though he could not -believe what he was hearing. - -“Leave this boy to me,” he said, when the man had finished his recital. -“Go over there, Teddy, and sit down. I will talk with you later.” - -Burdened with shame, Teddy sought a bench at one side of the room. -He seated himself upon it too crushed even to think. Five minutes -afterward the drill began. Teddy watched it with unseeing eyes. To -him the ranks of uniformed boys were as so many shadows. He did not -even try to ascertain if Leon were among them. But Leon was not there. -He, too, had been excused that evening to help in Department 84. His -presence at the entrance to the picture department had been due to -one of the numerous jaunts about the store which he was prone to take -whenever the fancy seized him. - -The next hour seemed a year to poor Teddy. Would the endless tramp of -feet never cease? Those boys must be tired. It was ages since they had -begun to drill. Ah, it was over at last. They had broken ranks and now -were trooping to the smaller side room to put away their equipment. -Mr. Keene would soon be ready for him. The superintendent was looking -toward him. Teddy sat up from the despondent attitude into which he -had fallen. From his usually rougish face every vestige of color had -fled. But one thought lived behind his anguished eyes. Would Mr. Keene -believe him? - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -ALL FOR THE SAKE OF TEDDY BURKE - - -It was noon the next day when a red-haired boy, his black eyes blurred -with tears, stumbled his way to the coat-room and called for his hat -and coat. Teddy Burke was no longer an employee of Martin Brothers. -After the hardest morning he had ever known, Teddy had been discharged -from the store. He had not gone down easily to defeat. Neither had he -been unaided in his efforts to establish his innocence. Mr. Keene had -believed in him. So had Mr. Marsh and Mr. Everett. All three had fought -for him, but without avail. Mr. Edward Martin, highly incensed at the -wreck of the picture, had decreed that the boy who was responsible for -it should be discharged. - -If Teddy had not clung so tightly to his own peculiar code of honor, -he could easily have cleared himself. No amount of quizzing had -succeeded in making him reveal the identity of the boy whom he had -declared guilty of the outrage. Mr. Keene, Mr. Marsh and Mr. Everett -understood Teddy’s code and respected it. Usually lenient, for once Mr. -Edward Martin was adamant. He believed Teddy to be the author of the -mischief and that he was merely trying to foist the weight of his own -depredation on another’s shoulders. - -It was all over now. He, Teddy Burke, was an outcast, while Leon, the -coward who had run away from his guilt, was still working in the store. -And Harry, too, was as yet ignorant of his dismissal. Teddy had not -seen Harry after leaving the barracks on the previous night. In some -way he had missed Harry and been obliged to tramp gloomily home alone. -He had not tried to see his chum that morning, but had taken a street -car to the store. He had not confided to his mother what hung over him. -He had hoped that matters might turn out all right. Now he was going -home to tell her all. In the evening he would wait across the street -from the store for Harry. He preferred to pour out his sorrows then as -they once more trudged the dear old path together. - -But when Harry met him that evening on the corner, he was already in -possession of the whole story. “I knew you’d be here,” he greeted, as -he caught Teddy’s outstretched hand in sympathetic pressure. “Ted, it’s -awful. I couldn’t believe it. I know you didn’t do it.” - -The quiet assurance in Harry’s voice caused Teddy to gulp briefly. -“You’re a real chum,” he faltered. “Course I never did it. It was -that--that Clothes-pole.” He jerked out the appellation as though it -burned his tongue. - -“Teddy Burke! You don’t say so?” Harry cried out in amazement. His -mouth set hard as he said crisply, “Tell me everything that happened.” - -Teddy complied, his tones gradually steadying as he related what had -taken place on the night before. “I tried to get even with him for your -sake, but he canned me all right,” Teddy concluded sadly. - -“It’s the most unjust thing I ever heard of,” was Harry’s indignant -protest. “Really, Teddy, it seems as though you should have spoken.” - -“You wouldn’t’ve,” retorted Teddy. “You wouldn’t’ve told, any more’n I -did. I thought I was going to tell on him, but I couldn’t.” - -“He deserved it,” reminded Harry sharply. “I don’t know whether I would -have kept still about him or not. I haven’t said a word about what he’s -done to me. Still I believe I’d just as soon go to Mr. Martin with what -he’s done to you.” - -“Don’t you dare! I won’t have it. If you did, every fellow in the store -would be down on you. I can stand it. I’m going to try to get a job in -another store. Mr. Keene said he’d give me a good reference and so did -Mr. Everett. It can’t ever be the same, though. I thought a lot of -Martin Brothers’ store. It’s a good thing they’re having that Christmas -house-party show of fashions in Martin Hall. If they’d had a play and -I’d been in it, it would’ve been pretty bad for me. Never you mind. -Some day Mr. Martin’ll know it wasn’t me that smashed his picture. -Things like that always come out some time.” - -Harry comfortingly agreed with Teddy, doing his best to console the -injured boy as they walked slowly home together. Secretly he was -resolved to try in some way to prove Teddy’s innocence. If he could -think of any means to entrap Leon into a confession he would do his -utmost to bring it about. - -At home with his mother, Teddy’s plan of seeking employment in another -store met with a decided check. “I never heard of such injustice,” -sputtered Mrs. Burke. “The idea of accusing my boy of such mischief and -of lying! No, Teddy Burke, you can either go back to school or stay at -home with me. I’ll not have you run the risk of any more trouble in -stores. I’d go and tell this Mr. Martin exactly what I think of him, if -you weren’t so determined that I shouldn’t.” - -Teddy chose to remain at home. He had a firm belief that sooner or -later he would be vindicated. School had no charm for him. He wished -to work, and to work in Martin Brothers. He resolved to keep up his -studies at home and patiently await the day of recall to the store he -loved. - -Every night, fair or stormy, found him on the corner waiting for Harry, -always with the wistful question, “Heard anything to-day?” - -Christmas had come and gone. January was almost over. The two boys -had spent as merry a Christmas day together as was possible under the -existing cloud that hung over Teddy. Yet it lacked much of the joy of -that of the previous year. Thus far, Harry had gleaned nothing in the -way of even the most indirect admission of his fault from Leon. Harry’s -own days were far from happy. He seldom saw Mr. Rexford nearer than -across the department, and never spoke to him except to pass the time -of day. Of late Leon Atkins had been unusually innocuous, for him. He -was still cowering under the weight of his guilt, and was in constant -fear that the day might dawn when he would be found out and discharged -from the store. - -What worried Teddy most of all was his inability to help Mr. Everett. -True, he had done much toward vanquishing the ambitious Mr. Jarvis, -yet he had been always on the lookout for a chance to turn the balance -in Mr. Everett’s favor. His wonderful plan that had to do with the -unmasking of the pretentious assistant could never be carried to a -finish now. Since the morning of his dismissal, Teddy had not set -foot in the store. Twice, however, while waiting for Harry, he had -encountered his friend, Sam Hickson, to learn from him that Mr. Jarvis -was still doing his best, or rather his worst, to supplant Mr. Everett. -His fault-finding had been the means of causing two of the salesmen -to resign, who had been longest in the department. Miss Newton was -muttering darkly of sending in her resignation. Even Hickson himself -declared that he wouldn’t stand it much longer. He brought a grain of -comfort to poor Teddy’s sore heart by telling him how greatly he was -missed in house furnishings. The boy who had replaced him was far from -satisfactory. Mr. Everett, too, deplored the loss of his little friend. -He had expressed very plainly to Hickson his disapproval of Teddy’s -discharge. - -Harry Harding was the only person, however, to whom Teddy spoke his -mind freely. Harry alone knew the inside facts of the picture disaster. -It hurt him severely to see his chum so unhappy. He missed the funny -sayings and the air of exuberant jollity that belonged to the old -Teddy. The new Teddy went about immersed in a gloom utterly foreign -to his usual sunny self. Harry sometimes wondered if the sober-faced, -sad-eyed lad that greeted him so wistfully at the close of each day -could be the same boy whose cheerful chatter had made the road home -merry. - -“If only I could do something to help Teddy,” was Harry’s constant -wish. In his desperate desire to restore his chum’s good name, Harry -sought the quick-witted, far-seeing Miss Welch. Omitting only the name -of the real culprit he laid Teddy’s case before her one morning in -early February. - -“Hmm!” commented the exchange girl as she mentally balanced the pros -and cons of the affair. “Your little chum has certainly got in wrong, -Kiddy. He oughtta’ve squealed on the other fella. Too bad no one else -was around. If I was a certain red-headed youngster I’d watch for that -sneak that did it. One of these nights I’d give him a beating he’d -remember. That’s what I’d do. I’d make him tell or I’d punch his head -off.” Miss Welch doubled a small white hand and waved it threateningly. - -“He couldn’t, Miss Welch. The boy that’s guilty is twice his size. -Teddy’s small for his age. He’s strong, though, but not strong enough -to tackle the other boy and punish him.” - -“Well, why don’t you do it for him?” urged Miss Welch. “I’ll bet you -could fight if you got good and mad. Now’s your time to do it.” - -Harry regarded Miss Welch in stupefaction. How had she guessed what -had been in the back of his head ever since Teddy’s discharge from the -store? Long ago he had hinted to his mother that the day might come -when he would be forced to use his fists on Leon Atkins. - -“Miss Welch,” he said solemnly, “more than once I’ve thought of doing -that. After Ted left the store I made up my mind that the first time -this boy interfered with me, I’d fight him. But I hate to start on him -unless he does something to earn his licking. If I did, he might not -confess, but he _would_ make a big fuss. Then I’d get discharged and -Teddy’s case would stay just as it is.” - -“I get you.” A shrewd twinkle lurked in Miss Welch’s blue eyes. The -phrase “the first time he interfered with me,” had caused her to put -two and two together. Harry, it seemed, had reason to believe that -the culprit would interfere with him. This could hardly come about -unless the two were frequently brought together. Miss Welch had -already learned by using her eyes that Leon Atkins was as a thorn to -Harry’s flesh. So he was the real offender. She calmly stored up this -information against a time of need. - -“You’ve been ever so good to me,” Harry continued, “and I know that if -you could help me in this, you would. I’m going to ask you to keep your -eyes and ears open in case you might find out something that would help -Teddy get his place back again.” - -“You can count on me, Harry. I’ll say a good word or do a good deed for -both you and your friend, if the chance comes my way. Count on Margaret -Welch to the last drop of the hat.” - -Harry left the desk feeling more hopeful than he had for days. Miss -Welch was so clever. If anyone could help Teddy, she was the very -person. And she had advised him to give Leon a whipping. Harry smiled. -Despite her slangy manner of speech she was so delicately pretty that -the advice sounded strange from her red lips. - -As February dragged its changeable way toward March, the thought of -pummeling the truth from Leon took a decided stand in Harry’s mind. -Often as he watched the hateful coward, shambling about the stock-room, -he experienced a savage desire to spring upon him and compel the truth -from his lying lips. - -“This won’t do at all,” he reflected one Saturday morning as he found -himself halting in his work to stare longingly at Leon. Under a flimsy -pretense of work, the latter sat Turk fashion before a bin, deep in the -reading of a paper-covered dime novel he had smuggled into the store -inside his coat. “It’s awful for me to be always wanting to hit him.” - -The intense concentration of Harry’s gaze beat across the narrow space -between them, causing Leon to stir uneasily. Slowly, as though against -his will, his eyes left the paper-covered book and came to rest on -Harry. “Well, whada you gapin’ at?” he growled. - -“Nothing,” retorted Harry. Disgust of Leon overcoming prudence, he -added, “Oh, pardon me. I believe I was looking at _you_.” Swinging -about, Harry returned to his task of filling a truck. - -Two seconds later he became aware that an angry face was peering down -at him over the truck. “Think I’m nothin’, do you? You’ll find out who -I am!” He gave the truck a vicious shove that sent it rumbling down the -room. - -Harry sprang to his feet. It may be said in his favor, however, that in -spite of his private pugilistic desires, he had not intended to draw -Leon into a quarrel. His sarcastic answer had been nothing more than -an outward expression of his contempt for the bully. Given that he had -determined to punish Leon with his fists, he would never have selected -the store as a battleground. - -“Let that truck alone and go on about your business,” he commanded. “I -want nothing whatever to do with you.” Turning abruptly away he started -in pursuit of the dislodged truck. A clutch on his shoulder caused -him to whirl about, his eyes blue steel. “Take your hands off me, you -_coward_!” The word slipped out unawares. - -With a wrathful howl Leon made a lunging pass at him, his right fist -doubled. The blow landed squarely on Harry’s chest, knocking him -backward against a bin. Before he could recover his balance Leon -swept down upon him like a hurricane. For a moment or two Harry was -completely at his mercy. But the tide soon changed. Realizing that -the fight for which he had yearned was now thrust upon him, he forgot -everything except the knowledge that the time had come to strike for -Teddy’s honor. - -Although shorter than Leon, Harry was strong and sturdily built. -More than once he had engaged in friendly wrestling bouts with the -boys of the Winthrop school. Never before had the experience of a -real fight been his. Nevertheless, he gave good account of himself. -Now on his mettle he fought his way free of the bin and rapidly took -the aggressive. Leon struck out wildly, too much amazed at Harry’s -whirlwind tactics to fight with any degree of skill. Step by step, -under a hammer of relentless blows, he was being forced back into a -corner of the stock-room. - -“I’ve got you.” Harry slammed him into the corner with both hands. -“Now listen to me, and don’t you dare yell for your father. If you do, -you’ll be licked to a finish before he can get to you. You and I are -going to settle a few things right here. You are the one who spoiled -that big painting. You’ve let Teddy Burke suffer for it because he -was too white to give you away. You’re going to tell me that you did -it. Now tell me, or I’ll begin punishing you all over again.” Two -determined hands pinned him back with an iron grip. - -Leon began to whimper. “You’ll tell on me if I say I did.” Indirectly -he had confessed. - -“No; you’re going to tell on yourself. Promise to go downstairs and -tell Mr. Keene the whole thing, or take another licking. You’ve got -one black eye. You might as well have two. Hurry up now, or----” Harry -jammed the thoroughly cowed Leon a little harder against the bin. He -hated to do it, yet what he had begun must be finished. - -“I did it! I’ll tell him! Lemme go!” Regardless of Harry’s warning, -Leon emitted a loud howl of “Pa-a!” - -Harry relaxed his hold. There was no need of further punishment. He had -wrung from the coward the desired confession. But he did not intend -to stop there. He was resolved to escort Leon to Mr. Keene’s office -without further delay, no matter what Mr. Atkins might say or do. -Keeping a grim watch on Leon, he vigorously brushed his dusty clothing -with his hands, smoothed his disheveled hair and straightened his -collar and tie. - -Though the door between the stock and receiving rooms was closed, the -anguished howl of his offspring was borne to Mr. Atkins’ ears. Flinging -open the barrier that separated him from his son, he crossed the -stock-room on the run. - -“Pa,” wailed Leon, “_he_ almost killed me. Look’t my eye! He pitched -onto me and I wasn’t doing nothin’.” The hopeful scion of the house of -Atkins was indeed a sorry sight. - -“You young scamp!” The enraged Mr. Atkins made a dive for Harry. - -“Keep your hands off me, Mr. Atkins.” Swerving quickly to one side, -Harry eluded the man’s grasp. His tense voice held a note of command -that caused Mr. Atkins to lower his too-ready arm. - -Unbeknown to those concerned in the little drama there had been an -unseen witness to the fight. With the coming of Mr. Atkins, a man who -had stood in the half-open door at the lower end of the stock-room had -slipped quietly away. Who he was and how much of the turbulent scene he -had understood was something which Harry was later privileged to learn. - -“I’m pretty near dead, Pa,” whined Leon miserably. “My eye’s shuttin’ -up. He made me tell a lie. He said he’d half kill me if I didn’t.” - -“That’s not so,” cut in Harry, his eyes an accusing flame. “You told -the truth a minute ago because I made you. You’re not telling it now.” - -“You be careful what you say about my son,” stormed the father. “I’m -going to send for Mr. Rexford to come up here and tend to you. I’ll -show him how you’ve abused Leon.” - -“I wish you would,” defied Harry. “Send for Mr. Keene, too. Leon has -something to tell him. If you don’t send for him, I’ll make your son -go to him.” - -“I ain’t,” shrieked Leon. “Don’t you do it, Pa.” He began to weep -noisily. - -“Leon!” admonished Mr. Atkins. “Don’t be a baby. I’m not going to send -for Mr. Keene and you are not going to his office. Come into the other -room, both of you. Don’t _you_ try to run,” he warned Harry. - -Harry made no reply as he walked quietly into the receiving room ahead -of the belligerents. But his heart had become suddenly heavy. Under -present circumstances Mr. Rexford was the last person he wished to -see. Over him rushed the sickening sense of defeat. He had given Leon -the long-deferred whipping, only to realize that in all probability it -would be productive of nothing save his own dismissal from the store. -He had no one to prove that Leon had attacked him. No one had heard the -confession he had forced from the other boy. It was his word against -Leon’s, and Mr. Atkins was wholly on his son’s side. Undoubtedly Leon -would now whine out a fabrication which Harry had no means of proving -was false. If Mr. Rexford still had any faith in him, he would soon -lose it. Worse, he might forbid Harry to send for Mr. Keene. - -If Leon stuck to his own brand of story, Harry would then find himself -precisely in the position of Teddy Burke. Suppose he were to reveal -the true story of the damaged picture? Would Mr. Rexford believe him? -Harry believed that he would at least investigate the matter. Leon -was too cowardly to stand out long under any such investigation. Yet -there was Teddy and his inexorable code. Teddy had followed it. It -had led him out of the store. Now it was about to claim Harry, for he -had resolved that, even to save himself, he would not tell what Leon -refused to confess. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND AT COURT - - -Mr. Atkins’ telephoned summons soon brought Mr. Rexford to the -stock-room. He listened without comment to Leon’s garbled account -of Harry’s transgressions. He allowed Mr. Atkins to say his say, -uninterrupted. When they had both relieved their injured feelings by -forceful speech he turned sternly to Harry. “And what have you to say -to all this, young man?” - -Harry winced at the harshness of the question. “I did not force a fight -on this boy,” he quietly denied. “I warned him to let me alone. He -wouldn’t. I gave him something of what he deserved. I am sorry that -it had to happen here. I am very glad that I whipped him in an unfair -fight. I would not have done him up so thoroughly except for a certain -reason which I won’t tell. He knows that reason, but he is afraid to -tell it. I made him promise to go to Mr. Keene on account of it. I know -now that he never intended to do it. I was going to send for Mr. Keene -to come here, but it wouldn’t be of any use. That is all I have to say.” - -Mr. Rexford studied Harry long and earnestly. What had come over the -lovable, courteous Harry Harding of last year? What was all this -mysterious talk about a “certain reason” and “going to Mr. Keene?” -Why had this frank-faced boy become so curiously secretive in the -past few weeks? And that affair of the blue-pencilled picture. Harry -had also refused to reveal whatever he knew of that. With a flash of -that rare breadth of spirit which made him the great man he was, Mr. -Rexford suddenly experienced a feeling of the utmost tolerance toward -Harry. Ranged beside the too-spiteful father and the bullying son, -Harry looked every inch the man. He was secretly glad that the latter -had trounced lazy Leon. No doubt he deserved it. Mr. Rexford had never -liked him. Only out of pity for the father’s hard lot had he allowed -the boy to remain in his department. - -“Come with me, Harry,” he commanded not ungently. “I’ll talk with -you later, Atkins. And you,” he frowned upon Leon, “take this to Mr. -Drayton.” As he spoke he had drawn a pad and pencil from a coat pocket. -On it he now scribbled, “Send this boy home for the day. Rexford.” - -Leading the way to the stock-room, he entered, Harry following. “Close -the door,” he said. “Now, Harry, what is all this about? Can’t you -trust me?” - -A quick rush of tears blinded Harry’s eyes. Somehow the shadow had -lifted. Boy and man had once more set their feet on the old -friendly ground. Harry now saw Mr. Rexford in a new light. Here was, -indeed, a friend, his father confessor, to whom he might pour out his -heart without fear. “I’ll tell you everything,” he said simply. “Just -as I’d tell my father if he were living.” - -“My boy, I never imagined that such a state of affairs existed.” The -buyer’s brows were drawn together in a scowl that had deepened as he -listened to Harry’s terse sentences. “When I think of all you’ve had -to endure from that young rascal! It must be stopped. And it was your -friend Teddy who decorated the advertising card. No wonder you didn’t -care to tell me. About the painting, I don’t know what to say. It’s my -duty to straighten out that snarl.” - -“Teddy wouldn’t like it,” pleaded Harry. “I’ve spoken of it to you as -I would to my father. Unless Leon owns up of his own accord, Teddy -wouldn’t feel right about it if either you or I took it to the front. -If someone else outside had seen it happen--but no one did.” - -“You boys have set for yourselves a strenuous code to live up to,” -mused the buyer. “In itself it is commendable. Yet in this instance I -think you have been over-scrupulous. But I won’t have this Leon in my -department. That’s settled.” - -“His father needs his help,” reminded Harry. “He has a very hard time -to get along. His son is better off with him.” - -“Yes; I know that is true. Still there is my side to consider. I can’t -harbor useless lumber in my department. I’ll have to think things over. -I’m not sure yet what ought to be done about that painting.” - -Harry’s heart sank as the buyer left the stock-room. What did Mr. -Rexford intend to do? He sighed as he laid hands upon his truant -truck and rolled it into place. Now that Mr. Rexford had gone he -hoped Mr. Atkins would not seek him to deliver further condemnation. -Half-heartedly, he took up his work on the bin he had begun to -dismantle when Leon had attacked him. He became suddenly erect as he -heard the sound of an opening door. - -“Are you 45?” In the lower doorway of the stock-room stood a store -messenger. - -“Yes.” Harry’s heart began to pound violently. “Did you want me?” - -“Uh, huh. Mr. Keene sent me up here after you,” grinned the boy. - -“Did you go to the department for me?” was Harry’s anxious question. - -“Nope. He knew you was up here. He sent another kid over to 84, -though. Something doing, all right.” - -“I’ll go with you.” So Mr. Rexford had decided that it was his duty -to break the confidence. Harry sighed. What would Teddy Burke say? -He wondered if his chum would ever forgive him. His dignity forbade -questioning the boy, who seemed bursting with something he longed to -but dared not say. - -Mr. Keene’s office held two occupants besides the superintendent. One -was Leon Atkins, livid with fear. He had not found time to seek the -aisle manager with Mr. Rexford’s note before Mr. Keene’s messenger had -swooped down upon him. The other--Harry viewed him in silent amazement. - -“Come here, Harding.” Mr. Keene waved Harry into a chair at one side of -his desk. “I understand you and this boy,” he nodded toward Leon, “had -a fight in the stock-room this morning.” - -“Yes, sir.” Harry raised steady eyes to the superintendent. - -“How did it happen?” Mr. Keene’s tone was kindly rather than harsh. - -“I’d rather not say.” A quick flush sprang to the lad’s cheeks. - -“Did you begin it?” - -The flush mounted higher. “No, sir.” - -“Aw, he----” burst forth Leon. - -“Be quiet!” thundered Mr. Keene. “I am not yet ready to talk with you. -Now, Harry, I happen to know that you”--he paused significantly--“did -not begin the fight. I know a number of things which I am very glad to -learn. I understand why Theodore Burke left the store under a cloud. I -know, too, who was responsible for the injury to Mr. Edward Martin’s -painting. I am not sure that you and Burke were quite correct in your -behavior, but I am sure that you were inspired by what you believed to -be the best of motives. Ordinarily I would not countenance a fight such -as came off on the tenth floor this morning. Such things have no place -in a store like this. Yet it is a pretty poor sort of boy who won’t -stand up for himself. - -“Now, Atkins.” Leon began to quake visibly as Mr. Keene addressed him. -“You are to tell me exactly how you came to do the mischief to Mr. -Martin’s painting.” - -“Aw----” Leon’s voice forsook him. He gulped, sighed, then dashed a -hand across his eyes. “I--was--goin’ to drill,” he stammered brokenly. -“I--I saw a pitcher of a--lotta--men fightin’. One--of--’em had a -sword--and was--leadin’ the rest. Then I saw--a--rain stick--standin’ -by the railin’. Some’n had forgot it. I was tryin’ to do like -the--fella in the pitcher--and--I--I--smashed into the thing it -stood on. It--it--fell down--an’ I run. Just’s it keeled over--I saw -that--red-headed kid from house furnishings. He’d been lookin’ at me. -He yelled at me--but I beat it.” Leon was now too frightened to tell -anything save the plain truth. - -“Is this what Burke told you?” Mr. Keene asked Harry. - -“Yes, sir,” came the low reply. - -“You tried to make this boy come to me and confess?” - -“Yes, sir,” still lower. - -“That is all I require of you, Harry. You may go. Oh, yes. I am sure -you will be glad to know that I am going to send word by messenger to -Theodore Burke. Do you think he will come back?” - -“I _know_ he will.” Harry’s face broke into sudden radiance. How he -wished he might be with his chum when he received Mr. Keene’s message. - -“Would you like to be that messenger?” Mr. Keene smiled at the boy’s -delight. - -“Oh, Mr. Keene!” Impulsively Harry’s right hand shot out. He had quite -forgotten that there was a difference in their positions in the store. - -The superintendent met it with his own. “We can’t afford to lose such -boys as you and your friend,” he said simply. “I am sure Mr. Edward -Martin will agree with me. Come back in half an hour and I will give -you a note for Theodore.” - -Harry had a wild desire to shout at the top of his lungs as he sped -down the stairs to his department. It was all so marvelous; so -unbelievable. And Mr. Rexford had had no hand in bringing Leon to -justice. - -It was precisely one hour later when Mrs. Burke called down the stairs -to her son, “Do answer the door-bell, Teddy.” - -Teddy, however, was already on the way to answer that jubilant, -insistent ring. “I guess it’s the laundry man,” he muttered. “I’ll -tell him we’re not deaf.” Opening the door to confront the clamorous -purveyor of laundry, Teddy’s black eyes grew saucer-like. “Harry -Harding!” he shouted. “Are you fired, too?” - -Harry’s gay laugh held a note of exaltation that Teddy instantly -caught. His freckles stood out darkly under his suddenly paling skin. -“Is it--is it----” - -“It is,” caroled Harry. “Read this.” He thrust a square envelope into -his chum’s hand. - -Teddy tore it open, his hands shaking. The next instant a resounding -war-whoop rent the quiet hall and floated up the stairs. Mrs. Burke -wondered vaguely if the laundry man had suddenly gone mad. That -unearthly whoop had surely not emanated from her listless, sober little -son. In his exuberant joy, Teddy Burke did something of which he was -ever afterward a trifle ashamed. He flung his two wiry little arms -about Harry and hugged him. - -Seated side by side on the living-room davenport, Teddy and Harry spent -a blissful half hour in rejoicing over the wonderful way in which -Teddy’s vindication had come about. - -“But see here, Harry, you haven’t said yet who the fellow was that put -me straight with the store. How did anybody know, when you didn’t tell -’em? I know you said you told Mr. Rexford everything, but you will have -it that he wasn’t the one.” - -“I’ve been saving it for the last,” smiled Harry. “Oh, Ted, you can -never guess in a thousand years who it was that told. It was,” Harry’s -smile grew broader, “your friend--the Dustless Duster!” - -Hearing a second whoop more blood-curdling than the first, Mrs. Burke -descended to find, not a demented laundry man, but a small, red-haired -son whose fantastic capering about the room pointed strongly to the -suspicion that insanity lurked within her own gates. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE BEAUTY OF EFFICIENCY - - -When on the next morning Teddy Burke returned to Department 40 he was -hailed as a hero and petted outrageously by his delighted friends in -house furnishings. Mr. Jarvis, however, appeared not to see him. He was -deeply disgusted to behold “that red-headed imp” again entering into -what he fondly dreamed of making his undisputed domain. He had never -reckoned Teddy Burke as an obstacle until after it had slowly dawned -upon him that a Teddyless department was highly conducive to his peace -of mind. Luck had recently favored him in that two days before Teddy’s -return Mr. Everett had succumbed to a severe attack of bronchitis -that promised to keep him away from house furnishings for at least -two or three weeks. Mr. Jarvis was now bent on making his temporary -reign of buyer a permanent one. He did not, therefore, classify the -reinstatement of 65 as an undisguised blessing. - -“Where’s Mr. Everett?” was Teddy’s first inquiry of Sam Hickson after -making the rounds of 40 and receiving its joyful approval of his -return. “I want to see him most of all. He fought like a good one for -me the day I got fired. That was some day! Whew! I’ll never forget it.” - -“Mr. Everett’s sick,” informed Hickson gloomily. “He’s got bronchitis. -Couldn’t have come down with it at a worse time. Your friend the -Percolator worried him into it, I guess. Poor fellow, he’s had his -hands full with the crazy loon.” - -“That’s too bad.” Teddy showed real concern. “Where does he live? I -might go’n see him.” - -“I wish you would!” exclaimed Hickson heartily. “He thinks a lot of -you, Reddy. Maybe you could get him to change his mind.” - -“Change his mind about what?” Teddy’s face registered round-eyed alarm. -He wondered if Hickson could mean---- - -“He’s going to resign.” The salesman spoke Teddy’s thought. “Just -before he was taken sick he told me that another store’d made him a -good offer. More salary than he gets here. He’d rather not take it. -He’s built up this department and he loves it. But he can’t stand -Jarvis. When you spoke of going to see him it just came to me that -you’d be the very one to let him know how much we need him here. He’s -promised to take me with him. I’ll go, of course. But I hate like sixty -to leave Martin Brothers. They’ve been fine to me.” - -Teddy gasped. His whole world seemed to be on the verge of tumbling -down about him. Without Mr. Everett and genial Sam Hickson, what a -desert spot 40 would become! He would go, too. Still, there was Harry -to think of and Mr. Keene. Besides, no other store had a school like -Martin Brothers, or a military company like the Minute Men. - -“It’s _awful_,” he breathed, aghast at the dreadful prospect. “If I -hadn’t got fired I’d have done my last canning before this and sealed -up the can.” - -“You had your own troubles,” sympathized Hickson, “but you behaved like -a brick. I’m glad that young sneak got his. The story’s gone all over -the store.” - -“I guess I’m some hero.” Teddy puffed out his chest. - -“You’ll do, but don’t go and spoil it all by getting a swelled head,” -was Hickson’s dampening advice. - -“I won’t.” Teddy grinned, quite unoffended at this jolt. “I’ve got to -get busy an’ look after the perky Percolator. He must have missed me a -lot.” - -“I noticed he did run up and kiss you this morning,” jibed the salesman. - -“I’da punched his fat face if he had,” threatened Teddy, looking utter -repugnance of such a horrible possibility. - -At luncheon that day, the first with Harry in many weeks, Teddy -remarked sourly: “I lost a lot of time by getting fired. The old -Percolator’s been buzzing around to beat the band. Mr. Everett’s sick. -Mr. Hickson says he’s going to resign from kettles and pans. I’m going -to see him one of these nights. I found out where he lives. Mr. Hickson -says Mr. Everett’ll be glad to see me.” - -“I’m sure he will,” nodded Harry. “Oh, Ted, I’ve got something funny to -tell you. One day while you were out of the store I was talking to Miss -Welch about you. I didn’t tell her that it was Leon who spoiled Mr. -Martin’s painting, but she said that something I said made her suspect -him. You see I asked her to watch out and if she ever heard anything -that might help to prove you didn’t do it, to let me know. Of course -she doesn’t get much chance to leave her desk, but she remembered a man -in the store who goes all over it. She’s known him ever since she came -here.” - -“The Dustless Duster?” guessed Teddy. - -Harry nodded. “Miss Welch told him the whole story. She even told him -Leon’s name and described him. Mr. Ferris, that’s the Dustless Duster’s -real name, said he knew Leon was a bad boy. He told her about reporting -him for sleeping in the bin, and that he’d seen Leon poking around the -store in all sorts of places where he had no business to be. He began -to keep his eye on the precious Clothes-pole. He thought if he could -catch him doing any more mischief, he would take him to Mr. Keene and -scare him into telling about the painting. So, to please Miss Welch, -every once in a while when he was near the book stock-room, he’d poke -his head in the lower door to see how Leon was behaving. But he never -caught him at anything until the morning we had the fight. We didn’t -see him but he saw us and heard everything we said. So you see you owe -a whole lot to the kind Dustless Duster.” - -“I wish I could do something grand for him,” replied Teddy, his small -face aglow. “I’m going to if I ever get a chance. Say, Harry, what a -lot of nice men there are in this store.” - -“The finest in the world,” came the enthusiastic response. “Mr. -Rexford’s first with me, though, and Mr. Keene next. A while back I -thought my Year of Promise was going to be a big fizzle, but it’s -getting better every minute. There’s only one thing I wish was -different. I wish that business about the ring hadn’t happened. It -makes me feel silly every time I think of it. Still I know I wasn’t -wrong.” - -“Oh, I wouldn’t care about that,” consoled Teddy. “You did your best. -These people that steal for a living are too sharp for boys like us.” - -“I never dare look at Mr. Prescott. I always feel ashamed. I haven’t -seen him much lately, but I suppose I shall next month. There’s going -to be a great big sale in silverware, so he’ll be around jewelry, I -guess.” Harry did not seem elated at the prospect. - -“That’s nothing to cry about. Think of me and the Percolator. -Some little puzzle.” Teddy looked as solemn as though his was the -responsibility of bearing the weight of the world upon his thin -shoulders. - -Afternoon found him trailing his plump aversion with a will born of his -devotion to Mr. Everett. Now alone at the helm, Mr. Jarvis was rapidly -discovering how difficult it was to be in half a dozen places at once. -If he remained in the office to receive and argue with the numerous -traveling salesmen who were forever dropping in, he was obliged to let -the department run itself. Then, too, he was not fitly equipped to meet -these bland-faced, smoothly-spoken sons of commerce whose business -it is to exalt their own wares above those of a rival manufacturer. -Their steady flow of irresistible argument bewildered him. To hide his -ignorance of this branch of Mr. Everett’s work he met these men with a -high and mighty manner intended to cover up his lack of knowledge of -house furnishings. - -Naturally, they went away highly disgruntled, to talk him over among -themselves when they chanced to encounter one another in a certain -hotel in the city to which most of the travelers engaged in selling -house furnishings gravitated as a kind of wayside home. It is the most -usual thing in the world for traveling salesmen who carry similar lines -of goods to hang together when their day’s work is done. Rivals though -they may be, their favorite pastime consists in congregating to talk -about the lines of goods which they make their living by selling. Among -them Mr. Everett was known and respected, whereas Mr. Jarvis was dubbed -a “joke” and a “mistake.” - -Mr. Jarvis, however, was not aware of these very personal opinions of -himself. Privately, he yearned to put aside his haughty manner, to -buy right and left of these insistent clamorers. He had been ordered, -however, to buy lightly and use the utmost judgment in purchasing -that little. Martin Brothers were not taking chances on a man who had -still to prove his superiority over Mr. Everett. True, Mr. Jarvis was -in line for promotion, should Mr. Everett resign his position, as it -was rumored that he intended to do. But Mr. Jarvis’ future as buyer of -Department 40 was still vague. - -But while the ambitious assistant wrestled with the buying problems of -Mr. Everett’s department, the salespeople in kettles and pans heartily -welcomed his frequent absences from the selling floor. The rumor that -Mr. Everett intended to resign had been wafted about the department -with the result that it went far toward ruining the strict but -kindly discipline the buyer had ever maintained. A curious spirit of -insurrection, which had long lain dormant, sprang suddenly into life. -Threats of “The day Mr. Everett’s resignation goes in, mine goes in, -too,” became a familiar mutter about the department. - -When first the news of the buyer’s illness had been received, his flock -had been inspired with the desire to do their level best for his sake. -They had continued to remain in this beatific state until word of his -impending resignation had reached them. Then their good resolutions -were swallowed up in revolutionary mutterings. Their minds continually -on this sore subject, their salesmanship suffered in consequence. No -longer did they work with might and main to make the day’s receipts -count. They served with due courtesy customers who wished to buy, but -no one went out of his or her way to bring in additional sales. They -made no concerted plan to revolt. They simply did so, each in his own -fashion. - -The second week of Mr. Everett’s absence Mr. Jarvis was taken to task -for the falling off of sales in Department 40 and admonished to do -better. The next evening he held a meeting of the salespeople under -his charge after the store had closed. He lectured touchingly on the -beauty of efficiency in selling to a company of young men and women who -listened to him with the stolid faces of wooden Indians. And the next -day’s receipts dropped a trifle lower. - -“Halt!” challenged Sam Hickson late one afternoon as Teddy Burke -flitted past him. - -Teddy halted, assuming a strictly military carriage. - -“March!” ordered the salesman. “March back here a minute. I’ve got -something on my mind.” - -“I’m s’prised,” beamed Teddy, trotting back. “I never would have -thought it.” - -“That’ll do,” warned Hickson. “Look here, I thought you were going to -see Mr. Everett? If you went, you kept pretty still about it.” - -“I didn’t go.” Teddy came to instant sobriety. “I’ve been waiting.” - -“Waiting for what?” - -“To jam on the lid. Don’t you understand? If I could go to Mr. Everett -and say, ‘Don’t resign. The perky Percolator’s canned,’ he’d come back -to 40 when he got well.” - -“You’ll never go then,” predicted Hickson. “You’re crazy, Reddy. You -can’t wish the fellow out and watch him go. It would take something -pretty serious to rush him out of here. You and I aren’t the kind to -try any crooked work.” - -“I wouldn’t do anything dishonest to him for the world.” Teddy flared -up like a torch. “You must have a nice idea of me, Mr. Sam Hickson.” - -“Now don’t get excited,” placated the man. “Didn’t you hear me say that -you and I weren’t that kind?” - -“Y-e-s. Anyhow, something might happen.” - -“It’ll have to happen in a hurry then, or it’ll be no use,” was -Hickson’s disheartened opinion. - -“I’m going to go and sit on one of those big whales o’ clothes hampers -down by the office an’ think,” announced Teddy. “I don’t want you to -come talking to me’n disturb my think-tank, either.” - -“I’ve got something better to do,” laughed his friend. “I’m going to -count up my book.” - -With a backward grin over one shoulder, Teddy strolled thoughtfully -toward the clothes hamper. Testing it carefully to insure that even his -light weight upon it would not result in catastrophe, the boy seated -himself. Chin on hands, buried in thought, he resembled a wise young -owl on a perch. - -“Where can I find Mr. Everett?” A crisp voice broke up Teddy’s -meditations. - -“At home in bed,” leaped to Teddy’s lips, but courtesy prevailed. “Mr. -Everett is sick, sir,” was what he did say. “He hasn’t been here for -over three weeks.” - -“You don’t say so! Hmm! Who is his assistant and where will I find -him?” - -Teddy was about to go in search of Mr. Jarvis, but changed his mind. He -decided that he felt like indulging in a little further conversation -with this tall, good-looking stranger who smiled upon him so pleasantly. - -“His assistant’s Mr. Jarvis. He’s an efficiency man.” - -“You don’t say so!” repeated the stranger, raising his eyebrows. His -amusement appeared to deepen. - -“Yep.” Teddy forgot himself. “He knows all ’bout efficiency.” - -“And does he like to talk about it?” a peculiar gleam shot into the -man’s eyes. - -“Does he?” Teddy warmed to the subject. “He eats it alive. He c’n talk -yards of it and never lose his breath.” - -“That is good. I am interested in efficiency myself. Where did you say -I would find him?” - -“I didn’t say.” Teddy’s brief liking for the pleasant stranger -vanished. Here was another efficiency crank. Sliding from his makeshift -throne he peered up and down the department. “There he is, down among -the ice-chests.” The little boy turned a scornful back on the man -and marched off. “Wait till he tries to sell the Percolator a ton of -tinware or a kitchen stove,” muttered the lad. “He’ll get his head -froze off. Funny. He looked nice. Not a bit like a fishy old fishiency -fish. Guess I’ll watch him get the freeze.” - -Teddy watched and saw something that made him open his eyes. At first -glance it looked as though his prediction would be verified. Almost -instantly the assistant’s haughty stare broke up in a fatuous smile. -“What do you know about that?” wondered Teddy, as he saw the two men -shake hands. “I s’pose they found out that they were both fishy fishes.” - -In this Teddy had made a most accurate guess. Thanks to his own -yearning for conversation he had put in the stranger’s possession a -most valuable method of approaching the unapproachable assistant. As -it happened the man represented a house against whom Mr. Everett had -a grudge of long standing. For several years he had refused to buy of -them, due to a fault which they had of taking orders at one price and -delivering them at another a trifle higher than quotation. Mr. Everett -had been supported by the firm in his refusal to deal with them, and -for a long time they had not ventured to send a representative to call -on him. - -The pleasant stranger had heard of the assistant from a friendly -traveler staying at the same hotel with him and had determined to take -advantage of Mr. Everett’s absence to try to place an order. It is to -be doubted whether he had any extreme interest in efficiency, but he -hailed it as a trusty bridge on which to place his feet. - -Mr. Jarvis was naturally delighted at last to meet a man after his -own heart. In triumph he led him into Mr. Everett’s office, there to -extoll the beauties of efficiency to his heart’s content. At the end of -a two-hour session the smiling stranger left with a good-sized order on -his book, while Mr. Jarvis was equally certain that he also had done -well. - -The result of his well-doing did not become manifest until several days -had passed. A call to the system manager’s office sent him hurrying -there in the hope of being informed of Mr. Everett’s resignation as -buyer, followed by his appointment to the position. His interview with -the manager was totally different from expectation. He was informed -that he had bought neither wisely nor well. In a heart-to-heart talk -with that august individual it soon became evident that Mr. Jarvis knew -very little about the relative merits and prices of kettles and pans -and less about the firms that manufactured them. Efficiency of his sort -withered beside the clear business judgment of Mr. Everett. - -But the worst was yet to come. The following day Mr. Jarvis again held -down a chair in the assistant manager’s office to learn what that -far-seeing individual thought of him as a business man. He had not -been placed in his proper sphere, the manager concluded and suggested -pertinently that if he cared to remain in the store another position -suitable to his somewhat peculiar abilities might be found for him. - -At the end of that session Mr. Jarvis returned to the department which -he in a few short weeks had so nearly succeeded running into the rocks. -But he did not remain there. No, indeed. He collected his possessions -and shook the dust of Department 40 from his feet without so much as -a farewell word to kettles and pans. And the next elevator bore him -upward to that mysterious haunt known as the Bureau of Adjustment, -where in settling the claims of a claim-hungry public his fatal -efficiency might soar unheeded and undisturbed. - -“Who stole the perky Percolator?” demanded Teddy Burke on the morning -following Mr. Jarvis’ flight from house furnishings. “I haven’t seen -his sweet face this morning.” - -Sam Hickson laughed happily. “You won’t see it unless you go up to the -Bureau of Adjustment. He bubbled up once too often, I guess, and the -system manager got him.” - -“Why, when, what for?” almost shouted Teddy in wild excitement. - -“I don’t know much about it. I only know he’s gone. Duffield just -told me. I hope Mr. Everett hasn’t sent in his resignation yet. If he -hasn’t, he might come back.” - -“And is the Percolator canned for good?” gasped Teddy. - -“He sure is.” - -“Then I’m going to see Mr. Everett to-night.” Teddy skipped joyfully -up an aisle to interview Miss Newton on the subject. Miss Newton was -busy, however, with a customer. She looked so amiable and smiling that -he decided she had heard the news. Seized with a brilliant thought he -jerked the little leather-covered book from his pocket. There was just -room on the page for one more item. So he wrote, “March 14. Canned for -good, but not by me.” - -And it was not until some time afterward that Teddy Burke learned just -how important a part he had played in the final canning of the “perky -Percolator.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -A BELATED RECOGNITION - - -When Teddy Burke left the store that night to make his call on Mr. -Everett he was in a most jubilant frame of mind. A great honor had come -to his friend Sam Hickson. Hardly had Teddy left him to interview Miss -Newton when Hickson had been summoned to the system manager’s office. -There he received the surprise of his life. He was notified that he had -been selected to replace Mr. Jarvis as assistant buyer. Mr. Everett -had been consulted by telephone and approved the proposed change. It -was expected that Mr. Everett would be able to resume his duties on -the following week. Hickson thrilled with joy at this news. It was -equivalent to saying that his chief had not resigned after all. - -As a matter of fact, Mr. Everett _had_ done so, by formal letter, -on the day previous to Mr. Jarvis’ downfall, his resignation to -take effect one month after date of notification. Beyond the terse -statement, “for personal reasons which I shall not divulge,” the buyer -had set forth no direct cause for his act. The system manager was in -possession of numerous facts which he shrewdly brought to bear upon -the matter. Mr. Everett had not advocated Mr. Jarvis’ appointment as -his assistant. Instead, he had wisely recommended Samuel Hickson as -best fitted to serve in that capacity. He had been overruled, however, -by others, who had believed Mr. Jarvis to be the right man for the -position. As the system manager himself had emphatically sided with Mr. -Everett, it now gave him exquisite pleasure to be able to say, “I told -you so.” A long telephone conversation had ensued between him and Mr. -Everett, which resulted in the removal of Mr. Jarvis to the Bureau of -Adjustment. - -Teddy Burke was ushered into Mr. Everett’s comfortable bachelor -quarters that evening, his freckled face alive with friendly joy. He -had planned to conduct himself in a manner befitting one who makes a -call. The sight of his beloved buyer completely banished his laudable -ideas of dignity. He behaved exactly like red-haired, roguish Teddy and -no one else. Seated opposite Mr. Everett, who lounged luxuriously in -a big easy chair, Teddy forgot himself and proceeded to convulse his -chief with a somewhat sheepish account of his numerous experiments in -the canning line. He proved himself such good company that Mr. Everett -insisted that his young entertainer should dine with him. Accordingly, -Mrs. Burke was consulted by telephone and Teddy, in the seventh heaven -of bliss, remained to break bread with his chief. - -That was a gala evening for him. For days afterward he was prone to -dwell fondly upon the glories of that dinner to Harry Harding. On his -part, Harry was only too willing to listen to whatever it pleased Teddy -to tell and retell. During the long winter so much unpleasantness had -befallen the chums that their common misfortunes had strengthened -wonderfully the bond between them. With Leon Atkins’ discharge from the -store, peace and safety had come to Harry. With Mr. Everett again in -Department 40 and Sam Hickson acting as his assistant, Teddy’s cup of -happiness overflowed. - -“There’s only one thing that makes me feel sorry that the perky -Percolator’s gone into the adjusting business,” confided Teddy to Harry -as they strolled home under a reddening March sunset. “To-morrow’s -April Fool’s Day. I wanted to give him the Zoo’s number and ask him -to call up Mr. Lion. I might write it and leave it up at the Bureau -to-morrow before he gets there.” - -“Don’t you do it,” advised Harry. “Let him alone and stick to kettles -and pans. Then you won’t get into trouble. You’ve had enough for one -year.” - -“I guess that’s right.” Teddy squinted reflectively. “Mr. Everett says -if I watch my p’s and q’s I might be his assistant some day. Only I’ll -have to grow a lot. I’m an inch taller’n last year, anyhow. That’s -growing up some.” - -“I’m almost three inches taller than I was last year,” said Harry with -pardonable pride. “I hope I’ll grow up to be as tall as Father was. He -was six feet.” - -“You better get a grow on then,” grinned Teddy. “I saw Miss Verne -to-day. She wants me to sing at an entertainment. It’s to be the last -of May in Martin Hall. It’s a benefit for another sick man in the -store.” - -“That reminds me, Mr. Barton’s coming back next week. Miss Welch told -me. He wrote her a letter. He said in it he was going to write to me, -too. He’s entirely well. Isn’t that fine? He’ll be back at a busy -time. Next week’s the big silver sale. I suppose Mr. Prescott’ll be -in jewelry. He must hate me. He scowls at me every time I meet him as -though he’d like to gobble me up.” - -“I guess I’ll have to give him a name,” suggested Teddy. “Let me see. -Three Eyes sounds pretty good. He’s s’posed to have one eye in the back -of his head. If he’d used it, p’raps that woman wouldn’t’ve got away -with the ring.” - -Harry laughed a little at Teddy’s inspiration. “You can’t ever make him -believe she took it,” he remarked with some bitterness. “I hope nobody -tries to steal anything next week while I’m looking at him or her. If I -reported it, Mr. Prescott wouldn’t believe me.” - -“Oh, I don’t s’pose anyone will,” was Teddy’s cheerful comment. -“Silverware’d be pretty hard to steal.” - -Harry agreed that it would and dropped the subject. Mr. Prescott’s -appearance in the jewelry department on the following Monday afternoon -again brought it to mind. The big sale had begun with a rush of -customers that made jewelry a hive of industry. The sale was an annual -event and many persons took advantage of it with a prudent eye to -future wedding or holiday gifts. - -Up and down the humming aisles walked Mr. Barton, strangely transformed -from the crabbed, hard-faced aisle manager of the past to a pleasant, -mild-mannered man whose eyes still held a hint of suffering. He was -thinner than of old, but moved with an alertness that bespoke a return -of strength and health. Whenever he chanced to encounter Harry he -smiled at him in a fashion that bespoke his everlasting gratitude. As -for Miss Welch, she and “Smarty Barton” were in a fair way to become -excellent comrades of work. - -Though jewelry buzzed with importance, books had slid into an unusual -state of placidity after an early Easter. Gardening and nature study -were now coming rapidly to the front and a great changing of tables -went on daily. - -As the week progressed, the jewelry department grew busier. - -“Beats everything I ever saw the way these people spend their money,” -grumbled the cashier in jewelry, whose cage was situated next to the -exchange desk. Her remark was addressed to Miss Welch. The latter had -just concluded an elaborate argument with an irate woman who insisted -that she exchange a damaged cut glass bowl for a perfect one. - -“You’re lucky,” was Miss Welch’s grim assurance. “You can take their -money and keep your mouth shut. But me! I have to take their sass and -talk like an angel. If I told that customer once, I told her ten times -to take that bowl to the Bureau of Adjustment. But no, she couldn’t -see it. She bought it here and here’s where she’s going to stick till -she gets another. ‘Madam,’ I says to her, ‘you can stand here till the -store closes if you want to, but I can’t do nothing for you.’ But she -wouldn’t believe I was giving it to her straight. So I had to call -Barton and he led her away, she telling him about ‘that snippy girl’ -as far’s I could hear her. If I don’t come to work to-morrow you’ll -know I died of a broken heart over being called a snip. If to-morrow -wasn’t Saturday I’d take a rest. This desk is the main pavilion of -Trouble-hunters’ Resort.” - -“I’m glad to-morrow’s Saturday,” sighed the cashier. “This has been a -heavy week. Three or four times a day this cash box runs over. I’ve got -about a thousand dollars in it now. I hope Mr. Wiggins sends someone -down pretty soon to get it. He generally has a messenger down here -after it before this. Must be he’s forgot.” - -“It oughtta be a man,” declared Miss Welch reprovingly. “It ain’t safe -to trust all that money to a girl.” - -“Oh, I don’t know. The elevator’s only a step and these boxes the -messengers carry are safe enough. They’re lock boxes. He’s always had -special messengers to do it. They’re not cash girls. They’re grown up -women and oughtta know their business. All this talk about girls not -being able to do as well as men makes me sick.” The cashier pouted, -looking rather nettled. “I b’lieve in woman’s rights, I do.” - -“Don’t get huffy,” dimpled Miss Welch. “I’m something of a suffragette -myself. I was only saying what _I_ thought. This is a free country, -ain’t it, Kiddy?” This to Harry Harding, who had stopped before her -desk to speak to her. Harry was the bearer of a note from his mother -asking Miss Welch to take supper with the Hardings on the next Friday -evening. Harry had intended to deliver the note that morning. A call to -the stock-room had caused him to forget it until that very moment. He -now extended it to her, saying, “Here’s a note from my mother, Miss -Welch. What was it you asked me?” - -“Forget it. I’m busy.” Miss Welch began a hasty exploration of the -square white envelope. “Aren’t you the nice kid?” she beamed as she -finished reading the prettily worded missive of invitation. “I’ll be -there, both feet first. For goodness’ sake, don’t tell your mother -that. She’ll think I was brought up in a barn. I’ll write her an -answer to this before I go home. I hope the whole town don’t get the -exchange craze while I’m trying to do it. I’m liable to write, ‘Dear -Mrs. Harding: No, we don’t exchange men’s shirts at this desk. You -better see the aisle man. I accept with pleasure your kind invitation -to go two aisles to the right and all the way back, etc.’ That’s about -what I’d be writing.” Miss Welch indulged in a merry laugh at her own -expense in which both Harry and the cashier joined. - -“You’re awful funny,” giggled the cashier. “I--oh, here you are! About -time someone got busy with this.” She wagged her head toward the -well-filled cash box. - -A slender, fair-haired young woman dressed in the customary store -black, relieved only by a wide, white collar, stood before the desk, -lock box in hand. - -“How much have you for me? Tell me quickly. I must get back upstairs.” -She spoke imperiously, at the same time producing a small receipt pad -and pencil. - -“Oh, I guess you can wait a minute. You kept me waiting,” was the -cashier’s stolid retort. - -Shrugging her shoulders, the young woman stepped into the cage beside -the cashier and began to transfer the bulk of the money to the now -open lock box, leaving only a small percentage of notes for change. -Scribbling a receipt for the amount she had taken, she signed it with -an illegible scrawl and prepared to depart in a hurry. - -“Wait a moment.” A boyish form resolutely barred the messenger’s path. -A determined hand caught her by the arm. With a haughty stare at the -offender she jerked herself free. - -“Let me go,” she hissed. “What----” - -Harry Harding’s fingers clutched the young woman’s arm in a tighter -grip. Her appearance at the desk had awakened in his brain a curious -recollection of something unusually unpleasant. As he continued to -stare at her, that which at first had been merely a disagreeable -impression deepened to an alarming knowledge. - -“I will _not_ let you go,” he returned, his young face set and stern. -“Mr. Barton!” Raising his voice he hailed the aisle manager, whom he -sighted a short distance off. Miss Welch and the cashier were staring -in dumb surprise. An instant and Mr. Barton was at his elbow. - -“What’s the trouble here, Harry?” he asked, amazed at the strange -tableau. - -“Make this boy let go my arm. He must be crazy. I’m in a hurry. Make -him let go, I say.” A pair of pale blue eyes, scintillating with rage, -flashed an accompaniment to the furious command. - -“She’s not a messenger from Mr. Wiggins’ office,” Harry cried out. “I -know she isn’t. Send for Mr. Wiggins and let him identify her. She’s -the ring woman, Miss Welch!” - -“Great goodness!” exploded Miss Welch. “Hang on to her, Mr. Barton, -good and hard. I’ll bet Harry knows what he’s talking about.” - -Dropping the cash box the young woman made a furious struggle to break -away. Her action was in itself so suspicious as to condemn her. Harry -relinquished her to Mr. Barton’s stronger guardianship. By this time a -crowd had begun to collect. Miss Welch was already busy telephoning Mr. -Wiggins. A man at the far end of the department glimpsed the crowd and -now came toward it on the run. - -“What’s all this?” he asked gruffly. - -“Mr. Prescott,” Harry’s tones held a suspicion of triumph, “this is the -woman who got away with the ring last Christmas. I told you I’d know -her if ever I saw her again. Ask her about it. Ask her, too, what she -was trying to do with that cash box.” - -Before Mr. Prescott could answer, a second man pushed his way to the -center of the crowd. “Is this the girl?” he questioned, his voice -unsteady with fright. - -“That’s the one.” It was Miss Welch who answered. - -“I never saw her before. Where’s the money?” The query ended almost in -a shout. - -“It’s here, and you may thank this boy for it.” Mr. Barton nodded over -one shoulder, still holding firmly to the now cowering imposter. “This -is your case, Prescott. Better take charge of it.” - -The detective’s face was a study as he moved forward to collect his -own. “You’d better come with me,” he said to Harry. “I may need you.” - -Harry was not at all proud of making one of the trio that set out for -a neighboring elevator. Yet this time he knew that what he had done -was beyond criticism. It remained now for Mr. Prescott to extract the -true story of the ring from his prisoner. Once shut off from all means -of escape, the woman’s remarkable assumption of bravado in a measure -left her. She could not very well deny the raid on the cash box, but -pretended ignorance of the affair of the ring. It was a long, wordy -battle to which Harry was compelled to listen. In the end the woman -broke down and confessed not only the theft of the ring, but that she -was also one of a gang of professional thieves. No amount of argument, -however, could persuade her to reveal either their identity or their -whereabouts. - -It was at this juncture that Mr. Prescott allowed Harry to go, with, -“I’ll see you later, my boy. I’ve a good deal to say to you.” - -Meanwhile, down in the jewelry department a radiant-faced young woman -was singing Harry’s praises to Mr. Barton. - -“That boy’s shooting upward like a rocket,” she exulted. “What’s more -he’s going to stay up. He’s got a wise head on his shoulders. I’m glad -he got a chance to show Prescott a thing or two.” - -“He’s a smart boy and a good one,” agreed the aisle manager. “He did a -great deal for me. You know he spoke to Mr. Keene about me when I was -sick. That’s how Mr. Keene came to know of it and started the plan for -the benefit.” - -“Mr. Keene nothing,” retorted Miss Welch. “He’s the one that cinched -the idea for that benefit. Him and that red-headed kid he runs with. -They planned it out, but kept it under their hats because they was -afraid to let folks know it for fear they’d think the show wasn’t much -if two youngsters steered it. He’s a wonder, that boy. I supposed you -knew the rights of it, if no one else did. Well, I guess Mr. Keene and -me must have been the only ones in the know. It’s only one more star in -Harry’s crown.” - -“I never knew. I----” Mr. Barton wheeled and walked away, too much -overcome for further speech. He wondered if Mr. Edward Martin knew the -truth. He determined to find out from Mr. Keene. If the senior partner -were not in possession of the facts, then his own duty lay before him. -Mr. Martin should learn from his lips the story of one boy’s golden -deed. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL - - -“So you are Harry Harding. Sit down here, Harry. I should like to talk -with you.” The senior partner of Martin Brothers waved a distinctly -embarrassed boy into a chair opposite his own and surveyed the lad with -an earnest, kindly gaze. - -Inwardly Harry was wildly cogitating the reason for this interview -which had been thrust upon him. It could hardly pertain to the affair -of the cash box. It was four days since that had happened. In four -days an excitement of that nature has ample time to die out in such -a busy world of trade. Yet Mr. Martin did not seem displeased; quite -the contrary. His singularly youthful dark eyes, which contrasted so -sharply with his gray hair and mustache, were filled with friendliness. - -“Mr. Keene has told me so much that is good of you, I thought I should -like to see the boy who has looked out so thoroughly for my interests -and for those of my employees. Your prompt action saved the store a -loss on last Friday. You are greatly to be commended for it.” - -“It was all in the day’s work, sir,” Harry replied, his already flushed -face turning pinker. “I only remembered the woman’s face and suspected -she wasn’t a real messenger.” - -“It takes a pretty smart boy to remember a thing like that at the right -moment,” smiled the senior partner. “Mr. Prescott tells me you were -instrumental in breaking up that chain of thieving last year. He says -he would like to have you on his staff. Do you wish me to place you -there?” - -“Oh, no, sir!” Harry expressed emphatic disapproval of such a change. -“I shouldn’t like to be a detective in the least. I just happened to -get into both those affairs.” - -Mr. Martin smiled whimsically. “You’re rather different from the -average youngster. Most boys would jump at a chance to become a sleuth. -What would you like to become?” he questioned, staring hard at Harry. - -“A business man, sir. I’d like to learn a lot about a big store like -this; about the way things are done here. Then if ever I had a chance -to go into business for myself, I know just what to do and how to do -it.” - -“So you’d prefer becoming a business man. I should say you had already -made a fair start. How would you like some day to be a book buyer?” - -Harry’s answer came somewhat haltingly. - -“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve thought a good deal about that. In one -way I’d like it and in another way I wouldn’t.” - -“Tell me just what you mean,” tactfully urged the man. - -“I think----” began Harry. “You see it’s like this. If I were some day -to go into business for myself I don’t believe it would be in books. -I don’t know yet just what it would be. I won’t know, either, for -a long time to come. I’d like to stay with Mr. Rexford, of course. -Still in another year I ought to be something more than a stock boy. -I don’t want to be a salesman, and even if I knew enough I couldn’t -be an assistant by that time. I’d still be considered too young for -such a responsible position.” Drawn out to speak of what lay nearest -his heart, Harry had quite forgotten his brief embarrassment. He was -opening his mind to his interested listener in the same frank fashion -in which he might have talked to Teddy Burke. - -“I understand,” nodded Mr. Martin. “As you say you are still rather -young to talk with any certainty of your future. But you’ve made a good -start, young man; a good start. Keep on in the same way and some day -you’ll find yourself where you hope to be. You can’t do it in a day, -or a month, or a year. You must build your future, stone upon stone. -It won’t be easy. Nothing worth having is easy to get. Remember that. -Now, Harry, I am very glad to have met you; glad to have such a boy as -you in my store. I shall not forget you. Every now and then I shall -send for you to come to me to ask you how you are progressing.” - -“Thank you, Mr. Martin,” Harry rose, believing the pleasant interview -to be at an end. “I shall try always to have good reports to bring -you.” He was about to say “good morning” and depart when the senior -partner halted him. - -“Wait a moment,” he commanded. Picking up a sealed envelope on his -desk he tendered it to the amazed boy. “This is for you, with Martin -Brothers’ heartiest thanks. You are not to open it until you are in -your own home.” - -Harry drew back, the ruddy color leaving his cheeks. “Oh, I -couldn’t----” he stammered. - -“This envelope does not contain what you think it holds,” returned Mr. -Martin, his eyes twinkling. “Whatever it contains I insist that you -accept it.” - -Reluctantly Harry took the envelope. A sudden mist flashed across his -blue eyes. He tried to speak, but could not. For an instant the whole -room became a blur. Then he managed to articulate an unsteady, “I thank -you, Mr. Martin. Good morning.” Completely unnerved by his astonishing -good fortune, he cast an eloquent look toward the man at the desk and -hurried from the office. - -Regaining Department 84 his first move was to seek Mr. Rexford’s -office. He felt that he ought to tell the buyer of his recent call on -the senior partner. The day following the affair of the cash box, Mr. -Rexford had come to him and said: “Well, Harry, I hear that you saved -the store considerable money yesterday. Hereafter Prescott will have -to look out for his laurels. I understand he is anxious to have you -transferred to his office. You don’t want to go, do you?” And Harry had -answered with a decided, “I do not.” Mr. Rexford had appeared vastly -relieved at the reply and offered Harry his hand in unspoken apology -for certain brusque speeches he had given utterance to, directly after -the trouble over the stolen ring. - -It was now most disappointing to the boy to find Mr. Rexford’s office -deserted of his presence, just when he wished most to see him. Later -he learned from Mr. Brady, who, since Leon’s removal, had grown quite -friendly, that the buyer had gone out of the city for a day or two. So -Harry hugged his good news until lunch time, when he could relate it to -Teddy. - -Teddy was vastly impressed. “I guess you’re it,” he observed, his black -eyes glowing. “What do you s’pose is in that envelope? Let’s see it.” - -Harry took the envelope from a coat pocket. Teddy hefted, pinched -and fingered it in crafty speculation. “It’s quite heavy. Maybe it’s -a picture of Mr. Martin,” he guessed. “He might want you to have it -to remember him by.” His accompanying grin belied the seriousness of -his guess. “Wouldn’t you like to have me walk clear home with you -to-night?” he asked slyly. - -“You funny Teddy,” laughed Harry. “Of course I would. I was going to -ask you to.” - -There was one other person to whom Harry felt bound to confide his -good news. That person was Margaret Welch. On his way from luncheon he -sought her desk. - -“Why, here’s Nick Carter the second!” exclaimed the jolly exchange -clerk. - -“Don’t tease me,” protested Harry, smiling. “I want to tell you -something.” Modestly he spoke of the honor that had so recently been -his. - -“Well, I never!” Miss Welch became all smiles. “You certainly are the -candy kid. Be sure you tell me to-morrow what was in that envelope. -And Prescott’s aching to get hold of you! But none of that Sherlock -business for yours. Say, Harry, I wanted to ask you something, but I -kept forgetting it. How did that girl put over that cash box stunt? -You was up in Prescott’s office when she was. Did she tell? Now don’t -cry. I know you hate to talk about it. Still you can oblige your friend -Irish for once. Her middle name’s Rubber.” - -Harry’s face had clouded as Miss Welch brought up the subject he had -resolutely put behind him. Her final speech made him smile. “She -told Mr. Prescott that she had been watching the cashier in jewelry -for a week. She had a cash box made to look like those in the store. -The receipt pad she had was almost the same as those they use in Mr. -Wiggins’ office. She thought no one would notice the difference until -after she got away. It was easy enough to dress in black like the store -girls, I suppose.” - -“Hm! She must have figured out the whole cash system pretty well,” -mused Miss Welch. “Say, Harry, did you know Breeden’s going to leave -Saturday night?” - -“No.” Harry showed some surprise. “It’s funny, Miss Welch, but Miss -Breeden has been quite nice to me lately. I never thought she would be -after what happened last Spring.” - -“Ha, ha!” Miss Welch seemed vastly amused. “There’s a reason, and this -is it. Breeden’s going to be married soon, not to Farley, but somebody -else. She and Farley smashed their wedding ring plans right after New -Year’s. I heard about it just a few days back.” - -Harry went back to his work feeling that the last ghost had, indeed, -been laid. - -“Let’s take the street car home,” was Teddy’s audacious proposal after -work that night. - -“You’re more curious about what’s in that envelope than I am,” laughed -Harry. - -“Course I am. I want to see Mr. Martin’s picture,” grinned his -unabashed chum. - -It was a thrilling moment for Harry when with Teddy at his left, his -mother at his right, he tore open the concealing envelope, to find a -small pasteboard-covered book, bearing the printed legend, “Martin -Brothers’ Bank.” Underneath was written, “Harry Harding.” - -“Hooray!” shrieked Teddy. - -Harry had already opened the book. He gasped, then overcome, hid his -face against his mother’s ever ready shoulder. “Mothery!” he whispered -in choking ecstasy. - -Harry suddenly raised his head from his mother’s shoulder, his blue -eyes shining. “I thought last year that the twenty-dollar gold piece -was splendid. But, a hundred dollars! I’m going to give it straight to -you, Mothery!” - -“You’ll do no such thing,” declared Mrs. Harding with a shake of her -head. “This money is yours and you must keep it in the bank and try to -add a little to it whenever you can. That’s what Mr. Martin means you -to do.” - -“I’m going to write a letter to Mr. Edward Martin to-night,” announced -Harry. “I’d like to have him know how much this means to me.” Fondly he -patted the bank book. - -“Summer’s coming,” observed Teddy irrelevantly, his black eyes dreamy. - -“So it is. I know what made you think about it just now, too. You’re -remembering last vacation and----” - -“The Year of Promise,” supplemented Teddy. “It’s been some year, -hasn’t it?” - -“Yes, it has. When we sat under that tree last summer and read that -story, I never thought we were going to have such a queer winter in the -store. My mother says nobody can become great or broad-minded without -having troubles,” mused Harry. - -“I think my mind _is_ broader,” returned Teddy seriously. “My head’s -bigger than it was last year.” - -Harry burst into rollicking laughter. Teddy glared reproof, then -giggled. “It’s so,” he contended. “I wear a size larger hat’n I did a -year ago. That’s a sign, all right.” - -“There are lots of other signs besides that,” reminded Harry warmly. -“I’m lucky to have you for my chum, Teddy Burke.” - -“You mean just the other way ’round.” Teddy’s thin hand sought Harry’s -in a firm renewal of their boyish covenant. Builded upon the foundation -of loyalty, theirs was a friendship that would defy time and change. - - -THE END - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes: - - --Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). - - --Printer's, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently - corrected. - - --Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved. - - --Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved. - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Harry Harding's Year of Promise, by Alfred Raymond - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARRY HARDING'S YEAR OF PROMISE *** - -***** This file should be named 52872-0.txt or 52872-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/8/7/52872/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Harry Harding's Year of Promise - -Author: Alfred Raymond - -Release Date: August 22, 2016 [EBook #52872] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARRY HARDING'S YEAR OF PROMISE *** - - - - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="600" height="709" alt="cover" title="cover" /> -</div> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h1><span class="smcap">Harry Harding’s<br /> -Year of Promise</span></h1> - -<p class="p2 noic"><i>By</i></p> - -<p class="noi author">ALFRED RAYMOND</p> - -<div class="p6 noic"><div class="figcenter" style="width: 237px;"> -<img src="images/logo.jpg" width="237" height="142" alt="The -GOLDSMITH -Publishing Co. -CLEVELAND OHIO -MADE IN U.S.A." title="The -GOLDSMITH -Publishing Co. -CLEVELAND OHIO -MADE IN U.S.A." /> -</div></div> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="noic"><i>Copyright, 1917, by</i><br /> -CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - - -<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> -<col style="width: 20%;" /> -<col style="width: 70%;" /> -<col style="width: 10%;" /> -<tr> - <th class="smfontr">CHAPTER</th> - <th class="tdl"></th> - <th class="smfontr">PAGE</th> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">I</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Planning Their Year of Promise</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">1</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">II</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">What Came Out of a Bin</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">10</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">III</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Declaring War on the Percolator</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">20</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">IV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">An Even Exchange of Confidences</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">28</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">V</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">An Unpromising Day</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">40</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Harry Speaks His Mind</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">54</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Teddy Burke, Avenger</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">65</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">VIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">A Sane Lunatic</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">76</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">IX</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">The Party of the Third Part</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">84</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">X</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">Teddy Begins His Fall Canning</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">93</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">The Martin Minute Men</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">100</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">The Boy Who Could Forgive</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">111</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">The Errand of Mercy</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">121</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Teddy Scents a Mystery</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">132</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">The Plot Thickens</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">143</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">An Unlucky Discovery</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">153</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">Decorating a Débutante</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">163</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XVIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">A Queer Twist of Fate</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">173</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XIX</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">Teddy’s Darkest Hour</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">185</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XX<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">All for the Sake of Teddy Burke</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">196</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXI</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">An Unexpected Friend at Court</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">211</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">The Beauty of Efficiency</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">220</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIII</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">A Belated Recognition</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">235</td> -</tr> -<tr> - <td class="tdrt">XXIV</td> - <td class="tdl smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">All’s Well That Ends Well</a></td> - <td class="tdrb">248</td> -</tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - - - - -<p class="noi title">HARRY HARDING’S -YEAR OF PROMISE</p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I</a><br /> -<small>PLANNING THEIR YEAR OF PROMISE</small></h2> -</div> - -<p class="cap">Under a huge horse-chestnut tree, at the -foot of a pretty bit of green, sloping lawn, -a curly-haired boy lay stretched at ease, -his blue eyes glued to the last page of an open -book before him. Harry Harding emitted a -deep sigh of satisfaction as he read:</p> - -<p>“When the last golden sunset rays touched -with tender glory the Kingdom of New Hope, -once the Kingdom of Despair, the formerly unhappy -king, now happy in the knowledge of well-doing, -hurried to the lonely spot in the forest -where the tall pines whispered and sung. He -hoped to meet again the queer little man who -had promised him the secret of happiness. He -waited there until the darkness fell, but no -one came. Tired at last of the still blackness -and the sighing of the pines, he called out in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> -loud voice, ‘Little man, where are you? The -Year of Promise is ended. I have done your -bidding faithfully. The Kingdom of Despair -is now the Kingdom of New Hope. My happy -subjects adore me and I have found peace. -Show yourself once more, little friend, that I -may thank you.’</p> - -<p>“Still no one came and he found no wonderful -casket. Only the evening breeze sang on -through the sentinel pines. But, as the king listened, -he was sure he heard it murmur: ‘Continue -to do well. Every year comes to you as -a Year of Promise. It lies within yourself to -make it a Year of Fulfillment. This is the true -secret of——’”</p> - -<p>Whack! A carefully-aimed apple struck the -open book with a force that sent it flying from -the absorbed reader’s grasp. From behind a -neighboring tree a freckled face peeped out. It -was lighted by two dancing, black eyes and -crowned with a mop of brilliant red hair.</p> - -<p>“No use hiding. I’ll get you!” Leaping to -his feet Harry made a dash for the tree that -sheltered the mischievous marksman.</p> - -<p>Emitting a war whoop of pure joy the red-haired -boy left his refuge and tore across the -lawn and around the corner of the little bungalow, -his victim in hot pursuit. After circling -the house several times, his quarry still in the -lead, Harry brought strategy to the chase. -Turning about, he ran in an opposite direction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> -just in time to nab the offender as he rushed -around a corner at reckless speed.</p> - -<p>“I’ve caught you!” Harry proceeded to administer -a mild punishment, which merely -served to bring shouts of wild glee from the unrepentant -apple thrower. “Now go and pick -up my book,” he commanded. With a final -shake he released his wildly wriggling catch.</p> - -<p>“Go and pick it up yourself,” invited the red-haired -boy with a grin. Nevertheless, he -strolled over to where the maltreated book helplessly -sprawled. Raising it he presented it to -Harry with a chuckle. “Here’s your old book, -but don’t think you’re going to read it. You’ve -been too busy with it all afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“All right, I won’t. I’ve finished it, anyway.” -Tucking it under his arm, Harry dropped -down beneath the tree and beckoned to his -companion. “Sit here, Teddy, and let’s talk.”</p> - -<p>Teddy Burke responded to the invitation with -a bounce and a flop that pitched Harry on his -side in the short green grass. The will to gambol -about like a very frisky young lamb was -strong within Teddy on this beautiful July day, -and the process of settling himself for a talk -was accomplished with difficulty.</p> - -<p>“What have you been reading about that kept -you so quiet?” was his curious question, as he -finally came to rest at Harry’s left.</p> - -<p>“It’s a dandy book.” Harry fingered the -dark green cover with evident affection. “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> -bought it for only ten cents at an aisle sale, just -before we came out here for our vacation. It’s -all short stories. I like the last one best, though. -It’s called ‘The Secret of Happiness,’ and it’s -about a king——”</p> - -<p>“Huh, I guess it’s a lot of old fairy tales,” -sniffed Teddy. “Catch me reading ’em. I like -stories about fellows that went on voyages -round the world and discovered islands and -things that nobody else’d ever heard of.”</p> - -<p>To those who have read “<span class="smcap">Harry Harding, -Messenger 45</span>,” Teddy Burke and Harry Harding -are already familiar acquaintances. In -that volume was recorded the manner in which -they met, their ready entrance into mutual -friendship and how, together, they began their -business life as messengers in Martin Brothers’ -department store. Many incidents, serious and -laughable, fell to their lot as members of the -great store family. While Teddy, in spite of -numerous mischievous pranks, flourished in his -new surroundings, Harry’s early days of work -were brimmed with bitter misfortune. But he -met trial and discouragement with a staunch -heart, and amply proved himself worthy of the -reward his persevering stand for the right -brought him.</p> - -<p>The winning of a prize of twenty dollars in -gold afforded him the coveted opportunity to -take his mother into the country for a brief vacation. -In this project he was joined by Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> -Burke and her son Teddy, and the last Saturday -of the delightful two weeks freedom from toil -found the four happy idlers spending their final -vacation hours together at the cozy bungalow -where their combined finances had enabled them -to pass this brief, pleasant season together.</p> - -<p>“You’re not the only one that likes adventure -stories,” smiled Harry in answer to Teddy’s -derisive fling at fairy tales. “I like them, -too. But the stories in this book are not about -old witches and enchanted castles and such -things. They’re allegories.”</p> - -<p>“What’s allegories?” Teddy eyed Harry as -though he wondered whether they might not be -some rare species of animal of which the Zoo -could not boast.</p> - -<p>“An allegory is—let me see—well, it’s a story -that seems like a fairy tale but isn’t.”</p> - -<p>“Must be even worse, then,” discouraged -Teddy.</p> - -<p>“No; it’s better,” contradicted Harry. “It -tells you a story, but it teaches you a lesson -at the same time. Now this one I was just reading——”</p> - -<p>“I don’t want to hear anything that sounds -like a lesson.” Teddy made a grimace of disgust. -“I hate to think about going to that old -night school.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what you said about day school, but -you liked it just the same. You’re a humbug, -Teddy Burke.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I ain’t.” Teddy resorted to inelegant defense. -“Let’s not talk about school. Go on and -tell me your old story.”</p> - -<p>Harry regarded Teddy out of affectionate -blue eyes. “You’re a fraud, then,” he teased.</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t let any other fellow call me that, -but you don’t count. Now go ahead with your -yarn.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you.” Harry bowed ironically. -“Well, this allegory is about a king who ruled -over the Kingdom of Despair. It was called so -because everything in it went wrong. And that -was his fault because he was so hateful and -harsh with his subjects. After a while these -poor people got up a plot to take the kingdom -away from him, and he found it out. He didn’t -know what to do so he went out into a big pine -forest all by himself to think things over. -While he was there he met a queer little man -who gave him a terrible scolding and made him -see how mean he was. He felt very bad and said -if he only had another chance he’d do better. -So the little man said that if he meant what he -said, he’d give him a year to keep his promise. -If he failed, then he’d lose his kingdom and his -life, too. But if at the end of the year the people -still wanted him for king he was to come -back to the pine woods and there he would find -a wonderful casket in which was the secret of -happiness.</p> - -<p>“So the king went back to his kingdom and set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -all the poor prisoners free that he had hidden -away in underground dungeons. Then he called -all the people of the kingdom together and told -them that he was going to do better by them. -He told them of the wonderful casket and promised -if they would let him be king for another -year he would divide the secret of happiness -with them when he got it. So they said they -would help him and promised not to take his -kingdom from him.”</p> - -<p>“And did he behave himself?” was Teddy’s -matter-of-fact question. Fairy tale or allegory, -he was interested in the doings of the repentant -king.</p> - -<p>“You can better believe he did. He was good -as gold for a whole year and instead of going -on hating him, his subjects grew to love him.”</p> - -<p>“Did the little man give him the casket when -the year was up?”</p> - -<p>“Listen and I’ll read it to you. I had just -finished it when you shied that apple at me.”</p> - -<p>Harry opened the book to the last page and -again read the concluding paragraphs.</p> - -<p>“So <em>that’s</em> an allegory,” mused Teddy. -“Hm! It’s not so slow. I kind of like that -idea about the Year of Promise. Say, Harry, -it’s something like us, isn’t it? When we go -back to Martin Brothers’ next Monday it would -be kind of fun to pretend it was <em>our</em> Year of -Promise. Now, wouldn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“I was thinking that when I first read it.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -Harry looked pleased to find that Teddy had -made the same application of the allegory. “It -<em>will</em> be our Year of Promise, Ted, and it’s up -to us to make it our Year of Fulfillment.”</p> - -<p>“I guess it is.” Teddy considered the idea -gravely, his impish face becoming solemn. -“I’m going to try to behave—if I can. No more -throwing baseballs over balconies for me. -That’s about the worst thing I did last year, except -punching Howard Randall and wearing a -stewpan for a hat and pestering the Gobbler—I -mean Miss Newton.” Teddy launched into a -further enumeration of his iniquities.</p> - -<p>“Just think of all the good things you did,” -reminded Harry. “What about helping Miss -Newton when she lost her purse and——”</p> - -<p>“Oh, can it!” The red that sprang to Teddy’s -cheeks threatened to rival that of his hair. -“It’s funny I didn’t get fired. I’m going to be -pretty careful what I do this year, though.”</p> - -<p>A faint smile curved Harry’s lips at this earnest -declaration. Knowing Teddy as he did, he -doubted his chum’s ability to steer prudently -clear of scrapes. Mischief and the red-haired -boy were one.</p> - -<p>“You needn’t smile.” Teddy had marked the -amused flicker. “I’m going to be so good all -the time that it’ll make you dizzy.”</p> - -<p>“Then I sha’n’t be able to work.”</p> - -<p>Teddy giggled as his quick fancy pictured -Harry reeling helplessly about Department 85,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> -as the result of his own perpetual good behavior. -“I guess you won’t get very dizzy,” he -predicted.</p> - -<p>“No; I don’t believe I shall. Still, it isn’t -what we <em>say</em> we’re going to do that counts, Ted. -It’s what we really <em>do</em>.” Harry’s bantering -tone changed to one of deep conviction. “It’s -just as the pine trees whispered to the king. -We’re going back to the store on Monday to begin -our Year of Promise, and if we do our level -best with each day of it, then it can’t help but -be a Year of Fulfillment, too.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II</a><br /> -<small>WHAT CAME OUT OF A BIN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">“No, Madam, you can’t settle your transfer -here. You’ll have to go to that -desk down there. Four aisles below.” -Miss Welch’s indexing pencil pointed with a determination -that invited the zealous clamorer -for settlement to seek further. “Down there,” -she repeated, as the woman fixed her placid gaze -on a spot far up the aisle, then aimlessly wandered -around a corner of the desk to implore -fresh information from a nearby salesperson.</p> - -<p>“Can you beat it?” muttered the disgusted -exchange clerk. “Tell ’em to go down the aisle -and they rubber up and don’t go neither way -but sidle around the desk and hold up a sales. -Just like that. If I was a—— Why, hel-lo, -Kiddo!” Miss Welch’s monologue ended in a -cry of pleasant surprise. “If it ain’t Harry -Harding! Now where did <em>you</em> drop from? -Look at the boy! Growed an inch in two weeks;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -and see the tan. Some little vacation, <em>I</em> guess. -How about it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Miss Welch, I’m ever so glad to see -you.” Harry shook the exchange clerk’s extended -hand with joyful fervor. “I was afraid -maybe you’d be away on your vacation, and I -wanted to see you.”</p> - -<p>“Listen to the kid. He wanted to see me. -Well, I’m exhibiting at the same old stand. -Maybe I didn’t miss you, too, Harry. I got -your postcard. I knew you couldn’t slight your -old friend Irish.”</p> - -<p>“Of course I couldn’t. Whenever I thought -about the store, I thought of you and that was -every day. I had a splendid time, but I’m glad -to be back, though. When are you going on -your vacation?”</p> - -<p>“Not until the last of August. Martin Brothers -just can’t bear to give me up. If you hear -a noise like a roof falling in around the last of -next month you’ll know I’ve went off for a two -weeks’ hunting the joy-bug, and the shebang -has collapsed.” Pretty Miss Welch’s dimples -were in evidence as she made this astonishing -statement.</p> - -<p>“I shouldn’t be surprised if it would,” Harry -responded with boyish gallantry. “I know -books and jewelry’ll miss you.”</p> - -<p>“So will Smarty Barty. He’s ordered black -already. I hate to leave <em>him</em>, with the hate left -out.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> - -<p>Harry’s sensitive face clouded momentarily. -The mention of his ancient enemy brought back -the memory of long-unredressed wrongs.</p> - -<p>“Is he pretty cross now?” was his sober question.</p> - -<p>“<em>Now?</em>” Miss Welch’s eyebrows went up. -“Take it from me, kid, he was born with crankitis -and never got cured. He could take a bite -out of one o’ them triple plate card trays over -there and not hurt his teeth. But away with -S. B. How’s the boy? You certainly look fine. -I heard you speak your little piece up in Martin -Hall. I was sorry I didn’t see you that night -to praise you for the hit you made. Now tell -me where you went and all about it.”</p> - -<p>Harry responded with a brief but eager account -of his vacation, to which the exchange girl -kept up a running fire of encouraging comment.</p> - -<p>“I’ll have to leave you,” he said at last. -“There’s going to be a mid-summer sale, beginning -to-morrow, and I’ve a lot of books to -bring down from the stock-room.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t forget Number 10,” was Miss Welch’s -pertinent reminder, as he turned away. “Wedding -presents, misfits and general junk exchanged -while you wait.”</p> - -<p>Smilingly Harry walked down the aisle in the -direction of the elevator that would take him -to the stock-room. How pleasant it was to see -Miss Welch again, and to greet the members of -his department. Yet on entering the store how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -strange it had seemed not to go to the assembly -room for roll call. He and Teddy now reported -at the regular time-desk for the men. Instead -of being obliged to report at half-past seven -o’clock, their time limit was set at eight. Not -until the first of October would they again go to -school; then only twice a week and after the -business of the day was over. This last they -had learned from Mr. Marsh when they had reported -at his desk that morning.</p> - -<p>As the elevator came to a jiggling stop, and -the boy was about to step in, a tall figure loomed -up beside him, brushed him out of the way as -though he had been a troublesome fly, and -crowded into the cage ahead of him. Only the -flashing of his blue eyes betrayed Harry’s annoyance -at the rudeness. The next second the -car was speeding upward, but that second revealed -to the boy the author of the discourtesy. -It was Mr. Barton who had thrust him aside. -If the crabbed aisle manager was aware of the -lad’s presence in the car, he gave no sign of it. -His scowling face was fixed on the operator’s -back and when the car stopped at the fifth floor -he fairly bolted out of it.</p> - -<p>“Pipe that old crank?” The operator, a -youth of perhaps twenty years, turned to Harry -with a grin. “He’s a sick man, he is. Pretty -near every mornin’ he hits my car about this -time and beats it for the hospital. His ugliness -has struck in an’ gives him a pain, I guess.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Do you know him?” Harry looked his surprise -at learning Mr. Barton’s destination.</p> - -<p>“Sure I know him. So do you. I run this car -the day he took you up to Prescott’s office. That -was some crime, but you got clear all right. I -heard about it. A guy downstairs tipped me -off.”</p> - -<p>“It was a mistake all around.” Harry was -too much of a man to take advantage of the opportunity -to disparage the unjust aisle manager. -“Why does he go to the hospital so -much?” he inquired, with a view to leading the -operator away from the unpleasant past.</p> - -<p>“He’s got the dis-pep-shy. The pep’s struck -to his stommick and makes it ache. I heard -him tellin’ another floor-walker ’bout it one -morning. He can’t get nothin’ to cure it. Too -bad, ain’t it? I’d turn on the salt water, but -cryin’ hurts my eyes,” he concluded with a derisive -grimace.</p> - -<p>“No wonder he’s so cross. I never knew -he had dyspepsia.” In spite of his dislike for -Mr. Barton, Harry could not help feeling a trifle -sorry for the unfortunate victim of so painful -a malady.</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t lay awake nights thinkin’ about -it,” was the operator’s succinct advice as Harry -stepped out of the cage at the tenth floor.</p> - -<p>“I never lie awake nights thinking about anything,” -he retorted sharply. The boy’s utter -lack of sympathy jarred on him. He could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -help wondering, as he made his way to the section -reserved for the book stock, whether, after -all, Mr. Barton could really be blamed for his -perpetual snarling. Long since he had forgiven -the aisle manager for the injustice which had -merely been the means of placing him under the -guidance of Mr. Rexford. His ready sympathy -awakened by what he had just heard, Harry was -sure that if at any future time his path should -cross Mr. Barton’s, he would be charitable -enough to make allowances.</p> - -<p>“Hello!” he exclaimed. “What’s been happening -here, I’d like to know.” His active mind -swung from the subject of Mr. Barton’s woes -to confront a most astonishing change in the -stock designed for the sale, which he had arranged -so neatly before starting on his vacation. -In the bins where order had reigned supreme, -the hapless volumes were jumbled together in -reckless confusion. Uneven piles of books, that -the lightest touch would scatter, rose from various -points on the floor. Wherever his eye -chanced to rest, Harry marked plentiful signs -of dust. The hand of neglect lay heavy upon his -treasures, and he emitted a low whistle of consternation -as he investigated a nearby bin in -which crazily commingled an expensive edition -of the great poets and a quantity of low-priced -books for boys.</p> - -<p>His whistle at least was productive of instantaneous -results. Hearing a sudden shuffling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -sound behind him, he whirled. From a bin at -the lower end of the stock-room a black, tousled -head emerged. It was followed by a long, wiry -body that gradually straightened itself. A pair -of thin arms stretched themselves lazily. From -under a thatch of black, rumpled hair two half-shut -black eyes resentfully viewed the newcomer. -The stretching process continued, and a -wide mouth opened more widely in a yawn.</p> - -<p>“Whada you want?” came the ill-natured -challenge, issued between yawns.</p> - -<p>“Who are you?” Harry returned in crisp, -business-like tones.</p> - -<p>“I’m the stock boy. Who you whistlin’ for? -What’s missin’ downstairs? A fellow can’t -more’n get up here until somebody’s after him.”</p> - -<p>“The stock boy!” Harry’s tone registered -incredulity. “How long have you been stock -boy? Where is Fred Alden?”</p> - -<p>“How do I know where he is? I’m no direct’ry. -I’ve been here a week, but that’s none -of your business. If you’re talkin’ about the -kid that had this job before me, he’s left.”</p> - -<p>“Why did he leave?” Harry’s eyes grew -wide at this news.</p> - -<p>“Ask the employment office. Now whada you -want? I got a lot to do and I can’t stop to fool -around with you.”</p> - -<p>“You seemed to be very busy—sleeping when -I came here.” Harry launched this barb merely -by shrewd guess.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> - -<p>It struck home. The tall boy’s sallow face -grew red. He made a menacing step forward. -“Cut that out,” he growled. “Say what you’re -after and beat it.”</p> - -<p>“So <em>you</em> are the new stock boy.” Harry -regarded the other lad with a calm, unfearing -glance. “I must say that I am surprised. -As it happens, I came up here to <em>work</em>. So -I’m going to stay. I can see that I shall find -plenty to do. If you’ve finished your nap it -might be a good idea for you to get busy, too.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a fresh kid.” The tall boy continued -to advance threateningly, his fists doubled -for battle. “Are you goin’ to get out?”</p> - -<p>“No; I’m not. You might as well put down -your fists for I sha’n’t fight you. I’m here to -work, not to fight. I’m not the least bit afraid -of you. If you <em>must</em> fight, I’ll meet you anywhere -you like outside the store.”</p> - -<p>For a moment the two boys faced each other -in silence, Harry coolly defiant, his adversary -too greatly enraged for speech. The determined -glint in Harry’s eyes, backed by his fearless -demeanor, warned the bully to caution. -Step by step he backed slowly away from the -fight for which he apparently yearned. “I’ll -fix you yet, freshie,” he muttered. Turning a -prudent back on danger he shuffled toward the -bin he had recently occupied and began pitching -into it the tottering heaps of books that lay -nearest to his ruthless hands.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> - -<p>“This is a nice mess,” was Harry’s inward -comment, as he stood speculating where to begin -the much-needed reform. “How did Mr. -Rexford ever happen to hire such a stock boy? -I’m surprised that Mr. Atkins hasn’t reported -him. Somebody must have been asleep at the -switch or that lazy bully would never be working -for Martin Brothers.”</p> - -<p>With a sigh he dropped to his knees and began -a piling up of the famous poets, preparatory -to transplanting them to their proper -sphere. To find Henry W. Longfellow sandwiched -between “The Boy Castaways of Snake -Island” and “Umbasi, the Zulu Chief,” was an -outrage that called for instant reparation. He -wished now that he had stopped to make a few -general inquiries before coming to the stock-room. -Knowing that Mr. Rexford was seldom -in the department before nine o’clock, he had -lingered on the selling floor after receiving his -orders from the assistant buyer only long -enough to greet a few of the salespeople and -to speak to Miss Welch.</p> - -<p>A repeated whacking and banging of books -at the lower end of the stock-room conveyed to -Harry the fact that the unwilling laborer had -decided to work. The precise value of his noisy -effort was yet to be determined. Harry was not -optimistic regarding the final result. From -what he had already discovered it was likely -to be a thorough jumble. But where was Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -Atkins, who had charge of the incoming shipments -of books and who attended to the marking -of their prices? It was not in the least like him -to allow a stock boy to thus neglect the surplus -stock. Harry now remembered that he had not -seen the man about as he passed through the -receiving room.</p> - -<p>“I hate to go and tell tales the minute I come -back to the store,” was his reflection as he -energetically delved and straightened the untidy -bins. “Perhaps they’ve kept this fellow -so busy he hasn’t had time to set things straight. -But just the same he was asleep. I know he -was. If he’s going to be so lazy, I’ll work hard -and keep the stock looking nice anyway. That -is, unless he loafs all the time. I’m going to -find out who he is and all about him. Mother -says it doesn’t need to make much difference to -one what other people do or don’t do. It’s -what one does or doesn’t do oneself. I’m going -to do my work just as if I were the only -stock boy here. If this boy isn’t playing fair -with Martin Brothers, somebody will be sure to -find it out and without my saying a word about -it to anyone.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III</a><br /> -<small>DECLARING WAR ON THE PERCOLATOR</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">But while Harry Harding was wrestling -with a difficulty that had risen on the very -threshold of his Year of Promise, Teddy -Burke had made a most triumphant return to -the humble kingdom of house furnishings. -From Mr. Everett, the buyer, down to Miss Newton, -the Gobbler, Teddy was hailed as a long-lost -brother.</p> - -<p>“I am very glad to see <em>you</em> back again, 65,” -was Mr. Duffield’s beaming greeting, and this -genial sentiment was echoed by the others of the -department as Teddy flitted about among them, -his thin little hand stretched forth in ready comradeship, -his freckled face wreathed with smiles.</p> - -<p>“Well, Reddy, how’s business?” was Sam -Hickson’s jovial question. Having made the -round of the department, Teddy now proceeded -to line himself up beside his old friend for a -brief chat before his duties of the day grew -too brisk to permit further social amenities.</p> - -<p>“That’s a nice question to ask me,” sniffed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -Teddy. “How do you s’pose I know how business -is when I’ve been off in the country enjoying -myself?”</p> - -<p>“Well, you’ve answered it just the same,” -teased the salesman. “Enjoying yourself in the -country was your business, wasn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“I guess you must have been chewing smart-weed,” -retorted Teddy. “Wonder if I’d be as -smart if I ate some. Tell me where you get it -and I’ll try it.”</p> - -<p>“Same place where you get yours,” grinned -Hickson tolerantly. “It only agrees with red-headed -folks.”</p> - -<p>Teddy’s jolly giggle at this witticism was infectious. -Hickson laughed, too, out of sheer -pleasure at seeing his little friend again.</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet this kettles and pans crowd down -here missed me,” was Teddy’s next modest assertion.</p> - -<p>“You are just right about that. We all got a -good rest. No more peace in kettles and pans -with you running around loose.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve reformed.” Teddy made this amazing -statement with the air of one who has donned -the difficult mantle of reform with the utmost -ease.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t quite get that.” Sam Hickson’s -hand cupped his ear as an assistant to hearing.</p> - -<p>“I’ve reformed.” Teddy repeated his announcement, -looking slightly ruffled. “I’m going -to bee-have just like an angel. You watch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -me and see. I’m going to give kettles and pans -the biggest s’prise they ever had.”</p> - -<p>Sam Hickson laughed uproariously. “I’ll -warrant you will,” he agreed. “You’ve already -given ’em a few shocks along the line of ‘bee-having.’ -I guess they can stand a few more.”</p> - -<p>“I guess they can.” Teddy’s wide, roguish -smile again sprang into evidence. It faded as -he leaned forward to peer owlishly at a short, -rotund young man who had just come into view -from around a towering pile of tinware on a -table at their left. “Say, who’s he and where’d -he come from? I’ve seen him every two minutes -since I struck 40, but I haven’t been introduced -to him yet.”</p> - -<p>Hickson shrugged his shoulders.</p> - -<p>“He’s our new assistant buyer. Willard left, -you know, just before you went on your vacation. -What have you got to say about that? -Look him over. Name him and you can have -him to take home with you.” There was decided -rancor in the man’s voice.</p> - -<p>Teddy made thoughtful inventory of the neat -young man, surveying him curiously from his -aggressively smooth black hair to his narrow, -glistening shoes. An expression of seraphic innocence -lurked in the youngster’s black eyes as -he murmured, “He—he—looks like a—one of -those fat, shiny little coffee-pots—a——” -Teddy wrestled with the word. “A percolator!” -he cried out triumphantly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Ha, ha, ha!” shouted Hickson. “You hit it -that time, Reddy!” His face sobered, however. -The stout young man had heard both Teddy’s -shrill accents and Hickson’s accompanying -burst of laughter. Now he charged briskly -down upon the culprits, rebuke in his eye. Luckily -for them, he had not the remotest idea that -he was the object of their mirth. He was merely -aware of undue boisterousness in his vicinity -that warranted stern reproof.</p> - -<p>“What is the cause of so much noise?” he -rapped out sharply. “How much have you on -your book, Hickson? And you,” he glared at -Teddy, “go to your own department. Don’t -loiter here.”</p> - -<p>“I have to stay here.” Teddy regarded the -questioner with the wistful gaze of a prisoner.</p> - -<p>“What are you waiting for? Why must you -stay here?” came the curt challenge.</p> - -<p>“I’m not waiting for anything.”</p> - -<p>“Then you don’t have to stay here. -Go——”</p> - -<p>“But I <em>do</em> have to stay here,” contradicted -Teddy with gentle, tantalizing dignity. “I belong -in this department. I’m s’prised that you -didn’t know it.”</p> - -<p>“Humph!” With an indignant snort the -stout young man wheeled and trotted off up the -aisle.</p> - -<p>Apparently deep in enumerating his sales, -Sam Hickson’s broad shoulders were shaking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -with silent merriment during this interesting -bit of dialogue.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you Reddy!” he gasped when the disturber -had passed out of hearing. “That’s the -time you put one over on—on the Percolator.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with him, anyhow?” -Teddy personified disgust. “I s’posed everybody -here had seen <em>me</em> this morning. His ears -must be better’n his eyes. What’s he got to -say about the way we act? Mr. Willard never -used to talk like that.”</p> - -<p>“I know it.” Hickson grew suddenly glum. -“I’m going to tell you something, Teddy, but -keep it to yourself. This fellow is a trouble-hunter! -He’s got a game to play and I can see -through him. I’ve had my eye on him ever since -he hit 40, and, between you and me, he’s after -Mr. Everett’s job. He’s what you call an efficiency -man.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t call him that. I called him a percolator. -He’s just like one. I’ll bet when he gets -mad he fizzles up, the way those coffee-pots do -when the demonstrator pours hot water into -’em.”</p> - -<p>“He doesn’t get mad,” grumbled Hickson. -“I wish he would. I’d feel then that he was a -man instead of a bossing machine.”</p> - -<p>“He might get mad some day,” predicted -Teddy hopefully. “I’d like to see him bubble -up.” His fertile brain was already beginning -to consider ways and means by which this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -greatly desired result might be attained. “Do -you b’lieve he’s after Mr. Everett’s job?” The -little boy shot a peculiar glance at the gloomy-faced -salesman.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe it, I’m sure of it.”</p> - -<p>“Then I sha’n’t reform just yet.” Teddy -drew himself up, mischievous purpose in his -declaration. “I’m going to make the old Percolator -bubble up. I’ll make him boil over so -many times he’ll wish he’d never heard of house -furnishings. Course, if he lets Mr. Everett -alone, I’ll let him alone. But if he thinks he is -going to be buyer of this department instead of -Mr. Everett, then he’d better look out. Mr. -Everett’s the best buyer that ever lived, and I’m -going to fight for him.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a good little friend, Teddy.” Sam -Hickson patted the lad’s slender shoulder. -“You’d better go slow, though. You can’t do -anything much except get yourself into trouble -for your pains. I’m sorry I said anything. -Maybe I’m wrong about it. Only I can’t help -noticing things.”</p> - -<p>“What things?” persisted Teddy.</p> - -<p>“Oh, this fellow, Jarvis, that’s his name, runs -to the front with everything. Then he’s hard on -the people in 40. Follows us up all the time. -Calls us down if we lose a sale. Won’t let us say -a word to each other. If he sees two of us -standing together he chases us. When we <em>are</em> -busy selling, he butts in with a crazy lot of talk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -and spoils the sale. It makes the customers -mad, but he can’t see it. Miss Newton went to -Mr. Everett about it the first time he bothered -her. Mr. Everett told him to quit it and he -went to the front and told some kind of a yarn -that got Mr. Everett a call down. First one he’s -ever had and he’s been with Martin Brothers -eight years. If this Jarvis can do that, and -here less than two weeks, what will he do when -he’s been here a year?”</p> - -<p>“Maybe he won’t be here a year.” Again -confidence lurked in Teddy’s speech.</p> - -<p>“You mean maybe <em>we</em> won’t be here, but <em>he</em> -will.” Hickson was far from optimistic. -“There’s a customer. They’re few and far between -these hot days.” The salesman moved -away, leaving Teddy to ponder over this new unpleasant -state of affairs.</p> - -<p>“Sixty-five.” Mr. Duffield’s voice sounded -the beginning of action.</p> - -<p>Teddy darted off, obedient to the call. From -that time on he found no further chance to reflect -over what he had heard. When he went to -his luncheon at twelve o’clock, he was kept busy -by Harry and his boy friends. Both Harry and -Teddy had become too well known and liked -among the store messengers to escape notice -when they appeared in the lunch room.</p> - -<p>It was not until the two boys had passed the -lunch-room time-desk on their way back to their -respective departments that Teddy found an opportunity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -to say, “I’ve got something to tell -you.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve something to tell, myself,” was Harry’s -quick response. “We’ll have to wait until after -the store closes, though.”</p> - -<p>“Wait for me outside. No more assembly -for us. I’m kind of sorry. I’ll miss the line -up.”</p> - -<p>“So shall I,” nodded Harry. “So long.”</p> - -<p>The two boys separated, each with his own -problem to consider.</p> - -<p>The moment that Teddy reached Department -40, his alert eyes scanned the wide expanse of -house furnishings until they sought out a certain -neat, rotund person against whom he had -vowed to wage a determined campaign. Teddy -strolled calmly down one aisle, then began a furtive -dodging in and out among the engines of -housekeeping until he reached a spot where he -could conveniently observe without being observed. -He studied the elegant Mr. Jarvis with -a thoughtful gaze that a philosopher might well -have envied, then he stole stealthily away to -presently appear at a distant end of the department. -Had Mr. Jarvis been aware that he was -under the close surveillance of one small, red-haired, -mischievous boy, it would not have in -the least disturbed his bland equanimity. But -he was destined to learn quite a number of -things about Teddy Burke that had nothing to -do with efficiency, as he saw it.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV</a><br /> -<small>AN EVEN EXCHANGE OF CONFIDENCES</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Across the street from Martin Brothers’ -great store a very impatient Teddy Burke -was keeping a fidgeting vigil for Harry -Harding. The moon-faced clock on a neighboring -tower showed twenty-five minutes to seven. -Indifferent to the ever-moving procession of -eager home-seekers, traveling their accustomed -evening trail toward food, rest and recreation, -Teddy stood firmly planted against the sheltering -wall of a cigar store, well out of the path of -the surging stream of pedestrians. To active -Teddy, thirty-five minutes of waiting seemed a -long period of time. He had taken up his watch -at precisely six o’clock and now he was growing -restless. Only the reassuring thought that -Harry would not fail him kept him lingering on -the corner. He sighed with relief as he finally -sighted Harry across the street, and, forsaking -the friendly, sustaining wall, advanced to meet -his dilatory partner.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Did you think I was never coming?” greeted -Harry. “I’m sorry to be so late. I had to finish -a job I began right after lunch. There’s to be -a mid-summer sale, beginning to-morrow. I -was afraid I’d have to stay longer, but Mr. -Brady said I could hustle the stuff down early -in the morning.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I s’posed you was lost in the stock-room, -or twenty thousand leagues under a truck, -or up the elevator to the North Pole, or captured -by the trouble-hunters of 84,” invented Teddy -derisively.</p> - -<p>Harry smiled whimsically. “I was in the -stock-room, but not lost. I was in a truck, but -not twenty thousand leagues under it. I went -up the elevator, but only as far as the tenth -floor, and I met a trouble-hunter, but wasn’t -captured.”</p> - -<p>“You talk like the answer to a riddle,” snickered -Teddy.</p> - -<p>“And <em>you</em> talk like a catalogue of boys’ -books,” retorted Harry good-humoredly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t feel like one,” grumbled Teddy. “I -feel hot under the collar. I’m mad. I’m so mad -the freckles on my face hurt.” The boy’s black -eyes blazed an accompanying declaration of -wrath.</p> - -<p>“What has happened?” Quick concern was -mirrored in the sympathetic glance Harry shot -toward Teddy. Evidently his chum’s day had -not been free from annoyance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It’s that old Percolator,” was the somewhat -mystifying response. “He’s got it in for Mr. -Everett.”</p> - -<p>The announcement that so innocuous an article -as a coffee-pot should aspire to revenge -might well have amazed Harry. The pronoun -“he” was enlightening, however. Teddy was -merely resorting to his disrespectful naming -habit.</p> - -<p>“I suppose ‘he’ looks like a percolator?” -The corners of Harry’s mouth twitched suspiciously.</p> - -<p>“Yes, he does,” snapped Teddy. “Round -and fat and shiny and hard. He’s the new assistant -buyer and he makes me sick.”</p> - -<p>“Have you told him his new name yet?” -teased Harry. Privately, he had jumped to the -conclusion that Teddy’s grievance was not very -serious. “What did he call you down for?”</p> - -<p>“This is no joke,” flung back Teddy. “It’s -serious.” He plunged into a recital of his encounter -with the stout young man, ending with -Hickson’s confidence. “I asked Mr. Hickson if -I could tell you about it,” he added, “and he -said he guessed you could be trusted to keep -still.”</p> - -<p>“That was nice in him.” Harry looked -pleased. Through the agency of Teddy he and -the red-haired salesman were on very friendly -terms. “And you say that this Mr. Jarvis is -an efficiency man?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yep; he’s crazy. That’s just the same -thing. I’d like to say something about him to -Mr. Everett, but I don’t know what to say or -how to say it.”</p> - -<p>“You’d better not.” Harry shook his head. -“If Mr. Everett doesn’t know it, I don’t believe -he’d like to hear it from his stock boy. -If he does know it, then telling him that you -know it, too, wouldn’t help him any. All you -can do is to keep your eyes open and your mouth -shut. If you see a chance to do something nice -for Mr. Everett, go ahead and do it. But don’t -try to injure this other man. That would put -you on the same level with him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’ll let him live,” assured Teddy sarcastically. -“I won’t say that he’ll have a real -happy life, though. Can up the Percolator before -he does his winter canning’s goin’ to be -my motto.”</p> - -<p>“Look out that <em>you</em> don’t get canned,” was -Harry’s warning advice.</p> - -<p>“I’d rather it’d be me than Mr. Everett,” -Teddy returned, ungrammatical but loyal. “I’ll -watch myself. I gotta stay in 40 now to fight -for the man that’s good to me.”</p> - -<p>“I know how you feel. I hope you’re mistaken -about this Mr. Jarvis. Maybe he’s just -fussy and not really underhanded.”</p> - -<p>“Time’ll tell,” prophesied Teddy gloomily. -“What happened to you to-day? You said -you’d something to tell me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was Harry’s turn to make a recital of his -day’s difficulties. A brief stay in the book department -after luncheon had put him in possession -of several facts that pertained strictly to -his disagreeable acquaintance of the stock-room. -The boy’s name was Leon Atkins. He was the -son of the man in the book receiving room. -Fred Alden had left the store directly after -Harry had gone on his vacation and Mr. Atkins -had asked Mr. Rexford to give his son the position -thus open. The boy had made regular application -in the employment office and at Mr. -Rexford’s request had been placed in Department -84. He was far from a model stock boy, -but Mr. Rexford had been out of the city for -over a week and, consequently, was not aware -of the youth’s delinquency. All this Harry now -related to Teddy, who listened with due solemnity.</p> - -<p>“I guess he’ll get fired when Mr. Rexford -comes back,” was his sage observation when -Harry had finished. “I wouldn’t stand for a -lazy kid like that. He might make folks think -you wasn’t any good either.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve thought of that. Still, I wouldn’t care -to complain to Mr. Rexford. Mr. Denby told me -that poor Mr. Atkins has had an awful time with -this boy. He was expelled from school and -after that he went to work. He’s had half a -dozen positions and lost them all. Mr. Atkins -only gets twenty dollars a week and he has a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -wife and six children to support. This boy is -the only one old enough to work, and his father -needs his help. I’m sorry for Mr. Atkins.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sorry for <em>you</em>,” snorted Teddy. -“You’ll be sorry for yourself, too, if you let -this fellow put it all over you and say nothing.”</p> - -<p>“He sha’n’t impose upon me.” Harry’s lips -set in a decisive line. “I’m going to do my work -just the same as if he weren’t around. Then he -can’t hurt me.”</p> - -<p>“If he gets too smart just show him to me.” -Teddy puffed out his chest like a belligerent -bantam rooster.</p> - -<p>“Ha, ha!” Harry’s boyish laugh rang out.</p> - -<p>“You think I couldn’t settle him?” sputtered -Teddy.</p> - -<p>“He’s twice as large as you, Ted. Thank -you, just the same, but I’m not afraid of him. -All I ask is for him to let me alone.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll bet I could lick him.” A mere matter -of size was nothing to the undaunted Teddy. -Privately, he registered a vow to get in immediate -touch with the bully and find out his -weak points.</p> - -<p>“There isn’t going to be any fighting if I can -help it. That’s not what I’m in the store for. -Maybe if he sees that he can’t bother me, he’ll -mind his own business. I hope so. By the way, -Teddy, I’m going to start for the store to-morrow -at the same old time.”</p> - -<p>The two boys had reached the point where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -their ways diverged as Harry made this announcement.</p> - -<p>“I’m not. Catch me getting in before I have -to. Eight o’clock for mine.”</p> - -<p>“Then I won’t see you here in the morning. -Good night.” Harry turned away.</p> - -<p>Teddy’s freckled face fell. “Aw, rats!” he -muttered. “Hey, there!”</p> - -<p>Harry turned, trying hard not to smile. He -knew how to deal with Teddy. His decision had -been reached after sober thought. He was confident -that it would be wise for him and his chum -to adhere to their original hour for entrance in -the store. He had expected a revolt on Teddy’s -part and calculated accordingly.</p> - -<p>“You wait here for me in the morning,” commanded -the little boy. “I guess I can stand -seven-thirty, if you can. Good night. Don’t -you forget. I’ll be here same as ever.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll wait for you. Good night.”</p> - -<p>With a farewell wave of his hand to Teddy, -Harry set off to cover the few blocks that lay -between him and home, his mind busy with Teddy’s -problem rather than his own. He had already -chosen his own course and intended to -stick to it. A happy little smile played about -his lips as he recalled his partner’s ungrudging -loyalty not only to him but to Mr. Everett. -Were Mr. Rexford in Mr. Everett’s position -Harry felt sure that he would leave no stone unturned -in his effort to be of service to this esteemed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -friend. He hoped, however, that Mr. -Everett would have no need of his chum’s kindly -offices. Close acquaintance with Teddy had -taught him that the inflammable youngster was -quite apt to catch fire from a single spark. That -which loomed large on his horizon to-day was -likely to dwindle into insignificance to-morrow. -Before the end of the week, Teddy’s opinion of -Mr. Jarvis might undergo a marked change.</p> - -<p>Taking the narrow stairs two at a time, -Harry burst into the tiny living-room, and -swooped down upon his mother as she sat stitching -away for dear life on a half-finished blouse.</p> - -<p>“My land, Harry, you are a regular cyclone,” -she protested. Her sewing slipped from her lap -as she wound her arms about her tempestuous -son and returned his bear-like hug.</p> - -<p>“That’s because I’m anxious to let you know -how much I love you, Mothery. After spending -every day for two whole weeks with you, you -can’t blame me for trying to make up to-night -for missing you to-day.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve missed you, too.” The little woman -sighed and patted her son’s curly head. “I am -afraid that two weeks in the country completely -spoiled me. I certainly had a wonderful rest, -but now I must sew as hard as I can to pay for -taking a holiday.”</p> - -<p>“You needed it, Mothery. I wish you could -have lived in that dandy bungalow all summer.” -Harry’s happy face clouded. “It’s a shame for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -you to have to come back to this hot old city -and sew, sew, sew.”</p> - -<p>“We ought to be thankful for even two weeks -away from it, Son,” reminded his mother -gently. “How did you get on at the store to-day? -You are awfully late to-night. I waited -to eat supper with you, though. I can’t bear -to eat alone. I suppose I’ll have to, when you -begin night school.”</p> - -<p>“Only two nights a week. It doesn’t begin -until October. I had a pretty good day. Mr. -Rexford’s away, so I couldn’t see him. I saw -Miss Welch. She’s as pretty and funny as ever. -The stock boy that worked with me has left. I -met the new one to-day, but he isn’t much like -Fred. His name is Leon Atkins, and his father -is in the receiving room of 84.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Harding listened interestedly as Harry -rattled off this information. She was always -glad to learn of his doings at the big store, yet -she never made the mistake of questioning him -too closely.</p> - -<p>“Speaking of Mr. Atkins reminds me, Mothery, -that I want to ask you something. It would -be very hard for a man to support a wife and -six children on twenty dollars a week, wouldn’t -it?”</p> - -<p>“I should say it would.” Mrs. Harding -nodded with emphasis. “It would take pretty -close managing to do it. With rent and food -and clothing—children are so hard on shoes—twenty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -dollars would melt away like snow in the -sun. But what made you ask me that?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Mr. Denby, the new fiction salesman, -told me that about Mr. Atkins. I was thinking -that he must be glad that his son can work and -earn something to help him. You see, Mothery, -it’s just like this. I don’t like this new boy very -well, and I’m afraid he doesn’t like me. It isn’t -going to be pleasant for us to work together. I -feel as though I ought to be nice to him because -he’s helping his father earn their living. But -it’s going to be hard to get along with him.”</p> - -<p>“What sort of boy is he?” Mrs. Harding -regarded her son with an anxious face. “I hope -he isn’t a bad, worthless boy, Harry?”</p> - -<p>“He’s a big bully, and he hates work.” Harry’s -young voice rang with disapproval. “He -wanted to fight me in the stock-room this morning. -Of course, I wouldn’t think of doing such -a thing in the store. But if he tries to bother -me outside the store, I’m afraid I’ll have to -pitch into him and give him a good licking. I -don’t want to do it. If Mr. Keene heard of it -he might discharge us both. He needs the work -and so do I.”</p> - -<p>“What does Teddy think about it?” Mrs. -Harding did not appear shocked at her quiet -son’s sudden warlike attitude.</p> - -<p>“Oh, he says he’ll do it himself if I say the -word. Only this boy’s about twice as big as -Ted.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> - -<p>Their eyes meeting, mother and son laughed. -Mrs. Harding’s face grew grave instantly as -she said: “I don’t like to think of your getting -into a fist fight, Harry. Such things are -brutal and better avoided. But you must not -forget that you have as much right to stand up -for yourself as any other boy. I believe if you -try hard you can find some other way to make -this boy respect your rights.”</p> - -<p>“I’m going to try, of course. But, Mothery, -if I should come home from work some evening -with a black eye, you’ll know what’s happened. -I’m only telling you this beforehand so that -you’ll understand if anything like that <em>does</em> -happen. If you say I mustn’t then I won’t, no -matter what he says or does.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Harding looked long at the earnest -young face of her boy. “I’m not going to say -you mustn’t,” she returned rather wistfully. -The realization that Harry was rapidly coming -into man’s estate filled her with a curious sense -of sadness. The curly-haired baby whose first -tottering steps she had so patiently guided had -little to do with this resolute, keen-eyed youth -at her side. “You must do as your own conscience -dictates. Above all things, Harry, I -wish you to be a good man and true; the kind -of man your father was. If you were to pick a -fight with some boy merely because you didn’t -like him, you’d only be wronging yourself. But -if it were the other way round, remember even a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -worm will turn. But if some of these fine evenings -you <em>do</em> come home with a black eye, well—I -suppose I’ll doctor you up, cook you an extra -good supper and ask no questions.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V</a><br /> -<small>AN UNPROMISING DAY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">On entering the stock-room the following -morning Harry was agreeably surprised -to find no trace of his unwilling fellow-worker. -Far from feeling the loss of the pugnacious -Leon’s presence, he flung himself energetically -into loading his truck with tempting bargain -books, designed to arouse the enthusiasm of -heat-fagged shoppers, and put new life into sluggish -mid-summer trade. During the hot, breathless -days of July and August those who have the -wherewithal to buy books, turn their steps resolutely -away from the scorching cities to the revivifying -atmosphere of seashore and mountain. -At such season, the lure of even the newest -fiction wanes into insignificance. It is only -when hazy September flashes forth her first -faint signals of nearing Autumn that the reign -of literature begins anew and comes rapidly into -its own as the nights gradually chill and -lengthen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> - -<p>Due to Mr. Rexford’s tireless effort, the book -department of Martin Brothers’ never languished, -even during the sultry summer months. -Year after year he had labored to build up -trade that would withstand the attacks of hot -weather and vacation flitting. The sale for -which Harry was now preparing was an annual -event, which invariably brought satisfactory -patronage. As he placed pile after pile of -gaily-jacketed books for boys and girls into the -deep truck, he halted briefly now and then to -peep between the alluring covers, wistfully -wishing that he might own them all. Purchased -by Mr. Rexford from a firm that had fallen into -the receiver’s hands, this particular lot of juvenile -literature, though undamaged, had been -marked down from higher prices to the modest -sum of fifty cents.</p> - -<p>“My, but I’d like to have some of these,” -murmured the lad, as he fingered an especially -attractive volume. “Fifty cents is too high for -me, though. If I ever get rich I’m going to have -all the books I want. But I must stop looking -at these beauties or I’ll never get my truck -filled.”</p> - -<p>Thrusting temptation resolutely aside, Harry -rapidly emptied the contents of the bin into the -waiting truck and trundled it out of the stock-room -in the direction of the freight elevator.</p> - -<p>“Jerk those books out o’ there and hustle -back t’ the stock-room,” ordered a surly voice,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -as he wheeled his load into the midst of the -tables reserved for the sale. “Think I c’n wait -all day for you? I gotta get this table filled -up.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, good morning. I was wondering what -had become of <em>you</em>. I thought you might be -lost or overcome with the heat. It’s very warm -this morning, isn’t it?” Harry addressed the -black-haired, scowling youth of the previous afternoon’s -encounter with ironic politeness.</p> - -<p>“Fresh as ever, I see,” sneered the other. -“But I ain’t going to notice you now. I gotta -work. Put those books on that table and don’t -be all day about it.”</p> - -<p>His loud tones were purposed to reach the -ears of a man who was striding down an adjacent -aisle. The man paused. Three or four -long steps brought him to where the lads were -standing.</p> - -<p>“What’s this? What’s this?” he snapped. -“You go on about your business and let this -boy alone. He wants to work if you don’t.”</p> - -<p>The rebuke fell directly upon Harry, for the -man was Mr. Barton and he had deliberately -and without justice espoused the cause of the -real offender.</p> - -<p>Harry measured the aisle manager with a -cool, direct glance. Without a word he turned -to the truck and began the work of unloading -his freight. For an instant Mr. Barton glared -at the boy’s back, then went on his ill-natured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -way minus the satisfaction which an angry retort -on Harry’s part would have afforded him. -He had never forgiven the lad; the very sight -of him aroused animosity. After the trouble -over the missing money he had deemed it prudent -to keep very quiet. In Mr. Rexford, Harry -Harding had a champion whose influence Mr. -Barton respected and feared. Now though he -had come upon Harry purely by chance, he had -been unable to resist showing his spite.</p> - -<p>His blue eyes blazing, poor Harry was making -short work of his task. He was perfectly -sure that Leon Atkins had designed to make him -appear in the wrong. Knowing Mr. Barton’s -fault-finding disposition he had thus raised his -voice with malicious intent.</p> - -<p>“He, he, he!” chuckled Leon. “That’s the -time you got yours. How do you feel now, -Smarty?”</p> - -<p>Harry made no reply to the taunt. Diving -into the truck for the remaining books, he piled -them on the table, then paused, undecided -whether to commence their arrangement or to -take his truck and be off. As it was his usual -custom to help with the tables, he peered about -in search of the highest stack of one title. Finding -it, he shoved it into position at the back of -the table and began to build up smaller piles -around it.</p> - -<p>“Never mind that, 45. Hurry back to the -stock-room and bring down some more books.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -The querulous voice of a saleswoman interrupted -his cogitations. “Don’t stand there -and dream. Mr. Brady is anxious to have these -tables ready before the customers get here. I -am to have charge of them during the sale. -Leon will fix the books as soon as you bring -them down. Now run along and don’t keep me -waiting.”</p> - -<p>“All right.” Pleasantly obedient, Harry -started away, pushing the truck before him. As -assistant buyer, Mr. Brady’s wishes were law -in Mr. Rexford’s absence. Yet, as he proceeded -toward the elevator, the boy experienced vague -resentment toward the dictatorial saleswoman. -He had frequently suspected that she disliked -him, and he often wondered why. Now he pondered -a trifle bitterly on the change that two -short weeks had wrought in his beloved realm -of books. Yesterday he had been briefly disappointed -at the absence of Mr. Rexford. Following -that had come the annoying meeting with -Leon Atkins and the news of Fred Alden’s departure -from the store. This morning it was -again Leon Atkins; and Mr. Barton, too. Harry -had fancied himself free from the aisle manager’s -further persecution. Now Miss Breeden -had spoken sharply to him. He longed with all -his heart for Mr. Rexford’s speedy return. -Everything went so smoothly when he was -about.</p> - -<p>“It’s babyish in me to mind such little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -things,” was his inward reproof, as he shoved -his truck out onto the tenth floor. “That Atkins -boy isn’t worth minding, and I am not surprised -to have Mr. Barton call me down. I always -thought he’d do it if ever he got the -chance. I guess Miss Breeden didn’t mean to -be cross. She’s only anxious about getting the -tables fixed.”</p> - -<p>This philosophical view of things brought a -ray of comfort to light the gloom of the morning. -Bravely shaking off his depression, Harry -rolled the truck into position before a partially -filled bin of cheaper books for boys that would -presently flash forth their own special merits -for public approval and purchase. He was back -on the selling floor with them in an incredibly -short time, where Miss Breeden not being in -evidence he had surly directions from Leon to -“dump ’em down there on the floor and get -out.”</p> - -<p>Directly afterward he was sent out to a neighboring -store to purchase a copy of a book which -was out of stock. Failing to secure it there, he -went on to another store, and, still unsuccessful, -tried a book shop several blocks further down -Commerce Street. In so doing Harry knew that -he was within his own particular province. Mr. -Rexford himself had issued the instruction that -whenever he was sent out of the store in quest -of a special book he was privileged to go from -shop to shop until he obtained it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was twenty-five minutes past nine when he -left Martin Brothers, but it was a quarter to -eleven when he returned, the product of his -search under his arm. Casting his eyes over the -stretch of tables he spied the assistant buyer in -the clutches of a customer, whose flushed, indignant -face showed patent indications of her -displeasure. On one side of Mr. Brady ranged -Mr. Barton, wearing a thundercloud frown; on -the other was Miss Breeden, looking equally -glum.</p> - -<p>“But, Madam,” Harry heard Mr. Brady expostulate, -“you can see for yourself that the -price mark in this book is ‘50 cents.’” His -forefinger pointed out the pencilled symbols on -the white of the pasted inside leaf at the back -of the book. “It was originally a dollar book, -marked down to half price.”</p> - -<p>“Then why do you stick up a sign advertising -your books at thirty-five cents, when they’re -fifty? That’s what I’d like to know. This salesgirl -takes the book and makes out a check for -thirty-five cents. When it’s handed to the girl -at the desk, <em>she</em> says it’s half a dollar. How -am I to know that you’re not overcharging me? -I must say this book doesn’t look as if it was -worth half a dollar, let alone its ever having -been a dollar. I can go to Dunlap’s and buy all -the boys’ books I want for a quarter apiece.”</p> - -<p>“Come with me, Madam. I will show you -that there is a noticeable difference between this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -and a thirty-five cent book. No doubt this book -has merely been laid on that table by mistake -and become mixed with the cheaper stock.” -With the patient air of a martyr, Mr. Brady led -the way to the fatal table. He was followed by -a procession of three. Picking up the first volume -on which his hand chanced to rest, he said: -“There, you can judge for yourself, Madam.”</p> - -<p>The customer stared, then judged. “Why, -they’re almost alike!” she exclaimed. “If -that,” she touched the book the buyer had -chosen for comparison, “is thirty-five cents, this -one isn’t worth any more.”</p> - -<p>Before she had finished judgment, Mr. -Brady’s face had turned a dull red. He cast a -dark glance at the pricemark of his unlucky -choice, muttered unintelligibly and, one after -another, hastily examined a succession of books. -Fixing stern eyes on Miss Breeden, he said -shortly: “This is really too bad. You have -made a thorough jumble of this table. Part of -these books are one price; part another.” His -tone prophesied further reckoning when the customer -had departed.</p> - -<p>“But do I get this book for thirty-five cents?” -persisted the customer impatiently. “Please -don’t keep me waiting. I have to make a train.”</p> - -<p>“No, Madam, that book is fifty cents. I regret -to say that a serious mistake has been -made in the arrangement of this table.”</p> - -<p>“Then I don’t want it. Give me my money<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -back. I’ll go to Dunlap’s, then I’ll know what -I’m paying for.” The now irate woman made -a determined bolt for the desk, pursued by Mr. -Barton and Mr. Brady.</p> - -<p>Miss Breeden’s face also registered wrath, as -she watched the trio descend upon the desk of -remittal. Happening to catch sight of Harry, -who was quietly awaiting the opportunity to -deliver his purchase into Mr. Brady’s hands, -she darted up to him.</p> - -<p>“<em>You</em> made all that trouble,” she hissed. -“That was all <em>your</em> fault. I told you not to -meddle with the books on that table. Now the -store has lost a customer who will go out and -tell people that we have two prices for a book. -Mr. Brady will blame me for your carelessness, -and Mr. Barton will rave because he has to void -my check. This isn’t the first trouble you’ve -made for me, either. Last Spring——”</p> - -<p>Angry as she was, the young woman broke off -abruptly, leaving Harry uninformed of the nature -of at least one offence. Under the scathing -tirade he had grown very white. He had -heard the beginning of the customer’s complaining, -and, although he had not followed the quartette -to the table, he guessed what had happened. -He knew if no one else knew that Leon -Atkins rather than he was the author of the unfortunate -mix-up.</p> - -<p>“Miss Breeden,” he replied, his low, even accents -contrasting sharply with the woman’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -shrill tones, “you told me not to stop to fix -those books, but you <em>didn’t</em> tell me not to put -them there. You <em>saw</em> me do it and you didn’t -say a word about that. When I brought down -these cheaper books you weren’t around and -that new stock boy told me to put them on the -floor. I supposed they were to go on another -table. I would have had more sense than to -mix them like that.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right. Try to crawl out of it. Just -you wait until I tell Mr. Brady.” Miss Breeden -flounced off in a rage, leaving Harry to -stare soberly after her. It was evident she did -not believe him.</p> - -<p>“I guess I’m in for it,” he shrugged. “If -she had let me fix that table I’d never have made -such a mistake. Where was she that she didn’t -notice it herself? It was Leon who mixed those -two lots of books, but it’s her fault that they -stayed mixed. I can’t tell Mr. Brady that. It -isn’t nice for a man to shift the blame onto -a woman’s shoulders.” Harry had decided -ideas on the subject of chivalry.</p> - -<p>Though Harry did not know it, the charge of -the special sales tables had not troubled Miss -Breeden seriously. On entering the store that -morning she had immediately asked for a shopping -pass, returning to her post only a moment -or two before Harry had deposited his first load -of books. After giving him directions to go back -to the stock-room, she had wandered up the aisle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -to gossip with another saleswoman, leaving -Leon to arrange the books at his own sweet will.</p> - -<p>As has been already stated, Leon Atkins and -the proverbial busy bee were not even distantly -related. While Miss Breeden’s eyes were upon -him he worked, but the instant she went shopping -his brief energy vanished. The number of -fifty-cent books that Harry had brought down -had been sufficient to fill the table. Due to his -lack of skill in arranging them, a good-sized vacant -space appeared on the table when he had -finished. His knowledge of books and prices being -limited and his interest in them still less, he -carelessly bundled the second consignment of -cheaper books into that vacant space. To complete -the outrage, he hastily consulted the back -of one of that lot, confiscated one of the two -“35 cts.” signs that graced the next table, and -hoisted it triumphantly over the havoc he had -created.</p> - -<p>The instant the customer was lost to view -around an elevator shaft, Mr. Barton and Mr. -Brady formed themselves into an inquiry committee.</p> - -<p>“What do you mean by allowing that table -to get in such a mess, Miss Breeden?” censured -the assistant.</p> - -<p>“Give me your book,” ordered Mr. Barton. -“That check must be voided. It seems to -me——”</p> - -<p>With lips compressed for fight, Miss Breeden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -tendered her salesbook to the aisle manager. -He made cabalistic signs on it with a blue pencil -and scrawled a huge “voided” across the page. -Before he could deliver the stinging reproof -that lay on his lips, a summons from the exchange -desk sent him galloping up the aisle.</p> - -<p>“That table was all right when I came back -from shopping,” was Miss Breeden’s angry defence. -“It was 45 who put those books there. -I told him not to when he brought down the first -load, but you can see for yourself how much -good it did.”</p> - -<p>“You should have noticed it,” was the unfeeling -rebuke.</p> - -<p>“How could I? I was busy. I never thought -45 would keep on putting books there when I -told him not to. I waited on several customers -for thirty-five cent books and didn’t notice anything -out of the way.” Miss Breeden craftily -refrained from stating, however, that the books -she had sold were from the next table.</p> - -<p>Her excuses, however, were not sufficiently -good to ward off Mr. Brady’s sharp lecture. -Strange to say she made no mention of Leon’s -disastrous hand in the matter. Unfortunately -for Harry, Mr. Brady also had not observed the -other boy at work at the table. The assistant -had been engaged with a traveling salesman in -Mr. Rexford’s office. From there he had been -called to the selling floor in time to officiate as -pacifist to the offended customer.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> - -<p>In consequence of all this, Mr. Brady was not -in a lamb-like mood as the boy approached to -deliver the book he had been sent out to buy. -Harry squared his shoulders to meet the impending -scolding. He knew he was doomed to -receive a rebuke which he did not merit.</p> - -<p>“See here, Harding,” lashed out the man, -“why don’t you do as you are told? If you -can’t, this department doesn’t need you.” The -arraignment that followed cut Harry to the -quick. He longed to cry out the truth, but boyish -chivalry to a woman and the distaste for -shifting the blame on the shoulders of a boy who -needed work held him silent. All he could find -words to utter was, “I am very sorry, sir. It -won’t happen again.”</p> - -<p>“You won’t be here if it does,” were the assistant’s -parting words. Seizing the book -Harry proffered, he turned on his heel and -strode into the buyer’s office.</p> - -<p>Sick at heart, Harry walked dejectedly toward -the table of disaster. Miss Breeden was -already there, engaged in separating the figurative -sheep from the goats. Pausing uncertainly -for a moment, he directed his course -toward the elevator. Again he wondered painfully -why it was that the young woman appeared -to dislike him so heartily. What did she -mean by saying he had already made trouble -for her? He could recall no such instance. -Why had she said “last Spring,” then abruptly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -checked her speech? His distressed mind reviewed -the events that had transpired since his -advent into Department 84. He could recall but -one disquieting incident. It had to do with the -exposure of Mr. Farley, the thieving salesman, -and in no respect even remotely touched Miss -Breeden.</p> - -<p>“I am afraid my Year of Promise isn’t going -to be very promising,” was his rueful -thought. “I don’t know why Miss Breeden -doesn’t like me and I certainly sha’n’t ask her. -I’ll just find out for myself. As for that Atkins -boy, I’ve a few things to say to <em>him</em>, and I’m -going to say them before this day is over.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI</a><br /> -<small>HARRY SPEAKS HIS MIND</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">For reasons best known to herself, Miss -Breeden had chosen to make Harry the -scapegoat for Leon Atkins’ sins of omission. -In her heart she knew exactly who was at -fault. Although she had shielded Leon from the -assistant’s displeasure she did not intend that -he should escape scotfree. The moment she had -finished bringing order out of disorder, she set -out on a diligent hunt for him about the department. -The object of her search, however, was -elusive as well as lazy. After a fruitless march -about the narrow aisles of 84, she gave up her -quest and directed her attention strictly to the -business of selling books.</p> - -<p>Thus the real culprit dodged at least one evil. -After leisurely strolling about the first floor on -pleasure bent and being ordered out of half a -dozen departments in which he had no excuse -for loitering, he retired to the stock-room for a -nap. But there he ran into another evil, full -tilt.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I’ve been waiting for you,” was Harry -Harding’s sharp salute as the tall, ungainly -youth slouched into sight.</p> - -<p>“Well, you see me now, don’t you? Whada -you want?” With Leon, this last had become -a challenge to be used on the world at large.</p> - -<p>“I want to tell you that the next time you -make a mess of a table, like the one you fixed -this morning, you are going to take the blame -for it.” Harry was advancing on the newcomer -with an air of purpose that brought the latter -to a sudden standstill.</p> - -<p>“What’s wrong with you, you boob?” he -growled, doubling his ready fists. “Whada you -mean by such smart talk?”</p> - -<p>“Just what I say. You took that last lot of -books I brought down and put them on the -wrong table. You got me into trouble by it. I -stood for it because—well, it doesn’t concern -you to know why. But I won’t stand for it again. -The next time I have books to bring down I’ll fix -them on the table myself and don’t you dare -interfere with me. I thought perhaps we could -work together, just as Fred and I always did, -but I see we can’t. Hereafter you do your work -and I’ll do mine; then I won’t be blamed for -your faults.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a nut,” sneered Leon. “You’re so -crazy you don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. -I guess I can fix a table a whole lot better’n -you, freshie.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Can you?” Harry smiled bitter sarcasm. -“Just ask Miss Breeden about it and see what -she says.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve been tellin’ lies about me! I’ll fix -you!” Leon made a vicious lunge at Harry, -his voice rising to a howl.</p> - -<p>“Here, here!” Mr. Atkins had recognized -the familiar bellow of his offspring and hurried -to the scene. “What’s all this racket about?”</p> - -<p>“He won’t let me alone, Pa. He keeps pestering -me all the time.” Leon pointed a grimy, -accusing finger at Harry.</p> - -<p>Mr. Atkins rose to the duties of fatherhood. -“You let my son alone, you young puppy, or -I’ll report you to Mr. Rexford as soon as he -comes back,” he threatened, glowering at -Harry. “Now get to work, both of you.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not bothering your son, Mr. Atkins,” -burst forth Harry in indignation, “and I’m not -going to let him bother me, either.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t talk back to me.” Mr. Atkins’ small, -black eyes snapped fire. “Do as I say. Get to -work. Leon, you come with me.”</p> - -<p>“I wish he’d stay with you,” muttered Harry -under his breath, as the persecuted one shambled -off after his parental bulwark of defense. -“I’d like to tell Mr. Rexford a few things, too. -But I won’t. I’ve warned that boy to let me -alone, and I’ll see that he does it without any -help from other people.”</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, his sturdy determination to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -keep his grievances to himself could not prevent -Harry from seeing that his future path was -more than likely to be carpeted with nettles. It -hurt his pride to feel that, instead of advancing, -he seemed doomed to be thrust back into the unhappy -rut from which Mr. Rexford had rescued -him. What hurt him most was the knowledge -that he was in no sense to blame for the train -of unfortunate events that had dogged his return -to the store. From those who were most -intimately concerned in them, he could expect -neither fair dealing nor justice.</p> - -<p>As he took up his half-completed task of making -the untidy stock-room presentable, Harry -mentally lined up the disturbers of his peace -and gave himself over to sombre speculation. -First of all, there was Leon. It was useless to -dream that this slothful, quarrelsome boy and -he could ever be friends. They had nothing in -common. The only solution of this problem lay -in an alert avoidance of the ill-natured youth.</p> - -<p>Second came Mr. Brady. He was laboring -under a false impression. Conscientious, daily -work, perfectly performed, would perhaps counteract -it. Third, Mr. Atkins was now arrayed -against him by reason of the family tie. Then, -too, there was Miss Breeden’s strange hostility -to be considered. If only Fred were here, he -might be able to discover the source of it. He -had always cheerfully affirmed that he “knew -the book department like a book.” Without his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -help there was small chance of learning the -cause of the saleswoman’s grudge.</p> - -<p>Last of all, there was Mr. Barton. Harry -regarded him as the least of his woes. Mr. -Rexford could be relied upon to see that <em>he</em> kept -his place. Mr. Barton always “walked softly” -when the energetic buyer was about the premises -of 84. The very fact that the crabbed aisle -manager had dyspepsia was sufficient to excuse -him. Harry wondered if Miss Welch knew that -the man was thus afflicted. As his mind reverted -to the pretty exchange clerk, he was inspired -with a sudden idea. He would privately -ask Miss Welch to find out for him, if she could, -what it was that Miss Breeden cherished against -him.</p> - -<p>At lunch time he paused at exchange desk -Number 10, only to find Miss Welch busily engaged -in ministering to a long line of petitioning -shoppers. Directly after luncheon he left -Teddy to volubly mourn his loss and hurried -back to the exchange desk, determined to devote -the last fifteen minutes that were his to the -business of inquiry. To his deep disappointment, -the line had lengthened and he was forced -to leave the questions he longed to ask until a -more convenient season.</p> - -<p>Afternoon brought him the task of moving -and rearranging a colony of popular-priced -shelved books that were to take up their residence -on the other side of the department. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -did his work so well as to win from Mr. Brady -the somewhat grudging admission, “I see you -can do things right when you try, Harding.” -Even this doubtful praise sounded sweet to -Harry and he forgivingly crossed Mr. Brady off -his black list of oppressors.</p> - -<p>It was well after five o’clock when the last of -his charges found itself tightly fitted into its -new home. Harry glanced at the clock, then at -the exchange desk. It was invaded now by a -lone woman of meek aspect. He saw Miss -Welch’s dimples in evidence as she called a messenger, -then pointed down the aisle with her -pencil. This meant that she was in a good -humor.</p> - -<p>“This ought to be a good time to ask her,” -decided Harry, as he watched the customer -leave the desk. “I won’t wait to wash my -hands. I’ll go over there now while I have -the chance.”</p> - -<p>“There goes one woman that’s willing to do -as she’s told. Ain’t it funny, the difference in -some people?” Miss Welch straightened up -with a sigh of relief and pushed back a refractory -curl. “Well, if here isn’t 45! What have -<em>you</em> got to be trotted back into stock? I s’pose -that cut glass punch bowl you bought don’t -go good with the kitchen furniture. Or mebbe -you bought the ‘Lives of the Presidents,’ -thinking it was ‘My Great Aunt’s Last Stand as -a Cook.’ If you’ve read it you can’t bring it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -back and exchange it for a tennis racquet. -We’re strict here, we are.”</p> - -<p>Miss Welch’s ferocious scowl vanished in a -merry laugh as she saw Harry’s grave face -break into smiles. “That’s more like it, old -Sobersides. I thought you’d come to tell me -you was dead and what kind of a floral piece you -wanted us to take up a collection for. But now -I see you’re no dead one. What’s on your mind, -Kiddy? Tell your troubles to your old friend -Irish.”</p> - -<p>“That’s just what I’m going to do. I mean, -I’m going to ask you if you’ll help me about -something.”</p> - -<p>“Sure I’ll help you. What is it?” Miss -Welch leaned forward, her blue eyes two shining -signals of good will.</p> - -<p>“It’s about Miss Breeden,” began Harry in -a low voice. “She—I—always had an idea she -didn’t like me, and——”</p> - -<p>“You should worry,” interrupted the listener -with a boyish grin. “She didn’t put the -‘u’ in universe. You ought to feel happy. -She’s got some healthy little hate for yours -truly, but I’m not crying my eyes out about it. -After what happened in 84 last Spring you -couldn’t expect we’d be her bosom friends, -could you?”</p> - -<p>Harry pricked up his ears at the words “last -Spring.” It looked as though he had come to -the right person for information. Miss Welch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -evidently knew something hinging on that fateful -season that he did not. His hands nervously -gripped the edge of the desk as he regarded the -exchange clerk with a puzzled frown. He could -think of but one incident in which he and Miss -Welch had been concerned at that time.</p> - -<p>“But I don’t see how——” His perplexity -deepened.</p> - -<p>Miss Welch’s keen mind had already grasped -the situation. “So <em>that’s</em> the way the wind’s -began to whistle, has it?” A knowing smile -curved the corners of her red lips. “I guess I -ought to of wised you to a few things, Innocent, -but I never thought of <em>her</em>. Anyway, you ain’t -supposed to run a social register. You see it -was just like this, Kiddy. When you spotted -Farley helping himself and a few others to -Martin Brothers’ goods, you put an awful crimp -in Breeden’s plans. She was, mebbe she is now -for all I know, getting ready to be Mrs. Farley.”</p> - -<p>“What?” Harry gasped his amazement.</p> - -<p>“You heard me say it. They was going to get -married. Just like that. Now you know why -Farley was trying to annex upholstery and a -few other departments. Poor Breeden didn’t -know he was crooked. I give her credit for that. -Still, she wasn’t exactly hilarious when he got -fired for stealing. That’s why you can’t never -be her little brother Harry. She isn’t thinking -about adopting me for a sister, neither.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Oh!” A sorrowful expression settled on -Harry’s sensitive features. “I never knew. -I’m sorry all that had to happen. But I -couldn’t——”</p> - -<p>“Course you couldn’t,” comforted Miss -Welch. “You did what was right, Harry. You -wasn’t to blame any more’n I was. Nobody was -to blame, but Farley. When you’ve held down -a store job as long as I have you’ll know that -such things can’t happen without hurting some -innocent party. What’s she been doing or saying -to you?” Miss Welch became fiercely inquiring.</p> - -<p>Harry reluctantly repeated the saleswoman’s -words to him. “I couldn’t think what she -meant,” he ended. “I suppose she thought I -knew. I can’t blame her now, but I’m sorry she -feels that way toward me.”</p> - -<p>“You can’t stop Niagara Falls, so you might -as well let ’em go on falling,” consoled Miss -Welch. “Just you keep out of her way and -don’t let her get anything on you. If she gets -too gay, put me wise and I’ll read her a few -lines that she won’t find on her application -card.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you mustn’t ever say a word to her, Miss -Welch,” entreated Harry. “Now that I understand, -I’ll try not to make her mad. I’m not -afraid, you know. My mother says no one can -really hurt a person if that person isn’t doing -wrong himself.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Some straight talk,” nodded Miss Welch, -“but it don’t always work in a place like this. -I’ve seen pretty good people get theirs because -somebody else had a knife out for ’em. You -can’t always squash the trouble-bug by being an -angel. Mind, I ain’t saying she’s out for <em>your</em> -scalp. Only just you be careful and don’t let -her double-cross you.”</p> - -<p>“I will,” promised Harry. “Thank you ever -so much, Miss Welch.”</p> - -<p>“Anything else on your mind? Now’s the -golden dumping time.”</p> - -<p>“No.” Harry shook his head. “Oh, yes; -there is. I wanted to ask you if you knew what -makes Mr. Barton so cross?”</p> - -<p>“Ask me something easy. I never could -guess riddles. I don’t believe he knows himself.” -Miss Welch shrugged her shoulders.</p> - -<p>“A boy told me that he has dyspepsia,” informed -Harry. “He says Mr. Barton goes up -to the hospital almost every day.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve heard that myself. I never sent him a -card of sympathy, though. Dyspepsia don’t excuse -the way he performs. I tell you he’s got -crankitis and there isn’t no cure for that. Forget -him. What do you care what he has, so long -as he lets you alone? Here he comes now, the -precious pet. Beat it before he chases you.”</p> - -<p>Harry glanced over his shoulder, but did not -move from his stand before the desk. He had -no mind to scurry off like a frightened rabbit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -at Mr. Barton’s approach. Nevertheless, he -braced himself for a scolding. The aisle manager -was sure to accuse him of loitering. -Greatly to his surprise, the man paid no attention -to him, but passed on hurriedly in the direction -of the little room where he kept his -supplies.</p> - -<p>“Never even saw you,” congratulated Miss -Welch. “I guess you was wise not to run. He -looked kind of sick, didn’t he? Mebbe I’d better -send him that card, after all.” She giggled -at the thought.</p> - -<p>Harry smiled absently. His thoughts were -on the tall, gaunt aisle manager, who had made -his early days in the store so unhappy. But it -was not of those dark days he was thinking. -He dwelt only upon the haggard face and pain-filled -eyes of the man who had just passed. A -curious wave of sympathy swept over him. He -wondered if Mr. Barton had a home and someone -to care for him when his hard day’s work -was done. But he did not dream as he stood -there how much was yet to come from that random, -kindly thought.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII</a><br /> -<small>TEDDY BURKE, AVENGER</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">The return of Mr. Rexford to Department -84 marked the beginning of a respite -from the misfortunes that had visited -Harry. Two days after his unexpected clash -with Miss Breeden the buyer walked into the -department and resumed his kindly but undisputed -sway. Mr. Rexford was a man who -thought twice and spoke once. Consequently, -his speech was productive of instant results. -Conscientious to a degree he worked untiringly -for the good of the firm who employed him and -insisted on the same loyalty from the members -of his department.</p> - -<p>It did not take him long to reach a correct estimate -of Leon Atkins. After one exceedingly -brief but crushing interview with the man in -authority, Leon turned over a new leaf in a -hurry and made craven promises to “do better.” -Privately, however, he had no intention -of redeeming himself. When under Mr. Rexford’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -critical eye he proceeded with the utmost -caution. When the stock-room sheltered him -from the latter’s observation, his pretended energy -fell from him like a cloak.</p> - -<p>After the mid-summer sale was over and the -stock that remained unsold was again put to rest -in the tenth-floor bins, to reappear later when -the fall trade had quickened, the book department -settled down to the inevitable lull that -August always brought. This did not mean that -no one wanted to buy books. There were always -the libraries which required attention at -all seasons of the year. Their needs helped -swell the summer trade, and many regular customers -browsed about 84’s tempting aisles. -The mail-order, also, gave good account of itself -and with the various consignments of new -books that were continually arriving, Harry -Harding always found plenty to do.</p> - -<p>The very fact that Leon was a shirker incited -Harry to do his utmost to keep things moving. -To frequently stumble upon the sluggard, asleep -in a bin or deep in a book, was naturally an aggravation. -Yet Harry never complained to Mr. -Rexford of his companion’s worthlessness, -neither did he appear to notice what went on -day after day under his very eyes. For one -thing he was at least thankful. Leon no longer -persisted in his former mania to fight. Not -that he had relinquished it. Although Harry -could not then know it, the other boy was merely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -biding his time. While trade was dull and Mr. -Rexford was so much in evidence about 84, it behooved -him to go cautiously. Later, when the -department had swung into its usual business -stride and Mr. Rexford had his hands full, he -resolved to renew his persecution of Harry. So -long as the latter allowed him uninterrupted -liberty to shirk and was foolish enough to do -double work in consequence, Leon was content -to let matters rest.</p> - -<p>Yet patient, long-suffering Harry Harding -was not the only one who knew the exact truth -about Leon. Mr. Atkins was well aware of his -troublesome son’s deficiencies. Far from taking -him to task for them and insisting that Leon -should do his share of the work of the stock-room, -he stolidly ignored the truth and on all -occasions treated Harry with a gruffness that -was both unnecessary and unreasonable. The -marked contrast between this neat, industrious, -courteous boy and his own untidy, lazy, impudent -son galled him beyond measure.</p> - -<p>Instead of admiring Harry for his good qualities, -he appeared to resent them. Harry’s devotion -to duty made his son’s lack of it altogether -too apparent to suit him. He was in constant -fear that some day Harry might suddenly -turn and make a complaint to headquarters that -would result in Leon’s discharge from the store. -With that thought ever before him, he kept up -an attitude of menacing suspicion toward the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -boy, hoping thus to intimidate Harry into remaining -silent regarding Leon’s laziness.</p> - -<p>Quick-witted Harry was not slow to discover -this. He understood that Mr. Atkins feared him -on account of Leon and felt sorry, rather than -indignant. More than once he was on the point -of going to the man and assuring him that he -could rest easy on that score. Only the possibility -of being misunderstood held him aloof. -Manfully ignoring that which he could not -change, he delved unceasingly through the long, -hot days of August, making silence and endeavor -his watchwords. As the majority of his -orders emanated from Mr. Brady, he was able -to keep fairly clear of Mr. Atkins, whose work -lay, for the most part, in the receiving room. -Nevertheless, the lad was always on his guard -against squalls which were quite likely to blow -from that quarter in the twinkling of an eye.</p> - -<p>The middle of September brought with it vast -consignments of new books from the numerous -publishing houses. It also brought a heat wave -that July might well have envied. Day after -day the sun beat down upon the city, as though -determined to visit a special penalty upon its -wilted inhabitants. Even the nights obstinately -refused to be cool, and as one fierce, sultry, rainless -day merged into another, the heat became -well-nigh unbearable.</p> - -<p>“You don’t catch me walking home this -night,” grumbled Teddy Burke, as he and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -Harry met on the corner at the end of a particularly -trying afternoon. “Me for a street -car. I don’t b’lieve it’s ever going to get cool. -Maybe it wasn’t hot in 40 to-day. Even the old -wash boilers and coffee pots were jawing about -it.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t say so!” Harry raised amused -brows. “I suppose you heard them?”</p> - -<p>Teddy grinned. “Well,” he confessed, “I -fell over a wash boiler and it groaned, and I -dropped a coffee pot and it rattled. I s’pose -that was about as much as they could do. Mr. -Hickson says that even the ice-boxes had a -grouch. One of ’em pinched his finger when he -went to shut the door of it.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a funny boy.” Teddy’s quaint fancies -were always vastly entertaining. “Sometimes -I almost wish I were down there in house -furnishings with you. You and Mr. Hickson always -find something to laugh at.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with books?” inquired -Teddy. “Don’t you like ’em any more?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, books are all right and so is Mr. Rexford,” -sighed Harry. “Only I wish some of the -people in 84 were like Mr. Hickson. I miss Fred -Alden a good deal. He was always cheerful and -funny and wasn’t afraid of work.”</p> - -<p>“How’s the Clothes-pole behaving?” On -first glimpse of the lengthy Leon, Teddy had -immediately likened him to the above wash-day -prop. “He’s about as fat as one,” had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -his discerning comment, “only he isn’t half so -useful. Still, that’s what he looks like, and -that’s what I’m going to call him when he isn’t -around.” Thus named, Leon was destined so -to remain in Teddy’s imaginative mind.</p> - -<p>“The Clothes-pole, as you will call him, is the -laziest boy I ever saw.” Harry’s voice quivered -with vexation. “When he’s in the stock-room -he doesn’t do much except read and sleep. -It’s a shame! I’ve been doing his work all summer, -but I’m getting pretty tired of it. His -father knows it, too, but he doesn’t seem to -care much. I just wish Mr. Rexford would -come up some day and catch him asleep in one -of those bins.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe he will.” A daring idea had sprung -to life in Teddy’s fertile brain. His freckled -face grew preternaturally solemn; a sure sign -that he was planning mischief.</p> - -<p>“He hardly ever comes up to the stock-room.” -Harry had failed to catch the significance -that lay behind Teddy’s casual remark.</p> - -<p>“Is that so?” Teddy relapsed into sudden -silence, as he considered ways and means of -bringing Leon’s ill-timed siestas to an end. -“Aw, see here!” He had become aware that -they had left the corner behind them and were -well up the street. “Didn’t I say I wasn’t going -to hoof it home?”</p> - -<p>“Come on,” urged Harry. He had slyly begun -the homeward walk, knowing that Teddy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> -would keep pace with him from sheer force of -habit. “You don’t want to ride in one of those -crowded cars. It’s a lot better for us to be out -in the air, even if it is so warm.”</p> - -<p>“Might as well keep on now,” grumbled -Teddy. “Say, when does the Clothes-pole generally -take his nap?”</p> - -<p>“Whenever he gets a chance. There’s one big -bin at the end of the stock-room that he is fond -of. He goes to lunch at one o’clock and as soon -as he gets back he crawls into it. He puts a -truck close to the bin. After he gets in he rolls -the truck in front of it and then no one can see -him.”</p> - -<p>“Lazy loafer,” was Teddy’s scornful opinion. -“But see here, Harry. You ought to report him. -Don’t you know what it says on the application -card about reporting anyone you see doing -something against Martin Brothers? You -signed it, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I know. I’ve thought of that a good -many times, but I can’t make up my mind to report -him. I’ve tried to even up for it to the -store by doing his work. You see I know what -it is to be poor. My mother had a hard time -taking care of just the two of us before I went -to work. Even with what help I give her, it’s -pretty bad. Everything costs so much now. If -it’s hard for us, what must it be for poor Mr. -Atkins with that large family of his? It’s better -for this boy to be with his father. He might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -be a good deal worse off away from him. Mr. -Atkins is afraid I’m going to make a fuss about -Leon. That’s why he is so cranky to me. He -never used to act like that before his son came -to the store to work.”</p> - -<p>“You make me tired.” Teddy’s impish face -registered his disapproval. “I wouldn’t be -good to folks that treated me so mean. I’d -treat ’em mean, too. What’s the use of working -your head off for that Atkins pair? Either one -of ’em would get you fired if he could. I’d do as -I promised on my application card, if I was you. -Suppose somebody found out about the way the -Clothes-pole loafs? Then you might get blamed -for knowing about it and not saying a word.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve thought of that, too,” confessed Harry, -“but I guess I’ll have to take chances against -it. As long as I keep the stock-room looking -neat and tidy, no one can say much. What Leon -does when he’s downstairs on the floor is none -of my business.”</p> - -<p>“I hope he does something awful then,” -scowled Teddy. “Anyway, he won’t last long. -See if he does.”</p> - -<p>On just what grounds the resourceful Teddy -based his prophecy he neglected to mention. -The following morning, however, he was hardly -in his department before he approached good-humored -Mr. Duffield and asked solemn permission -to leave the floor.</p> - -<p>“Very well, Teddy, you may go. Don’t stay<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -away long and don’t get into any mischief.” -The placid little aisle manager felt it necessary -to add this last mild admonition.</p> - -<p>“I never get into mischief.” But the roguish -gleam in the boy’s black eyes told a different -story.</p> - -<p>Mr. Duffield merely smiled behind his stubby -gray mustache. He knew Teddy Burke.</p> - -<p>Straight through Department 40 toward the -nearest basement stairs Teddy flitted.</p> - -<p>“What’s your hurry?” called out Sam Hickson -as Teddy flashed past him with a grin.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got business to ’tend to,” he flung back -over his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“More likely it’s mischief,” muttered the -salesman. “I can always tell when that youngster -is up to something.”</p> - -<p>Up the stairway route to the third floor Teddy -scurried, scorning to wait for an elevator. -Reaching the third-floor landing, he steered directly -for Mr. Keene’s office. There Teddy had -a friend on whom he proposed to call.</p> - -<p>“Why, good morning, Teddy.” The brown-haired, -pink-cheeked girl glanced up from her -typewriter with a welcoming smile. She had -ushered himself and Harry into Mr. Keene’s -office on the day they had applied for work.</p> - -<p>“Good morning, Miss Phelps.” In the presence -of this delightful person for whom Teddy -cherished unbounded respect, Teddy’s usually -ready speech left him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Did you come to see Mr. Keene?”</p> - -<p>Teddy shook his ruddy head. “No; I came to -see you.” His bright eyes met the young woman’s -surprised gaze rather shyly. Since his -advent into Martin Brothers he had come to -know Miss Phelps fairly well, but he was now -not at all sure of how she might regard him -once he had explained the nature of his visit.</p> - -<p>“Well, what can I do for you?” asked Miss -Phelps, quickly noting the lad’s embarrassment.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I thought—I wanted to ask you—— Say, -do they use this kind of typewriters all -over the store?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.” Miss Phelps secretly wondered at -the question. “At least, I believe so.”</p> - -<p>“If you wrote a notice on this,” Teddy -touched the machine, “and didn’t sign any name -to it, then no one would know where it came -from?” he continued eagerly.</p> - -<p>“I suppose not. But what a funny question!” -A faint pucker appeared between Miss -Phelps’ dark brows.</p> - -<p>“Um-m!” Teddy studied the typewriter -with due solemnity. Fishing in his coat pocket -he brought forth a bit of paper on which appeared -a single sentence. “If I asked you to -typewrite this for me, would you do it?”</p> - -<p>Miss Phelps took the paper and studied it -with some curiosity. “I can’t do it unless you -tell me why you want it,” she said.</p> - -<p>Teddy turned red and was silent. Then his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -impish grin came slowly and widely into evidence. -“All right. I’ll tell you.”</p> - -<p>He had not proceeded far before his listener -began to smile. Then she laughed outright. -“You are a naughty boy,” was her indulgent reproof, -“but I’ll help you out this time. Your -intentions are good and I don’t know but I’d -do the same if I were you. Wait a minute.”</p> - -<p>Opening a drawer of her desk she selected a -small-sized sheet of office stationery, fastened it -in the machine and began a rapid clicking of the -keys. “There you are. Take it and run, and -don’t you ever tell anyone I typed it.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you ever so much. Hope I can do -something for you some day.” Teddy clutched -the sheet of paper and darted away with as -much speed as was decorous to that vicinity. -The further progress of his plan meant the -climbing of two additional flights of stairs, but -he mounted them with gleeful abandon.</p> - -<p>At the extreme end of the fifth floor was a -tiny railed-in space that held a single desk. As -Teddy approached it he became joyfully aware -that it held no occupant. Luck was certainly -with him. Noiselessly swinging the wooden -gate behind him, he slipped to the desk, and, -drawing out a slide, deposited his precious -paper carefully upon it, then discreetly fled -from the spot. He had successfully carried out -his part of the plan. It remained for others to -carry out the rest.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII</a><br /> -<small>A SANE LUNATIC</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">At precisely two o’clock that afternoon, -Leon Atkins sought the seclusion of the -cradling bin, where he was wont to take -his afternoon nap, and shoved a sheltering truck -in place before it. After a strenuous morning’s -labor in the book department, to which he had -been driven by Mr. Brady like a lamb to slaughter, -Leon felt the need of rest. But the god of -sleep had scarcely weighed down his willing eyelids -when he was brought back to earth by the -loud, protesting rumbles of the screening truck.</p> - -<p>Forgetting his limited quarters, the slumberer -sat up with a jerk that brought his head -in violent contact with the top of the bin. -“Ouch!” he ejaculated, ruefully rubbing the injured -member. This mishap faded into insignificance, -however, as his drowsy eyes came to -rest on an angry face peering into his stronghold.</p> - -<p>“Come out of there, you young loafer,” commanded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -a sharp voice. “This is a nice time to -sleep! Where do you think you are? If this is -a sample of these bins, I guess they do need inspecting.”</p> - -<p>Leon hastily emerged amid a torrent of sarcastic -rebuke that fell from the lips of a small, -energetic man whose sharp eyes seemed to cut -straight through him.</p> - -<p>“Whada you want?” The usual challenge -fell from the lips of the transgressor.</p> - -<p>“You’ll find out.” The man turned on his -heel and began a shrewd peering into the adjoining -bin. Around the stock-room he went, examining -every nook and corner of it with the -air of a bloodhound hot on the scent of a criminal. -Every now and then he ran his finger over -a stack of books, or about the inside of a bin, -then examined it with the air of a scientist.</p> - -<p>Leon watched him in open-mouthed consternation. -As it happened he had been alone in his -glory until disturbed by this strangely-acting -intruder. As the man continued to peek and -prowl, the watcher began to wonder if he were -crazy. A coward at heart, he promptly decamped -for the security of the receiving room. -His father, not he, should deal with this lunatic.</p> - -<p>“Pa, there’s a nut in the stock-room,” was -his alarmed cry, as he sighted his parent. -“He’s peekin’ in the bins and actin’ like he was -crazy. He jumped all over me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> - -<p>“In the stock-room?” Mr. Atkins raised -startled eyes from a pile of books and headed -for the scene of danger on the run. He, at least, -was valiant. Several young women who were -engaged in marking books dropped their pencils -and followed him. From the safety of the -door a group of frightened faces viewed the little -that was to be seen of the madman. For the -moment the major part of him was lost in the -depths of a bin.</p> - -<p>“Stand back, girls.” Mr. Atkins forged -boldly toward the danger spot. The lunatic -was now slowly backing out of the bin. His attention -arrested by the sound of voices, he -peered owlishly over one shoulder. Mr. Atkins -gave a gurgling gasp of amazed disgust. In the -madman he recognized an inspector whose business -it was to wage unending warfare against -dust.</p> - -<p>The dust man straightened up and favored -the unexpected audience with a scowl. He was -far from pleased with the results of his investigation. -The immaculate cleanliness of both -books and bins did not accord with the typed notice -which he found on his desk, which stated, -“Kindly inspect bins in book stock-room, tenth -floor, at 2.00 P. M.” Trained to implicit obedience -of orders he had followed this particular -command to the letter, expecting to discover -a liberal coating of his enemy, dust, on everything -in that vicinity. He had set forth on his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -mission with blood in his eye only to stumble -upon a lazy boy and lay bare a dustless condition -of affairs that filled him with indignant disappointment. -He had a feeling of having been -cheated and he determined that the sluggard -who had roosted in the bin should pay for it.</p> - -<p>“You won’t find any dust in this place.” Mr. -Atkins had fully recovered from his recent -shock. “I’d like to know who reported such -a thing.”</p> - -<p>This was exactly what the dust man yearned -to know. Still, he had no intention of admitting -it. Someone had made a mistake, that was -certain. He had not the slightest suspicion that -he had been sent on a wild-goose chase. At the -“front” was an august body of individuals who -explained their motives to no one. He had -been sent on the trail of dust and dust was missing. -All he could do now was to return whence -he had come. His mission had not been without -fruit. He would at least have something to say -to the book buyer. Without deigning to reply -to Mr. Atkins’ hostile comment he marched out -of the stock-room and to the nearest elevator.</p> - -<p>The total collapse of Leon’s madman theory -sent a very sheepish group of employees back -to the marking room. Mr. Atkins lingered, however, -to inquire into details. But Leon had -none to give him. He was craftily mute regarding -his interview with the indefatigable dust -destroyer. Now that he knew the man’s business<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -he was no longer alarmed at his threat. -Very likely the fellow had forgotten about him -already.</p> - -<p>Thus comforting himself, Leon made a pretence -of work until his father had vanished into -the receiving room. After a few minutes’ interval, -during which no one appeared, he -deemed himself safe from interruption.</p> - -<p>Again coiling his lazy length to fit the limits -of the bin, he was about to draw his truck in -place when the sound of brisk approaching footsteps -assailed his ears. Giving the truck a vigorous -shove he was about to crawl from the bin -when a stern voice addressed him.</p> - -<p>“So this is the way you do your work, young -man.”</p> - -<p>Leon scrambled awkwardly to his feet to confront -a person who in no sense resembled a -lunatic. This severe-featured person, who fixed -him with a withering eye, was Mr. Brady.</p> - -<p>“I wasn’t doing nothin’,” he mumbled, hanging -his head.</p> - -<p>“I know you were not, but I propose you -shall. If you can’t be trusted in the stock-room -we don’t want you. If I catch you lounging in -a bin again, or even hear that you are shirking -I’ll see that you don’t stay long in this store. -Now get downstairs and don’t come up here -again this afternoon unless I send you. Go to -Mr. Denby and he’ll give you something to do -that will keep you awake.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - -<p>Mr. Brady waited only long enough to see -Leon on the move, then he strode into the receiving -room.</p> - -<p>“Atkins,” he called sharply, “if you can’t -make that boy of yours work, he can’t stay in -this department. We are not going to pay him -for lounging in the bins when he ought to be -hustling.”</p> - -<p>“I am sure there has been some mistake,” -began Mr. Atkins apologetically. “Leon -never——”</p> - -<p>“Don’t tell me that. I caught him coming -out of a bin. I’m not the only one who has seen -him using the bins for a bed, either. See that -he keeps busy or out of the store he goes.”</p> - -<p>Without further words Mr. Brady stalked -from the receiving room. The discomfited -father muttered under his breath, then hurried -into the stock-room in time to meet his erring -son at the door.</p> - -<p>“Were you in one of those bins when Mr. -Brady came up here?” he snapped, taking Leon -by the collar.</p> - -<p>“Aw, let me alone,” whimpered Leon. “I -was just lookin’ in the bin and he thought I was -loafin’. He don’t know what he’s talkin’ about. -I’ll bet that fresh Harding kid tattled somethin’ -about me and that’s why Brady hot-footed it up -here.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Atkins slowly relaxed his hold. Mr. -Brady’s words, “not the only one who has seen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -him using the bins for a bed,” struck him forcibly. -Strangely enough he did not connect the -dust man’s visit with that of the assistant. Resentment -of Harry made it easy for him to fix -the blame on the industrious lad.</p> - -<p>“Where is Harding?” he growled.</p> - -<p>“Downstairs, I s’pose. How could he send -Brady up here if he wasn’t? That smarty has -it in for me, I tell you. He’s jealous of me.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll ’tend to him,” menaced the wrathful -father, “but you see to it that you behave yourself.”</p> - -<p>“I’m behavin’. Now quit jawin’ me. I gotta -go downstairs and help Denby. Brady just -said so.”</p> - -<p>“Go on then, and don’t fool along the way.” -Mr. Atkins gave his son an ungentle push -through the doorway and returned to his own -domain, inwardly vowing vengeance on that -“tattle-tale” Harding.</p> - -<p>Serenely unconscious of the shoals ahead of -him, Harry entered the marking room late that -afternoon to meet with a stormy reception. Mr. -Atkins pounced upon him with a flow of vituperation -of which every word was “tattle-tale.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know what you mean, Mr. Atkins,” -he said helplessly. “I haven’t said a word to -Mr. Brady about your son.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t lie to me. Who told him Leon used -the bins to sleep in, if you didn’t? You know it -isn’t so.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I know it <em>is</em> so.” Harry sprang into nettled -defense at the ugly word “lie.” His blue eyes -grew steely. “Your son takes a nap in that end -bin every day. I supposed you knew it.” -Harry could not resist this one thrust. “But -you must not say to me that I told Mr. Brady -so, because I didn’t.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll say what I please. You told Brady and -I know it. You don’t like Leon and you pick -on him all the time. But it’s got to be stopped. -You let him alone or you’ll be sorry.”</p> - -<p>“I came up here to say to you that Mr. Rexford -wishes to see you in his office before you -go home.” Completely ignoring the man’s -threat, Harry wheeled and walked into the -stock-room, wondering with all his might what -had happened to raise such a storm.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX</a><br /> -<small>THE PARTY OF THE THIRD PART</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">“Something queer happened this afternoon,” -were Harry’s first words, as he -and Teddy started homeward that -night.</p> - -<p>“Is that so?” Teddy shot a sidelong glance -at his companion, then sternly repressed his -ever-ready grin. “What was it?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, someone told Mr. Brady about Leon going -to sleep in the bin. I don’t know much -about it. I don’t even know how it started. -But Mr. Atkins blamed me for it and gave me a -terrible talking-to. Everything has gone wrong -since that boy landed in 84. I don’t care so -much about the scolding, but he told me I lied -and that’s pretty hard to swallow.”</p> - -<p>“Who do you s’pose told him—Mr. Brady, I -mean?” Teddy tried hard to keep his voice -steady. He wanted to shout with laughter. His -scheme had worked. The next moment he began -to feel extremely serious. He had not reckoned -on involving Harry in it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I don’t know. I suppose somebody besides -me saw him asleep there. Really, I’m glad of -it. Mr. Atkins isn’t nice to me, anyway. What -he said this afternoon doesn’t hurt me because -it isn’t true.”</p> - -<p>“And you don’t care at all?” inquired Teddy -anxiously.</p> - -<p>“No, I don’t. Isn’t it funny, though? I said -only yesterday that I wished Mr. Rexford would -catch Leon asleep in the bin. I got my wish; -only it was Mr. Brady who found him out instead -of Mr. Rexford. Or else somebody told -Mr. Rexford and he sent Mr. Brady up to the -stock-room. He wouldn’t come himself for anything -like that. But whichever way it was, I -had nothing to do with it.”</p> - -<p>“But <em>I</em> did,” announced Teddy, visibly proud -of his achievement.</p> - -<p>“<em>You?</em>” Harry stopped short in his tracks -and stared incredulously at Teddy. “Did you -go to Mr. Rexford, or——”</p> - -<p>“I did not.” Teddy glared offended innocence -of tale-bearing. “What do you think I -am, anyway?”</p> - -<p>“You are as clear as a dark night,” jeered -Harry. “First you say you did and then you -say you didn’t. How am I to know what you -mean?”</p> - -<p>Teddy’s grin rivaled that of the famous -Cheshire cat. “Some puzzle,” he snickered. -“I’ll bet you can’t guess who it was that told?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I sha’n’t try.” Harry rested a grateful -hand on the red-haired boy’s shoulder. “Whoever -it was, you were back of him. You’re a -loyal pardner, Ted.”</p> - -<p>“It was the dust man.” Teddy’s revelation -ended in a gleeful chuckle. “It was this way,” -he continued. Then followed a detailed account -of his ingenious method of exposing Leon.</p> - -<p>Harry could not help laughing immoderately -as Teddy proceeded with his story. “I don’t -see how you ever happened to think of the poor -dust man. He has troubles enough of his own -without being dragged into such a scheme. You -are a dangerous person, Ted.”</p> - -<p>“He didn’t know he was the goat,” asserted -Teddy humorously. “What he doesn’t know -won’t make his head ache. All I’m sorry for is -that the Atkins man jumped you.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t let that worry you,” returned Harry -lightly. “As long as I do my work he can’t say -anything very terrible about me.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad of that.” Teddy appeared vastly -relieved. “If he gets too smart, let me know. -I might make <em>him</em> behave, too.”</p> - -<p>“You mustn’t try to fight my battles, old -fellow,” objected Harry. “You might get into -trouble. I’m much obliged for what you did. -It was kind in you and you really did the store -a good turn as well as helping me. No one got -hurt by it except Leon and it was coming to -him.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It wasn’t anything,” deprecated Teddy. “I -wonder what happened when the Dustless -Duster blew into the stock-room? I wish you’d -find out’n tell me.”</p> - -<p>“I will,” promised Harry. “How are things -going in your department? You haven’t said -much lately about that Mr. Jarvis.”</p> - -<p>“Huh!” snorted Teddy. “The old Percolator -is still percolating around 40. Now that the -Clothes-pole’s had a good walloping, I’ve got -to see what I can do in the coffee-pot line. Mr. -Everett’s been having an awful time with him. -He butts in everywhere and talks like a book -about efficiency and such stuff. He’s always -bubbling up at nothing. Somebody ought to can -him and jam the lid down tight.” Teddy did -not add that he cherished fond hopes of being -that “someone.” His method was to do first -and crow afterward.</p> - -<p>For several days following his triumph in -Harry’s behalf, Teddy patiently lurked in Mr. -Jarvis’ wake, the light of mischievous purpose -in his bright eyes. Thanks to him, Harry was -no longer inflicted with Leon’s slothful presence -in the stock-room. Mr. Brady had decreed that -the idler should remain on the selling-floor -where he would be under close supervision. -When sent on necessary errands to the tenth -floor, he was too rigidly timed to admit of his -lingering there. Thus Harry came into the -luxury of deserved peace and Teddy turned his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -active mind to a study of his own affairs.</p> - -<p>The advent of Mr. Jarvis into Department 40 -as assistant buyer had announced the beginning -of trying days for the inhabitants of that useful -realm. Nathan Jarvis was an efficiency crank -of the deepest dye. Furthermore, he had an -ambition to rule, which a prospective king might -have envied. From assistant to buyer was only -a step. Secretly he had determined to take that -step. In his own estimation he was far more -capable to buy house furnishings than Mr. Everett, -and he purposed that sooner or later those -in authority at Martin Brothers should be made -to see it.</p> - -<p>Their wits sharpened by constant contact with -humanity, the salespersons in 40 were not slow -to see what was afoot. One and all they were -up in arms. Under Mr. Everett’s firm but -kindly direction they had been happy. He had -treated them as equals, and they had ever shown -their appreciation by loyal, painstaking effort. -He put them upon their honor and rarely interfered -with them. His assistant, Chester Willard, -had also followed his chief’s example. -Now he had gone and in his place had bobbed -up a strange, unfriendly person who buzzed -about the department like a huge blue-bottle fly, -and blazed a trail of rebellion wherever he -buzzed.</p> - -<p>Had those active in the management of the -big store known the disturber’s true character,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -Mr. Jarvis’ outlook would not have been rosy. -The “square deal” was among the most revered -traditions of Martin Brothers. Nathan Jarvis -had been careful to create the impression of a -man eager and ready to make every moment -count toward the good of his employers. He -lectured earnestly and convincingly to the superintendent -on the beauty and necessity of efficiency -as an asset to commercial success. Hailing -him as a really valuable acquisition he was -already regarded by those who put result before -method as a person of unusual judgment -and ability.</p> - -<p>Black-eyed Teddy Burke, however, entertained -no such fallacies regarding the lively Mr. -Jarvis. What he did entertain was a growing -desire to worst the usurper at his own game -and thus glorify Mr. Everett. While Mr. Jarvis -secretly planned to oust the man who stood -between him and authority, Teddy was equally -resolved upon displaying Mr. Jarvis in his true -character.</p> - -<p>This was easier planned than accomplished. -As a mere stock boy, his influence amounted to -less than nothing. But the will to wage war -amounted to a good deal. So did his respect -for Mr. Everett. These weapons, in conjunction -with so devastating a force as the ingenious -Teddy, spelled breakers ahead for the ubiquitous -assistant. To all outward appearance -the red-haired boy was innocence personified,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -but secretly his mind was a maze of darkly designed -pranks. He only lacked the opportunity -to let them loose on the offender and he was serenely -confident that said opportunity would -presently knock at his door.</p> - -<p>Late one afternoon, as he sat on the lower -shelf of a table tightly wedged between two immense -stewing kettles, the sound of an unpleasantly -familiar voice smote his ears. It proceeded -from the other side of the very table -under which he had crouched for a moment’s -rest after a long, busy day on his feet.</p> - -<p>“What this department lacks, Mr. Seymour, -is an efficient hand to guide it,” purred Mr. Jarvis. -“The old methods of doing things are rapidly -disappearing. To-day our motto must be, -‘Save time by eliminating all unnecessary motion.’ -Think what glorious results we should -have from this department if we adhered -strictly to this rule. Since my appointment -here, I have endeavored to do this. But in the -face of the opposition which I am obliged daily -to encounter from <em>all</em> sides, I find it uphill work. -Mr. Everett is, unfortunately, of the old -school.” The assistant sighed audibly.</p> - -<p>“You have the right idea, Mr. Jarvis,” was -Mr. Seymour’s hearty reply. “We need such -men as you in the store. I am sure that Mr. -Edward Martin would be interested to hear -your views in regard to the changes you advocate -in this department.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I hardly feel that I ought to go to him,” -deprecated the assistant modestly. “It might -appear to Mr. Everett as though I were taking -these matters above his head. It puts me in a -rather delicate position. You understand?”</p> - -<p>“Perfectly, Mr. Jarvis,” rejoined Mr. Seymour. -“But don’t let that trouble you. I will -speak to Mr. Martin myself. My position here -insures me the freedom of doing so. I am sorry -that Mr. Everett does not uphold your views.”</p> - -<p>“It makes my position here a trifle difficult.” -Hypocritical sadness lurked in the wily assistant’s -answer. “If we could only work together -without so much needless friction, then——”</p> - -<p>The remainder of this deceitful speech was -lost to Teddy, as the two men walked on up the -aisle, unaware that a certain thin, ruddy-haired -youngster had been an unwilling listener to -their talk. Teddy had deemed it indiscreet to -betray himself. It meant a double lecture on -lounging, which he felt he did not deserve. -After a moment’s safe silence had ensued a mop -of red hair, followed by a small, tense body, rose -from its kettle fortress. Teddy watched the -satisfied pair, as they paraded the length of the -department. He made a derisive face at their -retreating backs.</p> - -<p>“So that’s the way he does it,” pondered the -little boy. “No wonder Mr. Everett got jumped -on at the front when he tried to help Miss Newton. -The old, slippery Percolator is certainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -working hard to get Mr. Everett out of here. -I s’pose eliminate means to cut out. I’ve got -to get on the job and do something for my best -boss. I’ve got to begin my Fall canning.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X</a><br /> -<small>TEDDY BEGINS HIS FALL CANNING</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">As the early October days waxed and -waned, Teddy trailed his quarry with the -watchfulness of a sleuth. But Mr. Jarvis -was not to be caught napping. His self-lauded -efficiency guarded him like a sentinel. He buzzed, -bubbled, nagged and tyrannized all in the -name of the store. Whatever and whoever he -set out to reform, he pounced upon with an awe-inspiring -energy that none could combat. Even -the Gobbler in her most offended moments could -not out-gobble him.</p> - -<p>“I never saw the beat of that man!” she exclaimed -almost tearfully to Teddy. “I can’t do -a thing to please him. Here you and me have -spent pretty near a whole morning stacking -these pans the way he wants ’em and now he -says it’s not the way he told me. I’d go to Mr. -Everett about it, but after what happened that -other time I don’t like to. He has enough to -bother him since this miserable fault-finder -came down here.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It’s too bad,” sympathized Teddy. “Mr. -Hickson told me what he did to Mr. Everett -when you went to him. Never mind, Miss Newton, -p’raps he won’t be here always.”</p> - -<p>“He’ll be here long after poor Mr. Everett’s -gone,” was the woman’s gloomy prediction. -“He’s one of the under-handed kind that won’t -play fair. When you think you’ve got him he -switches things so as to make you look like the -guilty one.”</p> - -<p>“Sixty-five! Boy!” sounded the call.</p> - -<p>“Gotta go. I hear his gentle voice. I’m awful -sorry, Miss Newton. I’ll come back as soon -as I can and help you.” With a genial nod of -promise, Teddy trotted off in the direction of -the call.</p> - -<p>“Here, boy. Get these buckets out of the -way.” Mr. Jarvis stood surrounded by a vast -array of large galvanized pails. From an almost -bare table, Sam Hickson was removing the -last of them to a place on the floor beside others -of their kind. The salesman’s close-cropped -red hair seemed positively to be standing on end -with rebellion. His good-humored mouth -drooped sullenly, and he looked as though he -yearned to say unutterable things.</p> - -<p>“Get a step-ladder. Be lively now. These -buckets must all be put in place instantly. I -can’t understand why it should take so long to -do such a simple task. <em>I</em> could have done it -easily in ten minutes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> - -<p>“You couldn’t if you stopped to wait on customers,” -flashed Hickson, coloring angrily.</p> - -<p>“That’s no excuse. It should have been done -before the customers began to arrive,” blandly -reminded the assistant. “Now you are wasting -time arguing. Get to work and fill this -lower rack with buckets. By the time you’ve -finished the boy will be here with the ladder. -The idea of allowing all that space on those -racks to lie idle!”</p> - -<p>“Those racks are very unhandy for buckets,” -retorted Hickson. “We tried them and the -saleswomen had so much trouble reaching up to -them that Mr. Everett said not to use them.”</p> - -<p>“Never mind what Mr. Everett says. <em>I</em> am -doing this. Don’t talk back to me, either. Get -busy.” Mr. Jarvis took decided umbrage at -the mention of Mr. Everett.</p> - -<p>Hickson said no more. Fighting savagely for -self-control he laid hands on a couple of the -largest-sized pails and moved toward the despised -rack.</p> - -<p>“Not those large buckets,” objected the taskmaster. -“Use your brain. The smallest sizes -must go on the lower rack; the larger ones -above.”</p> - -<p>Hickson accepted the correction in morose silence -and with a shrug of his broad shoulders -endeavored to carry out instructions.</p> - -<p>“Ah!” Mr. Jarvis emitted a satisfied cluck. -“Here is our ladder. It took you long enough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -to get it, boy. I could have done it in half that -time.”</p> - -<p>“Could you?” Teddy simulated a solemn, -wide-eyed admiration that nearly convulsed the -abused Hickson.</p> - -<p>“I could.” Mr. Jarvis took his questioner seriously. -“Set it there. Now Mr. Hickson——”</p> - -<p>“Young man, will you please wait on me?” -A plaintive voice was heard at the assistant’s -elbow.</p> - -<p>“Certainly you shall receive attention.” Mr. -Jarvis beamed patronizingly on the woman. -“What can we show you this morning?”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to look at a small oven. You see I -do light housekeeping and——”</p> - -<p>“What <em>you</em> need, Madam, is a fireless cooker. -You have no idea of the time and labor you can -save by installing one in your home. Now the -fireless cooker which we principally handle is a -marvel of——”</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t have one in the house.” The -plaintive tones took on a shade of belligerence. -“I came to see an oven and it’s an oven I want. -If you don’t care to show it to me I guess I can -go somewhere else. If I don’t know my own -mind, then I don’t know who does.”</p> - -<p>“Hickson, show this lady what she <em>says</em> she -wants.” Mr. Jarvis lost interest suddenly in -the customer. He waved her away as though in -a hurry to be rid of her. “Here, 65, you can -put these buckets on the top shelf. <em>I</em> will hand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -them up to you. Set the ladder right there. -Now, hustle.”</p> - -<p>Teddy ran up the five steps of the ladder with -the agility of a monkey. The assistant seized a -bucket in each hand, and, rising on his capable -toes, delivered them to the waiting Teddy. For -the next five minutes the efficiency man was in -his glory. From a safe distance several salespeople -watched the scene with scornful grins.</p> - -<p>“I gotta move my ladder.” Teddy skipped -down from his perch and shoved the ladder -along a few feet.</p> - -<p>“A little farther the other way. Right there. -Now step lively. Two minutes more will see -us finished.”</p> - -<p>Teddy again ascended like a bird and waited. -Four more buckets clanked to rest on the -heights. Only a lonely duo now adorned the -floor. Mr. Jarvis swooped down on them, then -poised one of the pair in reach of Teddy’s thin -fingers. Teddy gazed soulfully down upon the -round, up-turned face of his helper. He leaned -a trifle forward as though to take the bucket. -The ladder gave a sudden, threatening lurch. -In a wild effort to regain his balance, he waved -the huge bucket over the efficiency man’s head. -Very curiously it turned upside down and descended.</p> - -<p>The remaining bucket in Mr. Jarvis’ hand left -it and careered down the aisle with a wild rumble. -But the bucket that had recently parted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -from Teddy’s hand was denied that pleasure. -It had found a resting-place and remained fixed.</p> - -<p>Then the delighted spectators to the moving -scene were treated to a spectacle that furnished -them with hilarious memories for many a long -day afterward. The hitherto inanimate bucket -became miraculously endowed with a short, -pudgy body and a pair of furiously flapping -arms that had formerly belonged to Mr. Jarvis. -Down the aisle it staggered, crashing full tilt -into a table of saucepans, a number of which -bounced to the floor in noisy resentment of the -invasion.</p> - -<p>Stranger still, the magic bucket came into possession -of speech. A tumult of unintelligible -sounds, such as only an animate infant bucket -could be expected to make, flowed forth from -under it. Then its brief debut into the animate -was over. Violently it severed connections with -the body it had appropriated and hit the floor -with a rattle and roll.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Mr. Jarvis, did it hurt you?” Two -round, solicitous, black eyes met those of the -sputtering efficiency man. While Mr. Jarvis’ -head was imprisoned in its galvanized cast, -Teddy had indulged in a silent extravagance of -glee that nearly spilled him off the ladder. He -was now as solemn as a judge. Angelic pity -shone from his freckled face.</p> - -<p>“You—you——” Mr. Jarvis was absolutely -bereft of speech suitable to the crime.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I almost fell off the ladder myself,” comforted -Teddy gently, “but accidents have to -happen sometimes. I guess I better pick up -those saucepans. If Mr. Seymour came along -and saw them all over the floor he mightn’t like -it.”</p> - -<p>“What are all these pans doing on the floor?” -a stern voice broke in. Mr. Everett had come -upon the scene just in time to miss the accident. -“See that they are put straight at once, Teddy. -Such a litter is a disgrace to the department, -Jarvis.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Everett marched on down the aisle, secretly -exultant that for once he had caught his -obnoxious assistant to rights. The efficiency -man’s face took on a poppy-red hue. For once -he was dumb. The rapidity with which things -had happened fairly dazed him.</p> - -<p>“Pick up those pans,” he muttered. With -one awful glance at the author of the disaster -he took himself off to the far side of the department -to think things over.</p> - -<p>Teddy gazed dreamily after him. Reaching -into his coat pocket he drew forth a tiny, -leather-covered book. From another pocket he -produced a stubby pencil. Resting the book on -a step of the ladder he wrote briefly, “October -6. Canned the Percolator.” After it he made -a long, black mark. “Some time he’ll stay -canned,” was his sage prophecy.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI</a><br /> -<small>THE MARTIN MINUTE MEN</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">“Well, Reddy, you did it.” Sam Hickson -regarded the grinning knight of -the ladder with mirthful eyes. Half -an hour had elapsed since Mr. Jarvis’ temporary -eclipse, and the redoubtable Teddy -had purposely sought out his friend to hear his -views on the subject.</p> - -<p>“It was just like a play, wasn’t it?” chuckled -Teddy. “Where the villain gets canned in the -last act and the hero comes up and gives him -the ha, ha! I was glad Mr. Everett got a chance -at him. It took all the bubble out of him.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad you haven’t got it in for me,” retorted -Hickson. “You’re not a safe person to -be on the outs with.”</p> - -<p>“Friendship is a golden tie,” murmured -Teddy. “My last year’s copy-book said so, and -I say so, too.”</p> - -<p>“Much obliged.” The salesman slapped -Teddy on the back with appreciative vigor.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I didn’t say anything about knocking your -friends down, though.” The affectionate blow -caused Teddy to ruefully rub the spot between -his thin shoulders where it had descended. -“I’m not made of wood.”</p> - -<p>“You’re made of mischief,” laughed Hickson. -“You’re chuck full and running over with it.”</p> - -<p>“P’r’aps. Say, did that funny woman who -wanted the oven buy one?”</p> - -<p>“No, she’s poking around here yet. She says -she can’t make up her mind until she looks -things over. Maybe she wasn’t mad at Jarvis. -She says he thinks he is too smart. I hope she -buys. It’s going to be a dull day. Somebody -just told me that it’s raining outside.”</p> - -<p>“Hm-m!” Teddy cast a roving glance across -the department. “I guess I’d better do a little -work for a change. I’ll see you later.” He -sauntered off in the direction of the spot devoted -to the display of ovens. From afar he -had glimpsed the woman who did not admire -Mr. Jarvis. “Maybe I can help her pick out -an oven and get a sale for Mr. Hickson,” was -his kindly thought as he approached the undetermined -customer.</p> - -<p>“I’ll open that door for you, Madam.” The -woman was tugging fruitlessly at the obstinate -door on an oven that had caught her fancy.</p> - -<p>“Oh, thank you.” She favored this unexpected -helper with a pleasant smile. “Why, you -are that boy who was standing there when that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -horrid man tried to tell me that I didn’t know -what I wanted. Who is that man? I asked the -salesman who showed me these ovens, but he -didn’t hear me, I guess.” There was a note of -menace in her question that was not lost on -Teddy.</p> - -<p>“Oh, that is our assistant buyer. His name -is Mr. Jarvis. He’s an efficiency man.”</p> - -<p>“He’s not half so efficient as he might be,” -snapped the woman. “Now that I know his -name I’m going to report him. This seems to -be a good oven.” Engaged now in peering into -it, she did not mark the seraphic joy on a small -freckled face.</p> - -<p>“It’s a very good oven,” assured Teddy -glibly. “If you’d like to buy it I’ll get Mr. -Hickson to wait on you.”</p> - -<p>“Very well. Have you a pencil and paper? -I wish you’d put down that man’s name and -the number of this department. I shall write -to this firm about him.”</p> - -<p>Teddy got out his notebook and pencil. With -deep satisfaction he tore a leaf from the back -and inscribed on it, “Mr. Nathan Jarvis, Dept. -40.” Before he put the book away he turned to -the front page and wrote, “October 6. Canned -again by a customer.” A second sinister mark -followed this pertinent item. “That’s pretty -good for one day,” he murmured, as he tucked -the record of the morning’s preserving in his -pocket. “If he gets bottled a few more times,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -he can have a label and be put in Martin Hall -for a decoration. Pickled Percolator would -look nice.” Teddy giggled to himself as his -whimsical imagination pictured the plump assistant -unhappily confined in a huge glass jar, -a gigantic, awe-inspiring monument to the pickler’s -art.</p> - -<p>Although Teddy’s sworn crusade against Mr. -Jarvis might easily be criticized, it must also be -remembered that his motive, at least, was -prompted by loyalty alone. Had the assistant -been merely a disagreeable factor in the department -the lad would have accepted him as -such and foreborne to play on him more than -an occasional mischievous prank. Mr. Jarvis, -however, was engaged in an enterprise of the -most contemptible nature. By false words and -gross misrepresentation he was laboring to cut -the ground from under Mr. Everett’s feet.</p> - -<p>Teddy knew this. His sturdy boy nature revolted -at the very idea of such unfairness. -What he yearned to do was to expose the assistant’s -shortcomings to the public. He was -too shrewd to be deceived by Mr. Jarvis. He -knew, as well as others in the department knew, -that the man was not even a truly capable assistant. -His knowledge of the stock he burned -to become buyer of was not sound. Moreover, -his methods of running the department were too -unsettled and flighty to insure success. His superiors -had yet to learn this. Now that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> -bugle call for efficiency was blaring its warning -note throughout the business world, he was possessed -of a valuable ally. Teddy believed that -his duty lay in catching the plotter in his own -net.</p> - -<p>For a week after the fatal bucket episode, Mr. -Jarvis had considerably less to say than usual. -The sixth of October had not been a red-letter -day for him. First of all he had been made the -victim of what he privately knew to be an intentional -accident. Mr. Everett’s untimely appearance -on the scene had spoiled the arraignment -he had purposed to let loose on Teddy. -The buyer’s reprimand had put him to rout. -Later he was glad he had said nothing to the -lad. The red-haired boy’s air of calm innocence -would have proved impregnable.</p> - -<p>Three mornings afterward he had been summoned -to the superintendent’s office as a result -of blandly accusing a woman of not knowing her -own mind. In the face of the indignant letter -that he had been coldly requested to read, his -volubility deserted him. He was forced to listen -to a number of pointed remarks relating to -courtesy to customers and admonished that it -was the policy of the store to humor rather than -antagonize the public. Nothing was left him -save to apologize hypocritically for what must -“surely have been a misunderstanding,” and -retire with dark thoughts concerning “meddlesome -women.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> - -<p>“The Percolator looks as if he’d like to bite -to-day,” confided Teddy to Harry Harding several -days later, as the two sat eating their noonday -luncheon. Although Teddy was not aware -of it, Mr. Jarvis had that morning been taken -to task by Mr. Everett for making a change in -the arrangement of certain stock, contrary to -the buyer’s order. In consequence, the assistant -was immersed in his own wrath, and presented -a most war-like appearance as he -marched up and down the confines of 40 on the -hunt for trouble.</p> - -<p>“You’d better be careful he doesn’t bite -you,” was Harry’s playful caution.</p> - -<p>“He’s afraida me,” grinned Teddy. “I’m -such a good boy I scare him. If he got after me, -Mr. Everett’d take my part.”</p> - -<p>“But suppose you did something so bad that -Mr. Everett couldn’t help you?” Harry was -merely teasing, but Teddy took it seriously.</p> - -<p>“I never do anything bad,” he boasted, elevating -his sharp chin to a lofty angle. “I’m -s’prised at you, Harry Harding.”</p> - -<p>Harry’s boyish laugh rang out. “I was only -joking, Teddy,” he apologized. “I know you -wouldn’t do anything very terrible. Dustless -Dusters and buckets that walk are your limit.”</p> - -<p>Teddy acknowledged his crimes with a -snicker. “I’ve gotta turn over a new leaf,” he -announced. “Night school’s going to begin to-morrow. -Did you know it?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes; I found out this morning. Mr. Marsh -sent a messenger around the store with a notice. -I suppose you signed it, too.”</p> - -<p>“Yep. I wonder if we’ll like night school? -Last year I was mad as hops because I had to -go to day school. Remember?”</p> - -<p>“I certainly do. How about it this year?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’d just as soon go. I don’t want to -grow up a dummy. Besides, it’s only two nights -a week. I hope Mrs. Martin’ll give us a good -supper,” ended Teddy waggishly.</p> - -<p>Both boys giggled at the bare idea of the -stately wife of the senior partner in the rôle of -cook for a horde of hungry boys.</p> - -<p>“I don’t care much what I have to eat. It’s -school I’m thinking of.” Harry’s eyes glowed -at the prospect of resuming his studies.</p> - -<p>“Huh!” snorted Teddy. “I guess when I -work all day I oughta have a good supper. If I -don’t like the stuff they give us to eat, I’ll make -up for it when I get home. What I like best is -that we are going to be soldier boys. We’ll be -joining the ‘Martin Minute Men’ now. Some -name.”</p> - -<p>“I suppose it came from the Minute Men in -the Revolutionary war,” mused Harry. “It’s a -dandy name. Seems fine to think of being men -instead of just boys. We are to drill an hour -after supper each night before school begins.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and we’ll wear khaki uniforms like the -real soldiers and in summer we can go to camp,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -and whenever our country needs us we’ll be all -ready to go. Hurrah for the good old United -States!” Teddy’s voice rose shrilly as he -waved his spoon fantastically on high.</p> - -<p>“Sh-h-h!” cautioned Harry. The little boy’s -joyful outcry could be heard above the clatter -of dishes and busily humming voices.</p> - -<p>But Harry’s warning came too late. The -roomful of lively boys had heard the cheer and -now echoed it with a noisy fervor that made the -walls ring.</p> - -<p>“Now are you satisfied?” laughed Harry, as -the tumult gradually subsided.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t think I was hollering so loud.” -Teddy appeared a trifle abashed. “Anyhow, -who’s going to care? Nobody that loves his -country could scold you for hurrahing for it.”</p> - -<p>Teddy was still more confused when in the -next moment he found himself and Harry completely -surrounded by a crowd of merry-faced -boys, all talking at once.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter with the U. S.?” demanded -Arthur Worden joyfully. “And what’s -the matter with Teddy Burke?”</p> - -<p>“Nothing’s the matter with either of ’em,” -was Howard Randall’s tribute. His fat face -was beaming approval of Teddy. Out of their -early squabbles had sprouted firm friendship.</p> - -<p>“We were talking about school,” explained -Harry, “and Ted got excited over being a Minute -Man.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> - -<p>“We’re all crazy to get our uniforms,” put in -another boy eagerly. “I hope I’ll be in the same -company with you fellows. We all have to go up -to Martin Hall to-night.”</p> - -<p>The lads lingered about the table until the -last moment of their lunch hour. Teddy and -Harry were deservedly well-liked and outside of -Leon Atkins’ dislike for Harry, neither had an -enemy among the boys of the store.</p> - -<p>Teddy’s fears in regard to the supper that -night were groundless. The management of -Martin Brothers furnished for their young men -a plain but substantial meal that was exactly -suited to their needs. Both lads were supremely -happy as they sat at table in the great dairy -lunch room with a goodly number of other -young men, still the raw material from which -was to come the new life and blood of the great -establishment that housed and protected them.</p> - -<p>Again they thrilled with pride as they sat beside -their comrades in Martin Hall and listened -to the inspiring speeches of Mr. Keene and Mr. -Marsh. Then came a general looking-over and -registering of the two companies. These were -named Company D and Company E to distinguish -them from those of the store messenger -force who had yet to graduate from day school. -All those whose last names began with one of -the first thirteen letters of the alphabet were -consigned to Company D. The others fell to -Company E.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> - -<p>Company D, to which Harry and Teddy now -belonged, had Tuesday and Friday assigned to -them for their school work. Company E went -to school on Monday and Thursday nights. At -the conclusion of the registration and assignments -Mr. Keene again mounted to the stage -and addressed his flock.</p> - -<p>“Boys,” he said, “I am glad to see that you -are glad to come back to school. You’ve shown -us that to-night by your attention and enthusiasm. -This year you are going to do more than -be good pupils. You are going to be good soldiers. -That means a great many different -things. I know that there isn’t a boy here to-night -who wouldn’t willingly lay down his life -for his country.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Keene was interrupted by a frantic burst -of cheers. He smilingly waited for the demonstration -of applause to die away. Then he continued:</p> - -<p>“Your cheers prove you are patriots. Love -of country is the highest form of patriotism, -but there’s another kind of patriotism that -counts, too. It is loyalty to the house that employs -you. If you try to do the best that is in -you for those who are trying to do their best -for you, then you are patriots. A patriot at -work will become a patriot at war. Wherever -you may be placed, boys, whether it’s in this -store or in the trenches, be loyal to your trust; -obedient to your orders. Whether it means business<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -or war, remember you are on the firing -line and must prove yourselves to be good soldiers. -That’s all.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Keene smilingly nodded down at the rows -of upturned faces. As he left the stage he received -a tribute of boyish adoration that echoed -and re-echoed through the great hall. There -was but one Mr. Keene.</p> - -<p>“I guess anybody’d want to be a good soldier -just to please Mr. Keene,” glowed Teddy, when, -half an hour later, the chums trotted homeward -together through the crisp, starry October -night.</p> - -<p>“He’s splendid.” Harry reinforced Teddy’s -enthusiasm. “Isn’t it wonderful, Ted, that we -can work in a store like this?”</p> - -<p>“Yep. I’m going to stay in Martin Brothers’ -store till I’m dead. When I get too old to be -superintendent, I’m going to get a job in the -transfer gathering up packages.”</p> - -<p>“If you ever got to be superintendent, you’d -have money enough to live on when you were too -old to work,” smiled practical Harry.</p> - -<p>“That’s so,” admitted Teddy, “but I -wouldn’t have much fun. I’d rather hustle a -truck than get old and sit in the sun and have -only crackers to eat and think about the Dragoness -and the Clothes-pole and the Percolator and -all my dear friends. I guess I won’t grow up. -I’d rather stay a red-haired boy with 65 for a -number.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII</a><br /> -<small>THE BOY WHO COULD FORGIVE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">With the beginning of school a fresh era -of interest arrived for Harry and -Teddy. As October waned, faded and -finally gave up the ghost in the icy arms of November, -the two boys found themselves in the -thick of many happenings. Being soldiers was -a never-ceasing source of delight to them. They -looked forward with the eagerness to their semi-weekly -drill which preceded lessons. Companies -D and E were recruits to the regular Minute -Men of the store and were under the efficient -guidance of a retired officer of the National -Guard. A wound received while with his regiment -on the Mexican border had unfitted him -for the further strenuous service required of the -regular militia, but he proved an admirable instructor -and Martin Brothers were highly gratified -to obtain him for their purpose.</p> - -<p>The night school was a true commercial institute. -Its curriculum of study included such subjects<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -as would be most useful to a working boy. -Arithmetic, English, spelling and simple book-keeping -were taught in the first year’s course. -One evening was devoted to arithmetic and English; -the other to spelling and book-keeping. -As the night school did not take the students -from their store duties, it remained in session -until the last week of December to reopen immediately -after the annual counting of stock.</p> - -<p>As a soldier boy Teddy was in his glory. -When not at drill, he marched about, his thin -little body erect with military precision. At -home he was never tired of going through the -manual of arms for his proud mother’s benefit, -and more than once in Department 40 an obliging -broom or mop furnished him with a make-believe -gun with which to exploit his newly -learned tactics of war for the benefit of his -friend Sam Hickson.</p> - -<p>Affairs in house furnishings had been progressing -a trifle more smoothly of late for Mr. -Everett. A two-weeks’ illness had removed his -guileful assistant from the lists. During that -time the department had thriven and rejoiced, -and the worried expression on the buyer’s clean-cut -face had completely disappeared. In the -fervor of being a good soldier, Mr. Jarvis’ absence -suited Teddy down to the ground. “I’m -sorry for anybody that’s sick, but I can’t cry -because the Percolator’s not percolating for a -while. I gotta lot of business of my own to tend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -to and if he was flying around here I’d just have -to fly after him.” Teddy had confided this to -Hickson, who laughingly agreed that Mr. Jarvis’ -absence was a good thing for everybody all -around.</p> - -<p>In Department 84, Harry Harding was also -proceeding far more peacefully through November -than he had hoped. Mr. Atkins was too -much rushed by the heavy consignments of -books that daily poured in upon him to trouble -himself greatly about Harry. Since Mr. Brady -had established lazy Leon on the selling floor, -where he could be watched, a load had been -lifted from both Mr. Atkins’ and Harry’s shoulders. -The latter could readily have given points -to the proverbial busy bee. Work, when uninterrupted -by the disagreeable Leon, was a pleasure, -and he waded into it for all he was worth.</p> - -<p>The early part of November found him dividing -his time between the stock-room and the department. -On the selling-floor he was at everyone’s -beck and call, where he was so uniformly -cheerful and willing as to create a constant call -from the various salespeople for his services. -Miss Breeden alone held aloof. Whatever she -wished done she ordered Leon to do and this -showed Harry plainly that she had not forgiven -him for the unfortunate incident of last year.</p> - -<p>It was while he was helping Mr. Denby arrange -a table one snowy morning that he made -a discovery. Mr. Barton was missing from his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -usual environment. As the day passed he failed -to materialize and Harry wondered vaguely -where he was. Three days passed and still he -was not among those present. A strange young -man walked about the missing aisle manager’s -domain and from Mr. Denby, Harry learned that -Mr. Barton was ill. In answer to his query, -“What is the matter?” the salesman shrugged -and replied that he didn’t know, nor did he -seem to care.</p> - -<p>“What ails Mr. Barton, Miss Welch?” It -was now the fourth day of the man’s absence -and after making fruitless inquiry about the department -Harry had come to the pretty exchange -clerk for information. Why he was so -anxious to find this out he did not know. From -within had sprung a certain strange prompting -to inquire into the cause of Mr. Barton’s -malady.</p> - -<p>“Poor Smarty Barty’s in bad,” informed the -exchange clerk. “He’s got something the matter -with his stomach, I guess. He was sicker -than the sickest the last day he was here. I almost -felt sorry for him. After all it ain’t no -fun to be down and out in a boarding house with -no one to care whether you live or croak.”</p> - -<p>“I thought he had a home.” Harry frowned -thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>“Now who’d wanta live with him?” demanded -Miss Welch with fine disgust. “He’d -wear out the patience of a saint. Just like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -that.” She snapped her fingers. “Say, it’s awful -for me to talk so, now isn’t it? But never -mind, maybe I’m just a teeny bit sorry for him. -Poor old Smarty.”</p> - -<p>“Of course you are,” nodded Harry. “You -are too nice and kind not to care when someone’s -in trouble.”</p> - -<p>“Listen to him. Soft soap, Kiddy, soft -soap.” Miss Welch dimpled prettily at the compliment.</p> - -<p>“It’s not soft soap. I mean it. Where does -he live, Miss Welch?”</p> - -<p>“You’ve got me, boy. Wait a minute now. -Come to think of it his address is kicking around -this desk somewhere. Was you thinking of paying -him a visit?” The girl’s voice held a note -of good-natured raillery. She fumbled obligingly -about her desk. “Here it is. Amos Barton, -6143 Wayland Street. That’s way up on -the north side.”</p> - -<p>From his pocket Harry took a note-book and -gravely copied the address. “Want to go with -me, Miss Welch?” he asked. “I’m going there -to-night as soon as I’ve had my supper.”</p> - -<p>“Sure I’d go, but I’ve got a date with a -coupla girls to take in a show. The tickets are -bought, too. Don’t you get lost out there.”</p> - -<p>“I can find it. I’m sorry you can’t go. I’ll -tell you about how I came out to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“Be sure you do, Harry. Is this the pattern -counter?” She repeated the question of a sad-faced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -man who peered timidly at her through -his glasses. “I hope not yet.” Her dimpling -sally made the sad man smile. “Over the other -side, two aisles to the right.</p> - -<p>“Now what do you think of that?” she giggled, -after watching the man depart. “The idea -of sending a <em>man</em> out to buy a pattern. I’ll bet -he can’t tell a bath-robe from an evening dress. -No wonder he looked like a whole buncha -gloom.”</p> - -<p>“Maybe he’s a tailor,” guessed Harry. “I -must go. Thank you for the address.”</p> - -<p>“Keep the change and buy an aeroplane. -Give my regards to <em>Mister</em> Barton and tell him -I miss him. You needn’t say it’s a good miss, -though.”</p> - -<p>More than once during that day Harry debated -within as to whether or not he had best -call on Mr. Barton. He had told Miss Welch -that he intended to go, but still he was not quite -sure that it was the thing to do. On the way -home he confided his project to Teddy, who received -it with derisive hoots. “Catch me going -to see that old crank!” was the little boy’s -scornful exclamation.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Harding, however, viewed it from a different -angle. “If you feel that it is right to go, -Harry, then go by all means. I am glad to see -you can sympathize with another in distress.”</p> - -<p>That settled it. The moment he had finished -his supper, Harry put on his hat and coat and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -set out through a blinding flurry of snow that -had begun to fall before Teddy and himself had -reached home that evening. It was several -blocks to the point where he could catch a Wayland -street car, but he plodded manfully along, -frequently brushing the snow from his face.</p> - -<p>It was a fairly long car ride to 6143 Wayland -Street. The house in which Mr. Barton -lived was a four-story brick structure set in the -middle of a row of similar residences. A stout, -gray-haired woman with hard blue eyes answered -his ring. When he timidly asked for -Mr. Barton she frowned as though seized by an -unpleasant memory.</p> - -<p>“He’s not here,” she said shortly. “They -took him to the hospital yesterday. I’m too -busy to wait on a sick man and he didn’t have -any place else to go. He groaned and took on -something awful. He owes me for his board for -this week, but I suppose I’ll get that. Are you -any relation of his?”</p> - -<p>Harry smiled faintly. He was dreadfully disappointed. -“No; I work in the same store he -does. Will you please tell me to what hospital -he was taken?”</p> - -<p>“To the Cameron. Did you come here with -his salary? If you did, I’ll just take care of it. -I can keep his board out of that.”</p> - -<p>Harry had hard work not to betray the indignation -he felt as he answered: “I only came -to see how he was. I don’t know anything about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -his affairs.” The woman’s unfeeling attitude -made him doubly sorry for the helpless man left -to the mercy of strangers.</p> - -<p>“Well, he’s not here. You’d better go to the -hospital.” She closed the door in his face with -a decisive slam.</p> - -<p>Harry walked away from the house undecided -what to do next. He had no idea of the location -of the Cameron Hospital. “Maybe I’d better -look for a drugstore and telephone. I can’t -go home and rest until I find out about him,” -was his thought. Two blocks further up the -street the red and green light of a drugstore -shone. He hurried there, hastily consulted a -telephone directory and taking his only nickel, -his carfare home, telephoned the hospital.</p> - -<p>He was informed that Mr. Barton was there -and “doing nicely.” Harry did not know that -this trite phrase was used to describe all conditions -of a patient, whether lightly or seriously -ill. No, he could not see Mr. Barton in the evening. -He was in a ward. Visiting hours were on -Monday and Friday afternoons between two -and four o’clock. He could come then.</p> - -<p>“A lot they know about it,” smiled the nettled -lad, as he hung up the receiver. “I’ll have -to ask for some time off and go. Thank goodness, -to-morrow’s Friday. It looks pretty bad. -Poor Mr. Barton. Now I’ll have to walk home. -I’ll get there late, too. Mothery’ll be worried.”</p> - -<p>It was half-past ten when a veritable snow-man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -stamped into the Harding’s little living -room. Harry was wholly correct in thinking -that his mother would worry.</p> - -<p>“Child alive, what made you stay so late?” -she cried, her brown eyes full of anxiety. “I -thought something awful had happened to you.”</p> - -<p>“Not a bit of it. Wait till I get off my coat -and I’ll kiss you.”</p> - -<p>“Take off those wet shoes and clothes and get -into your pajamas and bathrobe. Hurry now, -or you’ll catch cold. I’ll fix you some hot milk.” -The little woman bustled about in behalf of the -returned wanderer.</p> - -<p>Ten minutes afterward Harry was comfortably -arrayed and curled up at his mother’s -feet, a cup of steaming milk in his hand. “My, -but this is comfy. Now listen, Mothery, while I -tell you about Mr. Barton.”</p> - -<p>“The poor thing!” Mrs. Harding brimmed -with sympathy at Harry’s story. “Be sure you -get off to-morrow and go to see him. But why -didn’t you wait till morning, Son, to telephone? -That was an awful walk for you to take.”</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t, dear. I couldn’t rest until I -found out about him. Are they good to folks -in hospitals?”</p> - -<p>“If you have the money.” Mrs. Harding’s -reply was tinged with bitterness. “It’s all right -if you can pay. If you can’t they do the best -they can for you, I suppose. They have so many -patients who are too poor to pay their way that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> -they get so they don’t sympathize much with -them. I should think an aisle manager could -pay his way. He must get twenty-five dollars a -week.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know. I’ll have to find out.” -Harry viewed his cup of milk with a sober gaze. -“I was just thinking how much I’ve got to be -thankful for. You and health and work and a -home. And Mr. Barton hasn’t anyone. I never -told you, Mothery, but he wasn’t very good to -me last year. I thought then that I hated him. -I found out just lately the reason he was so -cross. He’s had dyspepsia for years. He might -have been real pleasant if he’d been well. It -just shows that one person never knows much -about what’s going on inside another person, -after all.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII</a><br /> -<small>THE ERRAND OF MERCY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">“And he’s in a hospital! Well, what do -you know about that?” Miss Welch -regarded the bearer of this astounding -information with the air of one who is completely -flabbergasted. “The Cameron, did you -say? That’s not so far from here. ’Bout a -mile, I guess. And you’re going to see him. -Well, take it from me, you’re the whitest kid I -know.”</p> - -<p>Harry colored a trifle at this blunt tribute to -himself. “I’m going this afternoon. Mr. -Brady said I could.”</p> - -<p>“Did you tell him what you wanted to get off -for? I’ll bet you my hat you didn’t.”</p> - -<p>Harry’s color deepened as he shook his head. -“I thought I’d find out all about Mr. Barton -first,” he explained. “If I had told Mr. Brady -that I went to Mr. Barton’s boarding house last -night, he might have thought it funny. Maybe -he wouldn’t have let me off. He might have said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -it wasn’t necessary and just telephoned the hospital -himself. That wouldn’t suit me. I want -to see him myself.”</p> - -<p>“Foxy little kiddo,” commented Miss Welch. -“That’s just about Brady’s speed. Talk about -hospitals! You might as well try to pry open a -safe with a toothpick as to get those frosties to -talk over a ’phone. They’d say, ‘he’s doing -nicely’ if he was at his last gasp. That’s a little -sidetrack they’re fond of laying. I know. I -had a brother down with typhoid at the Stevenson -a coupla years ago. I almost had to break -down the doors to get to see him.”</p> - -<p>“The man on the telephone said last night -that Mr. Barton was doing nicely,” admitted -Harry. “I didn’t know they always said that. -It’s a good thing I asked off. After I’ve seen -him I’ll know if there’s anything I can do for -him. That lady where he boards didn’t seem -to care for anything except what he owes her.”</p> - -<p>“She’s no lady,” contradicted Miss Welch. -“She must have a chunka rock for a heart. I -wonder if poor old Barty had any coin? It’s a -chilly day for him if he’s broke.”</p> - -<p>This was a point which Harry also had -gravely considered. “Would the store pay him -his salary just the same if he were sick a long -time?” was his anxious question.</p> - -<p>“Nope. They hardly ever do it in such a big -place as this. Of course, there’s the store beneficiary. -He’ll get something every week from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -that as long as he’s sick. Not more than six or -seven dollars, though. That might see him -through, but seven-dollar-a-week patients don’t -get any better treatment than the free ones. -They chuck ’em together in the same wards and -serve ’em all alike. That’s what they did to my -brother, and we paid seven.”</p> - -<p>Harry left the exchange clerk’s desk considerably -enlightened on the subject of hospitals. -Now that he was ready to embark on his errand -of mercy, he was somewhat concerned as to his -reception at the Cameron. “I suppose hospitals -have to be as strict as stores,” he reflected. -“Probably they have so many poor folks to look -after they can’t afford to treat them better.” -In reality this is the precise truth as regards the -majority of hospitals in a large city. Except in -the case of those which have been liberally endowed, -a constant struggle goes on to meet the -heavy demands made upon them by poverty-stricken -humanity.</p> - -<p>The boy’s heart beat a trifle faster that afternoon, -when at five minutes to two o’clock he -stopped for a moment at Miss Welch’s desk to -tell her he was about to set forth on his pilgrimage -of comfort.</p> - -<p>“Have you any word to send to Mr. Barton?” -he asked. “You said for me to stop and see you -when I was ready to go.”</p> - -<p>Miss Welch gave a short, embarrassed laugh. -Reaching under her desk she brought forth a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -long, narrow pasteboard box, bearing the name -of a nearby florist.</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t let you beat me to it, Harry,” she -said almost apologetically. “When I went to -lunch this noon I blew myself to these carnations. -They ain’t much, but mebbe they’ll help -some.” She did not add that the silver dollar -they had cost her was her week’s spending -money.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Miss Welch, you are splendid! I know -he’ll like them. It will help me, too, to be able -to give them to him. Then he won’t think it -queer of me to go to see him. Besides, he’ll be -glad to know you remembered him and are sorry -he’s sick.”</p> - -<p>“Away with you!” Miss Welch’s eyes were -misty as she waved Harry off on his errand. -“Who’d ever thought I’d be sending posies to -Smarty? It’s that blessed boy’s fault.” She -dashed her hand across her eyes and plunged -with relief into crisp discussion with a woman -who vainly strove to exchange a wedding present -of silver for cash.</p> - -<p>The Cameron Hospital was situated on the -corner of Tremayne and Harris Streets, a distance -of about fourteen blocks from Martin -Brothers. It was a huge, overwhelming, gray -stone building, extending almost the length of -the block. Harry felt curiously timid and insignificant -as he mounted the wide stone steps. He -had never before entered a hospital and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> -prospect dismayed him. Half expecting to be -rebuffed by the grim-faced man at the door, he -was agreeably surprised to receive prompt attention -when he had explained his errand.</p> - -<p>The ward in which Mr. Barton lay ill was on -the fourth floor. Carefully following directions, -he presently reached it to be challenged at the -door by a white-capped nurse. Again Harry -was called upon to state his business, then followed -the young woman into a long room and -down a wide aisle formed by row after row of -narrow white beds.</p> - -<p>“Here is a visitor for you, Mr. Barton.” -The nurse had halted beside the very last left-hand -bed in the row. Standing directly behind -her, Harry’s heart was filled with pity as he -caught sight of Mr. Barton’s familiar features, -now too plainly stamped with suffering. He -lay with closed eyes, which opened languidly at -sound of the nurse’s voice. An expression of -unbelieving amazement swept his gaunt face as -he recognized his caller.</p> - -<p>“Good afternoon, Mr. Barton.” Harry -smiled and held out his hand. “I heard you -were sick, so I thought I’d come to see you.”</p> - -<p>Without speaking, the man weakly clasped the -proffered hand. In his tired eyes was a dumb -agony of contrition that words could never have -expressed. “I’m glad to see you, my boy. It -was kind in you to come,” he said faintly.</p> - -<p>“I would have come to see you before, but I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -didn’t know you were so sick. I’ve brought you -some flowers. Miss Welch sent them. She is -sorry for you, too.” Briskly Harry opened the -box and displayed the pink, fragrant token of -sympathy. “Aren’t they cheerful?” he asked, -holding them up. “Before I go I’ll ask the -nurse to put them in water and set them on that -little table. Then you can see them all the -time.”</p> - -<p>To his utter consternation, Harry saw a tear -roll down the sick man’s cheek. “This won’t -do at all,” he decided. “I’ve got to cheer him -up. I’d better pretend not to notice and start in -and tell him about last night.” With a gay, -boyish laugh he began: “I went to your house -last night, Mr. Barton, and got caught in a snow -storm. I was a regular snow-man by the time -I got home. It was an awful night, but it’s nice -out to-day, only the streets are full of snow.”</p> - -<p>To his relief no more tears fell. A flash of interest -crossed the sick man’s face as he heard -this information. “What—did—the woman at -my boarding-house say to you?” he inquired.</p> - -<p>“Oh, she said you had left there for this hospital -yesterday. So I telephoned right away -to ask about you. I wanted to see you because—well—I -hoped I could do something to help you. -I wish, if you feel you’d like to, that you’d tell -me just how things are with you.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Barton studied Harry in silence. Something -in the lad’s direct, friendly gaze compelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -confidence. He sighed, then said huskily, -“Things look pretty bad for me, Harry.” It -was the first time he had ever addressed Harry -by name. Formerly it had always been, “Boy,” -or “45.”</p> - -<p>“Would you care to tell me just how bad they -are?” queried Harry gently. “You can trust -me, you know.”</p> - -<p>“I know that.” Mr. Barton sighed again. -“You’re a good boy and I’ve been very unjust -to you.”</p> - -<p>Harry made a quick gesture of dismissal. -“Just tell me about yourself,” he urged. “How -serious is your sickness and must you stay here -long before you’re well again?”</p> - -<p>“It’s my stomach,” replied the man. “I’ve -had trouble with it for years. I always thought -it plain dyspepsia, but there’s a complication -that only an operation will cure. But it’s too -expensive. Not only the operation, but afterward. -I’d have to rest for several months. I -can’t afford to do that, and yet I can’t afford to -lie here. I don’t know what to do. I’ve never -saved any money. I’ve just been able to live on -my salary and send a little each month to a sister -who’s an invalid.” His speech trailed to a -despairing whisper.</p> - -<p>“I see how it is,” Harry nodded seriously. -“If you could somehow get enough money for -the operation and afterward, you’d be all right. -Perhaps if you’d send for Mr. Edward Martin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -and tell him this, he might help you.”</p> - -<p>“I couldn’t do that.” The aisle manager -shook his head stubbornly. “I’ve never asked -anyone for help yet and I’d rather die than do it -now.” A dull flush of humiliation rose to the -pale cheeks. “He has so many demands made -on him. I couldn’t do it. Could you?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe I’d like to,” confessed -Harry. “Still, there ought to be some way out -for you. I’m going to try to find it. I’ll think -as hard as I can and next Monday I’ll try to -come here again. If I can’t I’ll write you.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a good boy; a good boy,” repeated -Mr. Barton. “I don’t deserve it. I never did -anything for you except make you trouble. You -shame me, Harry.” Again he appeared on the -verge of breaking down.</p> - -<p>“Now, Mr. Barton,” Harry laid his hand -lightly on that of the sick man. “You mustn’t -think of that. It’s not good for you. We’re -going to be friends from now on and I’m going -to help you. I must hurry back to the store at -once. Oh, yes, I wanted to ask you, will your -beneficiary money pay your board here?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; it’s seven dollars a week and that is -what I am entitled to draw. There is one thing -I’d like to ask you to do. Draw the salary that’s -coming to me from the store and pay my board -at Wayland Street. It’s nine dollars. There’s -just about money enough owing me to pay it. -Ask the nurse for a pen and paper and I’ll write<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -you an order. Give it to the pay-master and -he’ll give you the money. I haven’t anyone else -that I can ask. I could write to the store, but -it would be quicker for me to have you attend to -it. Will you do it?” he quavered anxiously.</p> - -<p>“Of course I will.” Harry’s pity was doubly -aroused. What a dreadful thing it was to be so -lonely and friendless!</p> - -<p>As Harry left the hospital with the order for -Mr. Barton’s salary in his pocket, his mind was -painfully bent on how he might accomplish the -impossible. He was not afraid to go to the senior -partner of the store with Mr. Barton’s case, -but in the face of the man’s strong objection he -was loath to do so. During the balance of the -afternoon he devised a number of wild schemes -to help the stricken aisle manager, every one -of which he renounced as impracticable.</p> - -<p>It fell to Teddy Burke, however, to present -him with an idea that he marveled he had not -thought of himself. Harry related the details -of his visit to Teddy as they trudged home from -work through the snowy night. Although the -little boy kept up a running fire of skeptical -comment, he was none the less deeply impressed.</p> - -<p>“I know what I’d do if I was you,” came -Teddy’s inspiration. “I’d give a show and then -take the money and give it to his nibs.”</p> - -<p>“A show!” Harry looked startled. “What -kind of a show and where could we give it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, let me see.” Teddy considered owlishly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -“You could have—I know what you -could have. You could have a show in Martin -Hall with singing and dancing and such stuff. -You’d better go to Mr. Keene and tell him about -this Barton fellow and why you want to have a -show. Then, if he says it’s a go, I’ll ask Miss -Verne to help. She knows all the people in the -store that do stunts. We could have it the evening -before Thanksgiving and have notices all -over the store that it’s a benefit for a sick employee. -You don’t have to say who he is.” -Teddy paused after this brilliant outburst.</p> - -<p>“Teddy Burke, you’re a real genius. That’s -a dandy idea. I’ll see Mr. Keene to-morrow.”</p> - -<p>“I’d just as soon sing if you want me. That -ought to count some,” offered Teddy pompously. -“Everybody made a fuss over me when -I was in that play last year.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, you will be the star performer,” promised -Harry happily. “We’ll have to hurry to -do it, though. It’s only a little over two weeks -until Thanksgiving.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll do my part, if you do yours. If we -make a lot of money for old Smarty, who’s had -all the smartness taken out of him, we’ll be some -folks with the people in the store.”</p> - -<p>“See here, Ted, I hate to say it, but if we do -this we ought not to let anyone know that we -were back of it. It would be better to have Mr. -Keene and Miss Verne take the credit. We are -just boys, you know. If we went around saying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -it was our show, people might not care to come. -I don’t want any glory. I want the money for -Mr. Barton.” Harry shrank from the thought -of letting his right hand know the deeds of his -left.</p> - -<p>“I s’pose that’s so.” Teddy saw his dreams -of becoming a public benefactor vanishing in -thin air. “Folks might say that a show got up -by a coupla kids wasn’t much. We’d better let -Mr. Keene and Miss Verne run it. That is, if -we have it. Anyhow, I’m going to sing, and believe -me, I’ll be some little old singer, just to -make up for that time I called Smarty a crank -and got you into trouble.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV</a><br /> -<small>TEDDY SCENTS A MYSTERY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Mr. Keene’s astonishment at Harry’s -proposal, made on the following morning, -was soon swallowed up by his readiness -to carry out Harry’s laudable plan. “It -takes a pretty broad-minded boy, Harry, to suggest -helping a man who once made matters uncomfortable -for him,” he said with a significance -that brought the blood to the boy’s cheeks. Mr. -Keene had learned from Mr. Marsh of Harry’s -trials of the previous year.</p> - -<p>“He needs help,” was Harry’s quiet reminder. -“I think giving a show would be a -nice way to help him. Teddy Burke was the one -who thought of it. I didn’t know what to do. -We don’t care to have anyone but you and Miss -Verne know that we had a hand in it.”</p> - -<p>“I will talk with Miss Verne about it this afternoon,” -promised Mr. Keene.</p> - -<p>Here Harry’s part in the plan ended. Confident -that Mr. Keene would set things in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -motion, he went light-heartedly back to his department, -patiently to await further developments. -Already he felt assured that Mr. Barton’s -chances for proper treatment and health -were rosy.</p> - -<p>True to his promise, Mr. Keene sent for Miss -Verne that very afternoon. An hour’s earnest -consultation put Harry’s plan in a fair way of -being speedily accomplished. The next day Miss -Verne went about the store interviewing those -whose special talents would be needed for the -coming benefit. Mr. Keene also busied himself -in seeing to it that a goodly number of typed -notices were established at various points of the -store where they would attract the most attention. -At his own expense he gave orders for -the printing of tickets of admission, setting the -price at the modest figure of thirty-five cents. -He had wisely reckoned that a crowded house -at the price was more to be desired than one -half-filled at fifty cents.</p> - -<p>By the time the tickets were ready, the performers -were diligently rehearsing for the event -and the whole project proceeded with a smoothness -that promised brilliant fulfillment and -many dollars.</p> - -<p>Aside from Teddy, Harry, Mr. Keene, Mr. -Marsh and Miss Verne, only one other person -in the store had been let into the secret. Privately, -Harry had confided the whole affair to -Miss Welch. The exchange clerk expressed her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -delight in her usual warm-hearted, if inelegant -fashion, and clamored to be allowed to sell tickets. -Mr. Keene had already given ten tickets to -each boy on the store messenger force with smiling -orders not to return one of them. He had -also shrewdly offered a prize of five dollars to -the boy who should sell the most tickets and -competition ran high.</p> - -<p>Several days previous to the entertainment, -the first lot of tickets ran out and another lot -was hastily printed. Many of them had been -purchased by the employees of the store who -were ready and willing to contribute their mite -to so worthy an object. But customers and -members of employees’ families rallied to the -cause and it was generally conceded by those -intimately interested in the benefit that on the -great night Martin Hall would be filled to overflowing.</p> - -<p>Teddy Burke was down on the programme -for two songs. In consequence, he was highly -pleased with himself. Every night he rehearsed -them at home with his mother at the piano. On -the evening before the benefit, Mrs. Harding and -Harry were to take dinner with the Burkes, and -Teddy was to sing them for his friend’s edification. -Mrs. Burke and Mrs. Harding were, of -course, in possession of the inside facts of the -benefit. It was in the natural order of things -for Harry to confide in his mother. Teddy, -however, who delighted in being impressive, had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -exacted his mother’s solemn vow of secrecy before -imparting to her the information.</p> - -<p>The one bitter drop in Teddy’s cup of satisfaction -was Harry’s interdiction which forbade -him to acquaint his friend Sam Hickson with the -inside facts of the coming benefit. The red-haired -salesman obligingly bought two of the -tickets Teddy had for sale with the flattering -comment, “I guess it won’t kill me to hear you -sing, Reddy.” His accompanying smile plainly -said that it was solely on that account that he -bought them.</p> - -<p>“Are you going to take your girl?” was Teddy’s -pointed question.</p> - -<p>“Do I have to tell that?” grinned the man.</p> - -<p>“Sure you do, when <em>I</em> ask. You tell me that -and some day, ’bout two years from now, I’ll -tell you something that’ll s’p’rise you.”</p> - -<p>“What if I’m dead by that time?” teased -Hickson.</p> - -<p>“Aw, keep it to yourself.” Teddy prepared -to take himself off. “I don’t want to know, -anyway.”</p> - -<p>“Then I’ll tell you. I’m going to take my -mother. She’s my best girl.”</p> - -<p>“My mother’s going to be there, too. Let’s -introduce our mothers to each other. You wait -till the benefit’s over and I’ll bring mine around -to where you are.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a go.” Hickson looked well pleased.</p> - -<p>“I’ve sold twenty-eight tickets,” boasted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -Teddy. “I’ve got two more yet to sell. Guess -I’ll ask the perky Percolator to buy ’em. Just -for a joke, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Better not,” advised Hickson. “He’s as -cross as two sticks since he came back. Being -sick upset his calculations, I guess.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I was only fooling.” Teddy really -meant it. Yet later in the day, when the two -tickets still reposed in his pocket, he changed his -mind. Sidling up to the assistant, his black eyes -two wells of seraphic confidence, he said -sweetly: “Would you like to buy a coupla tickets -for the benefit, Mr. Per—Jarvis? They are -only thirty-five cents apiece. It’s to help a man -who’s very sick.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Jarvis threw up his plump hands in an -impatient gesture. “Don’t say tickets to me, -boy. I have been asked a dozen times to buy -tickets for that ridiculous affair. Benefits are a -needless nuisance. If this man, whoever he is, -had saved his money he would not have become -a public burden. He failed to practise efficiency; -now others are asked to pay for his failure -to provide for himself. Such improvidence -is disgraceful.”</p> - -<p>Teddy’s freckles stood out darkly against the -angry red that burned behind them. “S’pose -<em>you</em> got sick and hadn’t anyone or anything to -help you. Wouldn’t you be glad if somebody -gave you a benefit?”</p> - -<p>“I cannot imagine any such situation,” came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> -the pompous answer. “My efficient methods -protect me against any emergency. Instead of -wasting Martin Brothers’ time selling tickets, -you had better attend to business. Come with -me and I will give you something useful to do.”</p> - -<p>“Something useful” turned out to be the distasteful -labor of transferring a flock of unwieldy -kettles from their abiding place on the under -shelf of a table to the same lowly position beneath -another. When Teddy had thumped the -last one into place he rose to his feet filled with -wrath and bedecked with dust. Thoughts of -compassion for Mr. Barton, which had swayed -him since the preparations for the benefit had -been in full swing, were now obliterated by his -old desire to torment Mr. Jarvis.</p> - -<p>“Wish I could make him eat his old efficiency,” -was Teddy’s savage reflection, as he -started for the lavatory to wash his grimy -hands. “I’ve been so busy selling tickets I’m -’fraid I’ve neglected Mr. Jarvis. I’ll have to -get on the job again. My efficiency tells me it’s -about time to do some more canning.”</p> - -<p>Yet for several days following Teddy’s renewal -of his crusade, Mr. Jarvis bustled about -house furnishings, triumphantly uncanned. -Anxious to make up for lost time the assistant -had again resumed his badgering of the salespeople -in 40. He and Mr. Everett were continually -at loggerheads, and the old, worried frown -had returned to the buyer’s brow. Teddy was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -indefatigable in his efforts to catch Mr. Jarvis -at a disadvantage, but the latter trotted about -the department, scathing in his fault-finding, -himself unscathed.</p> - -<p>Three days before Thanksgiving found Teddy -divided between anticipation and despair. Anticipation -of the entertainment which was to be -held Thanksgiving eve; despair of catching Mr. -Jarvis off his guard. As he stood eyeing his -pet aversion, who was superintending the disposal -of a consignment of long-handled floor -brushes with the gentle behavior of a section -boss, Teddy wished with whimsical cruelty that -said brushes would suddenly rise up and thump -him.</p> - -<p>“Why, Teddy Burke, how are you? I haven’t -seen you since you left day school.” A soft -voice broke in on his vengeful meditations.</p> - -<p>Teddy whirled about at sound of the clear, -sweet tones, to confront Miss Leonard, his -teacher of last year. The young woman smiled -radiant pleasure at sight of her pupil and held -out her hand. The boy shook it with joyful fervor. -He was very glad to see Miss Leonard.</p> - -<p>“I’m ever so glad to see you,” he said, looking -up rather more shyly than was his wont. -“How did you happen to be down here? Don’t -you work in the store now?” He noted that -Miss Leonard wore her coat and hat. “You -used to be in the mail-order department afternoons, -didn’t you?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Yes. I am still in the store. I teach in the -mornings, but in the afternoons I go about the -store and do a great many different things. -Some days I am in the Correspondence or the -Bureau of Adjustment. Then, too, I work in the -Catalogue or Comparison departments. But -just now, well, I’m doing something else.” She -smiled mysteriously. “If you happen to see me -down here now and then in the next few days, -don’t be surprised.”</p> - -<p>“I won’t.” Teddy wondered mightily as to -the nature of Miss Leonard’s enterprise, but he -asked no questions. He had a conviction that -it would not be proper. If Miss Leonard had -wished him to know she would have told him. -Nevertheless, his ever ready curiosity came to -the front. When she left him after a moment’s -pleasant conversation, Teddy had fully -decided to find out a few things for himself.</p> - -<p>After Miss Leonard had left him to walk -slowly about the department, he flitted after her, -keeping at a safe distance. He watched her eagerly -as she stopped Miss Newton. He saw Miss -Newton wag her head and point toward an elevator. -He noted, too, that instead of going directly -to it, Miss Leonard waylaid Sam Hickson -and addressed him. Hickson’s lips moved in an -answer. Miss Leonard nodded and smiled. Instead -of proceeding to the elevator she turned -and walked out of the department in an opposite -direction.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Say, do you know that pretty young lady -with the brown hair? She spoke to you.” -Teddy had hastily pursued Hickson to ask the -question.</p> - -<p>“What lady? Oh, I know. You mean that -woman who asked me where she could find down -pillows? No; I never saw her before.”</p> - -<p>“Humph!” ejaculated Teddy. “That’s -funny.”</p> - -<p>“Why is it——” began Hickson, but Teddy -had already scuttled up a side aisle to where -Miss Newton was laboriously counting her sales.</p> - -<p>“Did a brown-haired, pretty lady just ask -you where the elevator was, Miss Newton?” -quizzed the boy, his black eyes full of curiosity.</p> - -<p>“Why, no.” Miss Newton looked up from -her sales book. “A young woman asked me -where school supplies were. I told her first -floor, and directed her to the nearest elevator.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you.” Teddy had departed as suddenly -as he appeared. A moment afterward his -red head bobbed up in the immediate vicinity of -Sam Hickson.</p> - -<p>“You back again!” teased Hickson. “Where -did you beat it to so quick?”</p> - -<p>“See here, I’ve got something on my mind. -It’s the Mystery of Miss Leonard; or, why does -a teacher ask questions?”</p> - -<p>“You’ve got me. Talk English. I’m no mind -reader.” Hickson leaned against a table and -beamed tolerantly at his small questioner.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> - -<p>“That lady that spoke to you is Miss Leonard, -my teacher last year. She’s been in the -store quite a while. She knows where everything -is, but she goes and asks you and Miss -Newton ’bout where things are. I was talking -to her just before she stopped you. She used to -be in the mail order afternoons. Now she says -she goes all over the store. She said I needn’t -be s’prised to see her down here again soon. -Now what do you s’pose she’s doing?” ended -Teddy, bent on unravelling the mystery.</p> - -<p>“How should I know?” Hickson said lazily. -“I’m not hired to keep tabs on her. By -George!” His indolent expression vanished. -“I wonder if she’s being sent around as a -spotter? I’m glad you told me that, Teddy.”</p> - -<p>“What’s a spotter?” Teddy demanded.</p> - -<p>“A spotter is one who spots,” defined Hickson -humorously.</p> - -<p>“Clear as mud,” jibed Teddy. “Spots -what?”</p> - -<p>“Salespeople, of course. This girl has been -sent around to find out if we know where the -different departments are. Customers are always -kicking because they get directed wrong. -Every once in a while the front sends girls -around to ask questions. They ask you where -such and such a thing is? If you don’t answer -correctly, they get your number and report you. -Then the front gives you a call down. Salespeople -are supposed to know where everything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> -is, so that they can direct customers. See?”</p> - -<p>Teddy considered. “Could she report anyone; -buyers or assistants or aisle men?”</p> - -<p>“Anyone at all. The higher up they are the -worse it is for them,” was Hickson’s cheering -information.</p> - -<p>“I guess I’ll go’n take a look at the demonstrator. -She might give me a hand out. She’s -been making little cakes all day. I’ve had three -already. I might bring you one.”</p> - -<p>Teddy strolled toward the stove-haunted regions -in charge of the kindly demonstrator. -But his mind was not on cakes. He stared at -that stout, amiable person with vacant eyes, -and when she presented him with cake number -four he thanked her and absent-mindedly -stuffed it into his pocket, thereby reducing Hickson’s -promised treat to crumbling ruins.</p> - -<p>No; Teddy Burke’s mind was not on cakes. -His fertile brain was seething with a brilliant -idea in which cakes played no part.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV</a><br /> -<small>THE PLOT THICKENS</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Thanksgiving Eve saw Martin Hall -crowded to the doors. With the prospect -of a day’s rest and feasting ahead of -them, the sympathies of those in attendance had -gone out to the lonely sufferer in the Cameron -hospital. A few of the employees had guessed -his identity, though they could not be sure of it. -In so vast a business establishment as Martin -Brothers it was hard to trace the comings and -goings of one particular individual. It was gossiped -about Mr. Barton’s domain that he was the -man for whom the benefit was to be held, yet so -well did the few who were in the secret keep it -that no one knew the exact truth of the matter. -The very fact that the sufferer’s identity had -not been disclosed lent a piquant air of mystery -to the benefit.</p> - -<p>It is always the needy who respond first to the -call of charity. Those who know best the pinch -of poverty give most ungrudgingly of the little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -they have. Those who work hardest for their -daily bread understand best the tragedy of being -caught unawares by sickness. Although -many of the higher-salaried men and women of -the store had bought tickets, only to pass them -on to others or return them to be resold, the -greatest rallying to the standard had been done -by the humbler employees.</p> - -<p>An unusually good programme had been arranged, -for the store boasted of many clever -singers, dancers and elocutionists. Miss Verne -had worked unceasingly. Aided by one or two -professional friends outside the store, several -attractive singing and dancing numbers had -been perfected and from beginning to end the -audience was delighted with what was offered -for their amusement.</p> - -<p>The honors of the evening, however, were divided -between Teddy Burke and a young girl -whose really remarkable dancing proved a veritable -sensation. Teddy’s high soprano voice -had never rung out more clearly and sweetly. -Miss Verne had taken great pains in the selection -of his songs and he was encored until he -positively rebelled and refused to show himself -further on the stage even to bow.</p> - -<p>But the wildest demonstration of the evening -occurred when immediately preceding the -final number, Mr. Keene made a speech, thanking -the audience and announcing that over four -hundred dollars had been cleared as the result<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -of the benefit. He wished them all a happy -Thanksgiving, and sent them home with the -pleasing reminder that they had helped to bring -a wonderful Thanksgiving to one in need. If -Mr. Keene had had his way he would have liked -to call Harry Harding to the stage and introduce -him as the author of the affair. He even -suggested this to the boy, who became so distressed -that he relinquished the idea.</p> - -<p>Down in the audience, seated between his -mother and Mrs. Burke, Harry Harding’s earnest -face irradiated happiness. He had no desire -for glory. He was glad that he would not even -be called upon to go to see Mr. Barton again. -Mr. Keene had taken all that off his hands. -Harry had visited the sick man three times. On -his second visit he had told the aisle manager -that his case had been laid before Mr. Keene -and that plans for a benefit were in progress of -being carried out. Of his own part in the affair -he had said nothing, and so adroitly had he managed -that Mr. Barton had accredited the benefit -to Mr. Keene. He was intensely grateful, however, -to Harry for his kindness and humbly -promised the boy that, once back in the store, he -would make ample amends for the past.</p> - -<p>Due also to Harry’s suggestion, Mr. Keene -had interviewed the superintendent, who promised -that Mr. Barton should be reinstated in his -former position whenever he was able to return -to the store. Thus Harry was content to remain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -a nameless force for good, but he could not know -that the results of his splendid behavior were -to be far reaching.</p> - -<p>“Maybe that wasn’t a great little show,” was -Miss Welch’s opinion, as she left the hall that -night in company with several girl friends. -“I’ll bet Barty’ll sing a Thanksgiving hymn. I -know one person that ought to get a lotta stars -in his crown for that benefit.” She neglected to -state the identity of that person. Miss Welch -could keep her own secrets.</p> - -<p>On Thanksgiving Day the Burkes and the -Hardings made merry together under Mrs. -Burke’s hospitable roof. Teddy and Harry -spent a long, delightful day with Teddy’s numerous -games. It ended after supper with an old-fashioned -sing at the piano, when everybody -warbled with a will and no one criticized the -quality of the singing.</p> - -<p>The Friday after Thanksgiving was a busy -day for Teddy Burke. While he did his work -in his usual brisk, commendable fashion, he kept -a starboard eye out for the return of Miss Leonard. -To his intense disappointment she did not -appear. Still he had strong hopes of Saturday. -It was usually a banner day in house furnishings, -and should Miss Leonard be sent there, she -might easily trip a busy salesperson who was -too much rushed to use caution in replying to -her apparently innocent inquiries.</p> - -<p>“The Percolator is pretty perky to-day, isn’t<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -he?” remarked Teddy to Hickson, as he stopped -for a word with the salesman when on his way -to lunch.</p> - -<p>“He’s the limit,” growled Hickson. “Do you -know what he did yesterday? He told Seymour -that the way Mr. Everett ran this department -was a disgrace to the store. Someone, I won’t -say who, heard him. You know Seymour. He -believes everything he hears and runs to Mr. -Edward Martin with it.”</p> - -<p>“But can’t Mr. Everett prove that it isn’t -so?” Teddy frowned in troubled fashion.</p> - -<p>“How can he, except by his returns?” demanded -Hickson savagely. “If this fellow -keeps things in such a hub-bub here, we’re going -to lose sales and the department’ll run behind. -He keeps Mr. Everett in such a stew that he -can’t do as well as if he wasn’t half worried to -death. The best man can’t stand everything. -This dub has made ’em believe that he’s the king -of tin pans. How’s anyone going to prove that -he isn’t until Mr. Everett’s out of here and he -gets a chance to queer himself? When the mischief’s -done, it’ll be too late. If Everett once -goes out of here, because of this ignoramus, -he’ll get something better. He’ll never come -back here. These people up above can’t see it. -I can.”</p> - -<p>“So can I,” agreed Teddy. “If Mr. Everett -goes, I’ll go too. I guess that’d be some loss to -Martin Brothers!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Ha, ha!” jeered Hickson. “You certainly -think a lot of yourself, don’t you? Who are -you, anyhow?”</p> - -<p>“I’m <em>Mr.</em> Burke, and I’ve got feelings. I’m -going to lunch.” Teddy stalked grandly toward -the elevator. The moment he had turned his -back on Hickson he snickered. Then his mirth -died away as he muttered: “I hope I see Miss -Leonard to-day.”</p> - -<p>About the middle of the afternoon Teddy’s -hopes were realized. He spied his former -teacher at the far end of the department moving -slowly up and down the aisles formed by the -tables, her interest apparently absorbed by the -various engines of housekeeping. As she continued -to wander innocently about, every now -and then she halted a salesperson to converse -briefly. At the conclusion of one of these momentary -interviews Teddy saw her take a little -book from her shopping bag and write in it. Directly -after that she stopped Mr. Duffield as he -hurried by her. The alert watcher then noted -that she pointed out to the aisle manager the -salesperson she had just addressed, and again -jotted something down in her book.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Duffield’s in it,” was the boy’s wise conclusion. -“Guess I might as well get in the -game, too.”</p> - -<p>Marching jauntily up to the teacher, Teddy -boldly addressed her. “Good afternoon, Miss -Leonard. Looks as if you’d catch a lot of folks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -this afternoon. It’s so busy down here, though. -You can’t blame the sales much if they give you -a wrong direction.” Teddy presented the acme -of affability as he launched this dart.</p> - -<p>It struck home. Miss Leonard flushed to the -roots of her brown hair. She frowned with vexation, -then she laughed. “You are a wise little -boy, Teddy. Who told you so much?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I’m not ’sactly blind.” Teddy grinned -cheerfully. “Say, Miss Leonard, I know a fellow -here who doesn’t know where some of the -things in this store are. He thinks he does, but -he’s got another think coming. One day he -sent a man clear to the fourth floor for sporting -goods. They’re on the balcony, you know.” -Teddy’s sad experience of the previous year -with a refractory baseball had irrevocably fixed -in his mind the location of sporting goods.</p> - -<p>“Those are the very persons I wish to trip,” -returned Miss Leonard. “You see, Teddy, of -late there have been so many complaints from -customers who have been misdirected by employees -of the store that something had to be -done about it. Just a little while back the management -distributed printed lists of the location -of every department in the store, which every -person was supposed to study. I wish you’d -point this man out to me. I’ll test him.”</p> - -<p>“See that fat man over there?” Teddy -pointed toward a not far distant spot where a -plump, sleek individual stood raptly gazing at a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -select company of blue and white agate ware -that adorned a long, low shelf. “He’s the one. -Ask him—ask him where soda straws are. His -name’s Jarvis. He’s an efficiency crank and our -assistant buyer.”</p> - -<p>Miss Leonard looked a trifle blank. As a -matter of fact, she herself did not know the answer -to this simple question. Privately, she determined -to find out. Still it would never do to -admit such ignorance to this guileful child.</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Teddy,” she said with an elaborate -carelessness that in no wise deceived the -wide-awake youngster. Her change of face had -already informed him of her defective information.</p> - -<p>“If he doesn’t answer right will he get reported?” -was Teddy’s eager question.</p> - -<p>“He surely will,” smiled Miss Leonard. “If -he preaches efficiency he ought to practice it.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what I think.” Teddy wriggled with -wicked satisfaction. “If I see you writing in -your book after you ask him, I’ll know that he -didn’t know.”</p> - -<p>Miss Leonard cast a quizzical glance at the -small plotter. “Would you like me to report -him, Teddy?” was her amused question.</p> - -<p>“Well, if a fellow doesn’t know where things -are, I s’pose he ought to be reported.” Teddy -took an evasive but firm stand for duty.</p> - -<p>“I suppose so.” The teacher flashed Teddy a -mischievous glance and moved briskly down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -upon the unsuspecting victim. Assuming the -bewildered air of a shopper who implores guidance -she paused before the smug assistant and -inquired sweetly, “Will you please tell me where -I can find soda straws?”</p> - -<p>“Soda straws?” Mr. Jarvis repeated uneasily. -“Oh, yes. Certainly, Madam, delighted -to be of service to you. Soda straws are—they -are—at the soda fountain, of course.”</p> - -<p>“But where is the soda fountain?”</p> - -<p>“It is——” Mr. Jarvis gulped nervously. -His efficient manner of living flouted the delectable -concoctions of the soda fountain. Hence -he was unprepared to disclose the location of so -useless a haunt. “You will find it on the first -balcony.” Providentially, he had chanced to recall -seeing ices served there at small tables. -He wildly guessed the soda fountain to be in the -immediate vicinity of these tables.</p> - -<p>“Thank you.” Miss Leonard turned abruptly -away in time to hide the dimpling smile -that lighted her attractive features. Retiring -to a safe distance she gleefully recorded Mr. -Jarvis’ wild attempts at direction. She had no -doubt that from some safe nook a pair of mischievous -black eyes were bent on her as she -made the fatal record. But before she wended -her steps officeward, she passed through a wide, -high-arched doorway that divided house furnishings -from a flourishing commercial village -devoted to women’s wear. On and on she went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> -through busy seas of feminine apparel; through -an enterprising display of trimmed hats. At -the very end of the basement, where a huge sign -spelled “Subway,” she turned a corner and -brought up at a hissing marble fountain, surrounded -by long counters before which sat rows -of persons busily engaged in the partaking of -delicious cheer.</p> - -<p>Leaning over an end of the counter she beckoned -a white-jacketed young man. “Can I buy -soda straws here?” she questioned.</p> - -<p>“No, Miss. We don’t sell them here. You’ll -find them all the way back in house furnishings.” -He darted away to appease a clamoring -patron.</p> - -<p>“The little imp!” muttered Miss Leonard. -She was not referring to the white-coated young -man. Nevertheless, she smiled and continued to -smile as she made further notes in her faithful -journal, then sought a nearby elevator.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, in Department 40, Teddy Burke -was also engaged in making a few notes. A new -line now appeared in his tiny leather-covered -book. It read: “November 30th. Canned -again.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> -<small>AN UNLUCKY DISCOVERY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">On the following morning Mr. Jarvis was -distinctly nonplussed by a summons to -the office of the system manager of Martin -Brothers. Once there he was shown a neatly -typed report of his lapses of yesterday and sarcastically -taken to task for his lack of knowledge -in regard to store geography, and, yet more reprehensible, -his ignorance of a certain very humble -portion of his own stock, namely soda -straws.</p> - -<p>To complete his humiliation he was handed a -printed list of the store’s departments and their -location and curtly requested to study it. The -manager’s dry comment, “One of the first principles -of store efficiency should consist in a thorough -knowledge of the store itself,” rankled in -the assistant’s soul. He left the office consumed -with a dull, helpless rage against the unknown -spotter who had brought him to grief, little -dreaming that the prime offender marched daily -about Department 40.</p> - -<p>In some peculiar manner, explainable only by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> -a certain Titian-haired youth, the story of Mr. -Jarvis’ fatal attempts at direction crept about -the department and the salespeople of 40 enjoyed -a good laugh at his expense. Although -Teddy could not know it, his little joke on the -assistant had been the means of striking the first -definite blow for Mr. Keene. The shrewd system -manager had not been impressed by Mr. -Jarvis, and he mentally ticketed the assistant -as a man of pretension rather than worth. -Later this secret opinion was destined to be -brought to bear on a number of conditions in -house furnishings hitherto unrevealed.</p> - -<p>But while Teddy Burke was sailing serenely -along from one day to another, Harry Harding’s -working hours were not filled with unalloyed -content. With the beginning of December -the book department saw the first stirrings -of the rush, which, until Christmas, made it one -of the busiest spots in the store.</p> - -<p>The vast amount of books that had to be -carted from the stock-room to the department -made Leon Atkins’ frequent presence on the -tenth floor a disagreeable necessity. The moment -he was out of Mr. Brady’s sight he fell -back into his slothful habits. True, he no longer -napped in the bins, neither did he distinguish -himself by any really useful effort.</p> - -<p>He deemed it prudent, however, to let Harry -strictly alone. He firmly believed that Harry -had been the one to call Mr. Brady’s attention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -to his derelictions, and he was a trifle afraid -to court a further exposure. Intent on exacting -petty revenge, he made it a point to aggravate -Harry by every possible means that would defy -detection. To return from his luncheon only to -find a certain bin he had left in perfect order -reduced to chaos was a common occurrence with -Harry. Books which he placed in one bin had -a trick of mysteriously disappearing at the very -time they were needed. Later, after he had listened -to the grumbling of the salespeople because -he had failed to produce instantly the -stock they required, a distracted search would -reveal them roosting placidly in an alien bin.</p> - -<p>Harry knew only too well by whose hands his -truck was spirited away on a busy morning -when he needed it most. Unable to secure the -loan of another truck he had toiled wearily -throughout a whole day lugging heavy piles of -books downstairs by hand. When in desperation -he had spent almost the whole of the following -morning in frantic search for his missing -truck, he had finally discovered it in a remote -corner of the tenth floor securely chained and -padlocked to a staple in the wall.</p> - -<p>Harry felt that he was above noticing such -petty meannesses. Were he to accuse Leon as -author of them he knew that the latter would -make loud denial. He had no wish to reopen -the squabbles of early Fall. Still, the frequent -admonitions of the impatient members of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -department, “Now do try to hurry those books -down, 45,” or “What makes you so slow, boy?” -cut him to the quick.</p> - -<p>Of late it seemed to him that Mr. Rexford had -treated him a trifle less kindly than was his -wont. He sadly wondered if anyone had complained -of him to the buyer. Before he had -gone on his vacation he and Mr. Rexford had -been on the most friendly terms. As a matter -of fact, the increasing business of the department -had completely occupied the buyer. Only -one adverse criticism against Harry had -reached his ears, but that was a long one.</p> - -<p>In speaking to Mr. Brady of the boy’s usefulness, -the assistant had said with a shake of -his head: “Harding is not the boy he was last -year. You’ve spoiled him by making too much -of him. That Farley affair, together with winning -that prize for his address last June, has -given him a swelled head. He’s one of the sly, -quiet kind that pretends to be an angel, but just -the same he’s careless and a trouble maker. -When he’s in the stock-room he picks on Atkins’ -boy all the time. Atkins himself told me so. -He’s getting so he can’t be relied on to fix a -table right. He mixed one for Miss Breeden a -while ago and we had a row with a customer -over two-priced books under a one-priced sign. -I called Miss Breeden down for inattention to -her stock, but it was more young Harding’s -fault than hers.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It is hard to believe all that, Brady,” had -been Mr. Rexford’s incredulous reply.</p> - -<p>“Can’t help it. It’s the truth,” Mr. Brady -had insisted. He was really honest in this. Mr. -Atkins and Miss Breeden had done their best -to thus impress him.</p> - -<p>Mr. Rexford had silently reserved judgment -of Harry until hearing the boy’s side of the -story. Twice he had set out to seek the lad and -question him. Both times he had been interrupted -in his quest. Afterward business stress -had driven it from his mind. If he had chanced -to encounter Harry face to face an understanding -would have no doubt ensued, but, as it happened, -he saw him only from a distance and at -times when he was occupied with other things. -And thus an intangible shadow rose between the -boy who was ever earnestly striving to do his -best and the man whose good opinion he valued -above all.</p> - -<p>Several mornings after Harry had rescued his -truck from durance vile, his work took him to -the selling-floor for the morning. A long row of -shelves that ended where the jewelry department -began were awaiting a refilling of titles -temporarily out of stock. The shelves were -under the charge of a pleasant young woman -who handled the rebound fiction and her confidence -in Harry was sufficient to allow him to go -on with the work she had begun while she served -a steady stream of customers. From his position<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -before the shelves, he glanced now and then -toward the exchange desk where Miss Welch -reigned supreme. He also had an excellent view -of the jewelry department and in his boyish way -he marveled at the number of people who were -able to purchase the costly articles that lay beyond -his reach.</p> - -<p>At either end of a counter very close to him -which was devoted to the display of expensive -rings lounged a detective. During the month of -December the great department stores are -obliged to keep an especially vigilant watch over -their jewelry sections. At such a time light-fingered -gentry are always abroad and each -year the stores suffer from their depredations.</p> - -<p>It was in one of the occasional glances which -Harry leveled at the ring counter that his cursory -attention became fixed on a well-dressed -woman who was engaged in critical examination -of a small tray of rings. Harry watched her in -fascination as she tried on one ring after another -and held up a plump white hand to view -the effect. Now and then she turned for approval -to her companion, a slender, very blonde -young woman with shifty blue eyes. By the -alert watch which the salesman behind the counter -kept on the tray Harry knew that the rings -must be valuable.</p> - -<p>At length the woman narrowed her field of -selection to one ring, a good-sized ruby set between -two equally large diamonds. She held it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -up for her companion’s inspection. The blonde -girl shook her head and shrugged her disapproval -of it. Harry noted that she immediately -turned her eyes to another part of the tray. -While the elder woman focussed the salesman’s -attention, Harry saw the other’s slim fingers -dislodge a ring at the extreme edge of the tray. -She regarded it casually, made a move as though -to return it to its velvet bed, examined it again -and carelessly laid it on the counter close beside -the tray. Had the salesman been less occupied -he might have noticed this. His attention, however, -was on the prospective buyer of the other -ring. The woman was holding it toward him, -her forefinger on the ruby. As she touched it -she shook her head vehemently. The man -smiled a refutation of her protest. Reaching -into a coat pocket he drew forth a small lens. -Holding it to his eye he took the ruby ring from -the older woman’s hand and peered at it -through his glass.</p> - -<p>Just then Harry saw something which made -him grow hot and cold. While the salesman was -thus engaged, the older woman kept her eyes -directly on him. One plump hand lightly grazed -the edge of the tray as she leaned far forward. -With the swiftness of lightning it left the counter -and dropped to her side, carrying with it the -ring which the younger woman had carelessly -neglected to replace.</p> - -<p>Amazement of the daring theft dazed the boy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -for an instant. Then he realized that he must -act with all speed. It was evident that he had -seen something which had not been observed by -even the detectives. He glanced toward one end -of the counter to note that one of them had disappeared. -At the other end stood Mr. Prescott, -his gaze focussed on a group of women near -him.</p> - -<p>For a second the obnoxious duty of fastening -theft upon a woman caused Harry to falter -briefly. Then he squared his shoulders and -walked resolutely to where Mr. Prescott stood. -A backward glance informed him that the two -pilferers were still at the ring counter. Had he -looked back once more he would have discovered -that the blonde young woman was no longer in -evidence. Her companion alone remained there, -still deep in conversation with the salesman -over the ruby ring.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Prescott.” Harry’s voice sank to a -breathless whisper. “Come quick. I saw a -woman steal a ring. She has it in her coat -pocket now. She’s still at the counter talking -to the salesman.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Prescott’s eyes narrowed. His face became -an emotionless mask as he muttered without -perceptible movement of the lips, “Which -is she? Don’t point. Walk toward her, stop for -a second directly behind her, then walk on. -Don’t look back at me.”</p> - -<p>Implicitly Harry followed the detective’s directions,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> -then went back to his work. He dared -not look again toward the ring counter, although -he knew nothing would happen there. Mr. Prescott -would trail the woman entirely out of the -store before seeking to detain her. When an -hour later he was summoned to Mr. Prescott’s -office, he went trembling in every limb. Having -done his duty to Martin Brothers, a painful experience -was ahead of him.</p> - -<p>As the door of the detective’s office closed behind -him, he instinctively felt that something -had gone wrong. True, the prisoner was there, -seated on an oak bench, the picture of raging innocence. -Mr. Prescott, too, looked like a thundercloud -as he beckoned Harry to his desk. “Is -this the woman you say you saw steal a ring?” -he coldly questioned.</p> - -<p>Harry quailed inwardly, but his tones were -firm as he replied: “Yes, sir. This is the -woman.”</p> - -<p>“He lies,” burst forth the prisoner furiously. -“I wouldn’t dream of doing such a dreadful -thing!”</p> - -<p>“Please be still, Madam,” snapped the detective. -“I’ll hear what you have to say later.” -Scowling at poor Harry, he continued: “What -kind of a ring was it? Tell me what you saw.”</p> - -<p>“I can’t describe the ring, sir.” Harry went -on to relate what he had seen.</p> - -<p>“It’s not so,” shouted the accused. “I was -alone. A young woman who stood beside me<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> -asked me several questions about the prices of -the rings in that tray, but she was a stranger -to me. I never saw her before. I merely spoke -to her because she spoke to me. Your store will -pay for this insult! I’ll bring suit against Martin -Brothers.”</p> - -<p>“Now, now, Madam. Not so fast. If you -have been unjustly accused we will do all in our -power to make reparation. I have sent for one -of our woman detectives. You will have to submit -to being searched.”</p> - -<p>“Let her search me then,” defied the prisoner. -“I am not afraid. The idea of taking a -boy’s word against a customer’s! Oh, you’ll regret -this.”</p> - -<p>“You may go, Harding.” Mr. Prescott’s -face was an angry red as he issued the stern -command. The woman’s censure had flicked -him on the raw. Remembering Harry’s clever -work in the case of Farley, he had taken the -boy’s word and made the arrest. Now he wondered -if he had made a fool of himself.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</a><br /> -<small>DECORATING A DÉBUTANT</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Sick with humiliation, Harry hurried from -the office. He was conscious of having -done his duty, yet the woman’s amazing -willingness to submit to search filled him with -consternation. He had seen her drop the ring -into her coat pocket. If it were not there now, -then where could it be? What had become of -her companion? Ah, that was it. In some mysterious -fashion, known only to a shoplifter, she -had passed the ring into the blonde girl’s keeping. -Yet she declared that her companion at -the counter was not her companion but a stranger. -Harry did not believe this statement. Yet -how was he to prove that she had spoken -falsely? If the ring were not found in the -woman’s possession, it would place him in an -unenviable position. He was quite sure of that.</p> - -<p>The moment he returned to the department, -Mr. Brady pounced upon him. “Where were -you, 45? I’ve been looking for you for the last -twenty minutes.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> - -<p>On receiving the summons from Mr. Prescott, -Harry had not asked permission to leave the -floor. His work took him so constantly from the -department to the stock-room that he had not -counted on being missed. Not wishing to explain -the nature of his brief withdrawal, he had -for once taken a chance.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Prescott sent for me,” he replied in a -low tone.</p> - -<p>“What!” exclaimed Mr. Brady. Sudden suspicion -leaped into his face. “Why did he send -for you? What have you been doing?”</p> - -<p>Harry grew distressed. “<em>I</em> haven’t been doing -anything wrong,” he faltered. “A woman -took a ring; I saw her take it and reported her -to Mr. Prescott.”</p> - -<p>“Humph! You’ll gain more by attending to -your work and letting the detectives run their -own affairs,” grumbled the assistant. “Now -get busy and finish those shelves. Then go up -to the stock-room and bring down a load of -those ‘Children’s Classics.’ Miss Porter’s waiting -for them.”</p> - -<p>Harry was thankful that Mr. Brady did not -exhibit much interest in his disastrous attempt -at sleuthing. He wished with all his heart that -he had not seen the theft of the ring. Where -and how would the affair end?</p> - -<p>Directly after luncheon a second summons -came from Mr. Prescott. This time Harry was -careful to obtain Mr. Brady’s permission. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> -was grudgingly given and the boy had hardly -turned away before the assistant made straight -for Mr. Rexford’s office, disgust written in his -face.</p> - -<p>Harry’s second interview with Mr. Prescott -was one that lingered long and painfully in his -memory. The prisoner had departed, vindicated -and threatening. A thorough search of -her clothing by a woman detective had revealed -no trace of a ring. The salesman had been interviewed -and declared that he had missed none -of his stock. Privately he was not at all sure of -this, but he was too cowardly to say so. A missing -ring meant trouble for him.</p> - -<p>Mr. Prescott was in a fine fury. He had taken -too much for granted and he knew it. Were he -to complain of Harry to the front, he was quite -likely to court censure for acting merely on the -word of a boy, without waiting to see for himself. -He had been too sure of Harry. On this -account he was doubly bitter and the scathing -words he hurled at the cause of his discomfiture -would ordinarily never have issued from his -lips. He ended with, “You’ve made a nice mess -of things. This woman will sue the store for -heavy damages and it’s all <em>your</em> fault. But <em>I’ll</em> -be the one that will have to take the blame. Now -get out of here, and, after this, try to mind your -own business.”</p> - -<p>Harry went with flaming cheeks and quivering -lips. But another ordeal was still before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -him. He had hardly returned to the floor when -he received notice from Mr. Brady that Mr. -Rexford wished to see him.</p> - -<p>“What is this Mr. Brady tells me, Harry, -about you seeing a woman steal a ring?” Although -the buyer’s tone was kindly, it lacked -much of its old heartiness.</p> - -<p>Harry’s heart sank. He read faint disapproval -of himself in the question. Briefly he -rehearsed the sordid details of the affair. Mr. -Rexford listened thoughtfully and not without -interest.</p> - -<p>“You may be right about the other woman being -a confederate,” he mused. “Still the whole -thing looks rather bad for you. I wouldn’t -think too much about such things if I were you, -Harry. Leave them to the detectives. That’s -their business.”</p> - -<p>“But I <em>saw</em> her take it, Mr. Rexford,” was -Harry’s distressed cry. “If I saw someone -stealing a book from your department, wouldn’t -you want me to report it to the detectives before -they got away with it?”</p> - -<p>This was a poser. Mr. Rexford’s grave face -relaxed a trifle. “I suppose I would. Still you -may have been mistaken to-day.”</p> - -<p>“I wasn’t mistaken. I saw her take it. I -know the other woman slipped away with it. -I’m going to keep my eyes open. If I ever see -that light-haired woman again I’ll know her.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Rexford frowned. “I’m afraid that Farley<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -affair put foolish ideas in your head, my -boy,” he said with a touch of impatience. “You -must remember that you belong to the book department, -not the detective bureau. Brady tells -me that you are not so dependable as you were -last Spring before that happened. I think a -great deal of you, Harry, and I’m anxious to -give you every opportunity. But you can’t succeed -in this business if your mind is on something -else. Think it over and see if I’m not -right.”</p> - -<p>“I try to do my very best, Mr. Rexford.” -Utterly crushed by the unexpected and undeserved -lecture, Harry could think of nothing -else to say. “I’m sorry about to-day. I -thought I was doing right.”</p> - -<p>“I won’t say that you weren’t. Still you’ll -find it better in the long run to busy yourself so -thoroughly with your own work that you won’t -have time to watch what goes on outside your -department. I’m saying this to you in all kindness.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you. I’ll try to follow your advice.” -For a moment he stood silent, fighting back his -outraged feelings. He longed to tell Mr. Rexford -that Mr. Brady had somehow received an -entirely wrong impression of him. He wished -he could find words to tell him about Miss Breeden -and Leon Atkins, but he could not bring -himself to the point of doing so. With a long, -sorrowful glance at the man whom he revered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -the man who did not understand, Harry turned -and left the office. His wonderful Year of -Promise bade fair to be a Year of Failure.</p> - -<p>When on the way home from work that night -Harry poured forth his woes to Teddy, the little -boy was divided between the excitement of the -shoplifting episode and wrath against Leon Atkins.</p> - -<p>“The old Clothes-pole’s to blame for it all,” -he sputtered. “All the things he is Mr. Brady -thinks you are. It’s a shame. Why didn’t you -tell Mr. Rexford every single thing? Catch me -keeping my mouth shut and gettin’ blamed for -what that dub does. Mr. Rexford must be a -fathead or he’d see with his eyes.”</p> - -<p>“You mustn’t speak so of Mr. Rexford.” -Harry became immediately on the defensive. -“He’s a splendid man. Just think of all he’s -done for me.”</p> - -<p>“He’d better get busy and do some more -then,” grumbled Teddy. “I’m going to watch -out an’ can the Clothes-pole before he cans -you.”</p> - -<p>“Let him alone, Ted,” Harry warned sharply. -“I’m not going to see you get into trouble on -my account. I’ve told you that before. I -oughtn’t to have said a word to you about it.”</p> - -<p>“Huh, I’d find it out anyhow,” boasted -Teddy. “Don’t you worry. I c’n take care of -myself and you, too.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you.” Harry smiled at Teddy’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> -boast. “I know you’d fight for me to the finish. -You mustn’t bother trying to get even with -Leon. It isn’t worth while.”</p> - -<p>Teddy’s views in this matter differed widely, -however. Although he said no more on the subject, -he privately singled out Leon Atkins as his -next experiment in the canning line. With the -innocence of a dove and the eyes of a hawk he -made it a point now and then to ask permission -to leave the floor. Once out of house furnishings -he was prone on these occasions to bob up -in the aisles of 84. As it happened, Harry never -chanced to meet his little friend on one of these -brief excursions. The nearer drew the holidays -the more he was confined to the stock-room. -Leon Atkins, however, was much in evidence -on the selling-floor, and Teddy had a splendid -chance to study Harry’s enemy and decide what -he could do to worst him.</p> - -<p>This proved a hard nut to crack. Teddy was -not at home in books, therefore he dared take -no liberties. Still, he did not despair. According -to his philosophy, something was sure to -turn up at the psychological moment.</p> - -<p>Several evenings after he and Harry had enjoyed -their confidential chat regarding Harry’s -troubles, Teddy received the glorious privilege -of an early pass home. It meant that instead -of waiting until twenty minutes to six for the -closing bell, he was free to leave the store at fifteen -minutes past five. With the gracious sanctioning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -bit of paper in his hand, Teddy scudded -joyfully for the time desk. Slipping on his overcoat -as he ran, he hurried out into the keen, wintry -air. A minute saw him hustling confidently -in a customer’s entrance of the store. Straight -toward the book department he headed. His -bright eyes peered eagerly over that realm of -literature until they glimpsed Harry at the far -end laboriously bending over a truck.</p> - -<p>“Have you ‘The Stock Boy’s Revenge; or, -Cutting the Clothes-pole up for Kindling?’” -squeaked a high falsetto voice in Harry’s ear.</p> - -<p>Harry straightened up with a start to see an -impish, freckled face grinning down at him.</p> - -<p>“Teddy Burke! How you startled me! -What in the world are you doing here, with your -hat and coat on?”</p> - -<p>“I’m out early. It’s a reward for bein’ -good.” Teddy’s grin widened. “Ain’t you -glad I came?”</p> - -<p>“Of course. Wish I was through work, too. -Never mind, it’s almost half past five. Take a -walk around the department, Teddy. I’m busy -just now. You’ll have to go as soon as the bell -rings. Wait for me across the street.”</p> - -<p>“All right. So long.” Teddy strolled away -on the hunt for the Clothes-pole. He had seen -Leon at a distance as he entered 84, now he -yearned for a closer inspection. “Don’t he -think he’s it?” was his mental opinion as from -behind a protecting table he watched the ungainly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> -youth. His black head cocked a little to -one side, Leon was trying the effect of a large -black and white picture at various points of a -table he had apparently just finished arranging. -Disposing of the picture to his satisfaction, -he next fished a fat blue pencil from his -pocket and proceeded to sharpen it, glancing -about furtively as he did so. A stentorian call -of “56” from the aisle man sent him suddenly -ambling off in the direction of the voice.</p> - -<p>Hardly had he responded when Teddy left his -post of observation and planted himself -squarely in front of the table. With a gurgle of -joy he pounced upon the pencil that Leon, for -some unknown reason, had left lying on a pile of -books. Teddy examined it thoughtfully. He -was about to tuck it securely between two towering -piles of books where it would defy detection, -when his eyes came to rest on the picture -which Leon had jauntily set upright on a central -wedge of books. It represented a very -pretty young woman in a low-cut, much befrilled -evening frock. Underneath the figure appeared -the words, “The Débutante, by Marcia Sheldon.”</p> - -<p>Teddy slowly spelled the one mystifying -word. It did not specially please his fancy. -“Some name,” he murmured. “Maybe it’s -Rooshun.” Making a face at the smiling girl, -Teddy went back to the pencil. He drew it -gently across the back of his hand. The result<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -was a wide blue mark. With the mild eyes of a -ministering angel, he glanced calmly about him. -No one was paying the slightest attention to -him. Scattered about the department the salespeople -were busily engaged in counting up their -books.</p> - -<p>Teddy reached a stealthy but powerful hand -toward the lonely young débutante and whisked -her off her literary perch. A thin little hand, -clutching a blue pencil, traveled with amazing -swiftness over the young woman’s radiant features.</p> - -<p>“There, I guess she is ready to go most anywheres,” -he chuckled, as he set the picture in -place.</p> - -<p>Clang! It was the first closing bell.</p> - -<p>“Guess I’ll have to leave you.” Teddy giggled -and wagged his head at the picture in derisive -farewell. “Good night, Deebuttanty. -Don’t be s’prised if some other folks are -s’prised when they see you to-morrow morning.” -Hastily depositing the blue pencil at the -foot of the picture, Teddy shook the dust of 84 -from his feet and flitted through a nearby entrance -to the street, well pleased with his fantastic -conception of art.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII</a><br /> -<small>A QUEER TWIST OF FATE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">The first person to receive the surprise -which Teddy Burke had predicted was -Mr. Brady. What amazed and displeased -him the following morning was to behold -a hilarious crowd of customers and salespersons -gathered about a table which displayed -for its feature the remarkable novel of modern -society entitled, “The Débutante.”</p> - -<p>“What’s the meaning of this?” was his curt -question as he forged into the middle of the -group. As the query left his lips he became -petrified with astonishment at the mysterious -and cruel change that had assailed the much-heralded -society bud over night. Her sweetly -smiling lips were now decorated with a huge, -bright-blue, upcurving mustache for which a -certain gentleman of royalty might well have -yearned. Her soulful eyes were hidden by -round blue goggles, through which she appeared -to squint at the world. Around her hapless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -throat hung an ornamental blue chain that -would have more fittingly graced the neck of a -benighted heathen. Worse yet, her pretty ears -had been extended to triangular points. Altogether -she was a most remarkable specimen of -original but terrifying art.</p> - -<p>“Who did that?” Mr. Brady choked with -rage as he ripped the offending picture from the -table. “Why didn’t some one of you take it -down at once?”</p> - -<p>“It was so funny,” giggled Miss Porter.</p> - -<p>Scenting trouble in the air the few customers -who had happened to swell the group now moved -off with smiling faces.</p> - -<p>“It’s a disgrace to this department,” stormed -the assistant. “Go and attend to your stock, -all of you.” He shooed the lingerers away with -an impatient sweep of his arms.</p> - -<p>Remembering that he had set Leon Atkins to -arranging the table the previous afternoon he -immediately suspected him of the outrage. The -next instant saw him clumping down the main -aisle of the department, the decorated débutante -in one hand, on the trail of the miscreant. His -search ended when he bumped squarely into -Leon Atkins, who was lumbering toward him -from the opposite direction.</p> - -<p>“Whada——” began Leon. This tone underwent -a quick change. “Oh, excuse me, -Mr.——”</p> - -<p>“I’ll excuse you. Look at this!” The assistant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> -thrust the blue and white outrage before -Leon’s eyes.</p> - -<p>Leon caught one glimpse of the picture and -burst into laughter.</p> - -<p>“You’ll laugh on the other side of your face, -young man, before I’m through with you. You -did this.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, cut it out. You’re daffy!” Amazed -at the accusation, Leon forgot to whom he was -speaking. “Aw, excuse me, Mr. Brady. I -didn’t mean that. I was so taken back I spoke -’fore I thought. D’y’ think I did that?” He -pointed to the picture. “Not on your life.”</p> - -<p>“But you were the last one at that table,” -persisted Mr. Brady.</p> - -<p>“Can’t help it. It wasn’t me that done it. -Catch me carryin’ a blue pencil. It’s against -the rules of the store, ’less you’re a boss.” -Leon delivered this reminder with an air of virtuous -wisdom. “Mebbe it was 45 that did it. -Seems to me I’ve seen him with a blue pencil -up’n the stock-room. I won’t say for sure.”</p> - -<p>Although Leon was by nature a sluggard, his -wits now sprang to work. Only too well he recalled -laying down the blue pencil he had been -sharpening to answer the call of the aisle manager. -He now wondered what had become of it. -He calculated shrewdly that if it had been found -on the table Mr. Brady would now have it in his -possession. Further, he would have demanded -of Leon if it belonged to him. Leon decided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> -within himself that the pencil had somehow escaped -notice. He determined to hunt for it as -soon as he could and summarily dispose of it.</p> - -<p>Mr. Brady stared at him, as though half inclined -to credit the insinuation against Harry -which Leon had just voiced. “This doesn’t look -like Harding’s work,” he declared. “How -could he have done it without your knowing it? -It was after five o’clock last night when you -came to me for this picture. It was all right -when I gave it to you. Besides, he was away -over on the other side of the department unloading -a truck. I remember seeing him.”</p> - -<p>Leon shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t tell -you nothin’ about it, ’cept that it was pretty -near half past when I set that there picture on -top of a stacka books. It was all right then. -Just’s I did it, Mr. Drayton calls me and I goes -to see what he wants. After that the bell rang -and I beat it outta here.”</p> - -<p>“Humph! Then how did <em>this</em> happen?” Mr. -Brady again thrust the offending picture at -Leon.</p> - -<p>“How do you s’pose I know?” whined the -boy. “How do lotsa things happen ’round this -dump? How did Miss Breeden’s table get -mixed up that day? You better ask 45 a few -things. I ain’t done nothin’.”</p> - -<p>“This department is not a dump,” rebuked -Mr. Brady severely. “Don’t let me hear you -again refer to it as such. As for this outrage,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> -I’m going to sift it to the bottom. If I find -you’ve lied to me, I’ll have you discharged.”</p> - -<p>“I tell you I didn’t do it,” called Leon after -the assistant’s retreating form. “Gee,” he reflected. -“I gotta find that pencil. If I find it I -guess I know where I can hide it.”</p> - -<p>Making his way to the table from which the -cruelly transformed débutante had been mercifully -snatched, Leon prowled cautiously about -it, at the same time keeping up a prudent watch -for danger. Making sure that he was not under -special observation, he leaned upon a corner of -it, his black eyes roving desperately over its -closely packed contents. Of a sudden he emitted -a grunt of satisfaction. Coyly resting between -two piles of books he had glimpsed the object -of his search. When Teddy Burke had flung it -aside to beat a hasty retreat, it had rolled off the -book on which he had placed it and dropped to a -shallow shelter between the two stacks of volumes -where Leon had discovered it.</p> - -<p>“I gotta hustle,” was his next thought as he -moved with unusual speed toward a stairway. -Once on the tenth floor he hoped fortune would -favor him. Whether he could put into execution -the cowardly act that he purposed depended on -two things.</p> - -<p>Up in the stock-room Harry Harding was -manfully endeavoring to bury his sorrows in -zealous toil. The instant he had reported to Mr. -Drayton that morning he had gone directly to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -the tenth floor. A huge bulk of surplus stock -was awaiting a brief abiding place in the bins, -and Mr. Brady had decreed that it must be put -there without delay. An innate sense of neatness -prompted Harry always to remove his coat -while performing a task of this nature. When -Leon slouched into the stock-room, Harry was -energetically at work in his shirtsleeves, his -back turned to the other boy.</p> - -<p>Leon halted to grin sardonically at the patient, -hurrying lad, too deeply engrossed in his -task to discover that he was not alone. His -straying, furtive glance leaped from Harry to -a blue serge coat that hung on a nail within easy -reach. Breathlessly Leon tiptoed to it. His -hand glided into a convenient pocket. Then, silently -as a shadow, he withdrew and darted toward -a stairway. He preferred the labor of -ascending and descending nine flights of stairs -to risk being seen on an elevator.</p> - -<p>Toward noon Harry finished his work. He -was just about to draw on his coat when Mr. Atkins -appeared in the doorway of the stock-room. -“You’re wanted downstairs, 45,” he said -roughly, then vanished into the receiving room.</p> - -<p>Hastily donning his coat, Harry caught the -first elevator down to the department. The -summons no doubt meant nothing more than the -appointment to some new task. Despite Mr. -Brady’s disbelief that Harry was up to the -mark, he depended on the boy a great deal more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -than he ever took the time to stop and realize.</p> - -<p>“Where’s Mr. Brady?” was Harry’s question -of Mr. Denby. “Have you seen him -lately?”</p> - -<p>The fiction salesman cast Harry a curious -glance. “He’s in the office with Mr. Rexford. -You’re due to catch it. It’s too bad. I’ll bet -my week’s salary you didn’t do it. Don’t let -Brady put it all over you, Harry.”</p> - -<p>“Didn’t do what?” Harry’s voice rose in -bewildered anxiety. “Oh, Mr. Denby, please -tell me what you mean.”</p> - -<p>“By George, I will. I’ve got a right to warn -you before——”</p> - -<p>A hand suddenly dropped on Harry’s shoulder. -“You’re wanted in Mr. Rexford’s office, -45. Don’t loiter here.” Mr. Drayton was -frowning down upon him.</p> - -<p>With one desperate, appealing look at Mr. -Denby, Harry started for the buyer’s office, his -heart in his throat.</p> - -<p>“Good morning, Harry,” greeted Mr. Rexford -as the boy entered. Mr. Brady merely -glared and said nothing. Other than the boy, -only the two men occupied the office. The buyer -swung round from his desk and leveled a peculiarly -searching glance at Harry. Reaching -to one side of his desk his hand settled on something. -“Do you know anything about this, my -boy?” He held the ill-fated picture up to Harry’s -gaze.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> - -<p>For an instant Harry was seized with a wild -desire to laugh. No one could view Teddy’s -fanciful handiwork unmoved. With an effort -Harry kept his features sober. Amazement -quickly conquered his inclination for mirth. -“How could I possibly know anything about -it?” His reply contained a note of wonder.</p> - -<p>“There, Brady. I hope you are satisfied.” -Mr. Rexford’s comment was tinged with cool -reserve. He had given small credence to the -tale the assistant had brought him.</p> - -<p>“I’m <em>not</em> satisfied. I wouldn’t take the word -of any of these boys. They are all alike when -it comes to mischief. Now listen to me, 45. Are -you positively sure you know nothing of this?”</p> - -<p>“I am.” Harry lifted his head in a proud -gesture of denial. “I know nothing whatever -about it. I can’t understand why and of what -you are accusing me. Won’t you please tell -me?” His blue eyes sadly sought Mr. Rexford’s.</p> - -<p>“Between five and half-past five yesterday afternoon, -Harry, someone deliberately took this -picture from a table, spoiled it and then returned -it to the same table,” related Mr. Rexford. -“Mr. Brady at once suspected young Atkins. -He denied it, but said something that led -Mr. Brady to suspect you of having a hand in -it.”</p> - -<p>“Oh-h!” Harry drew a long, agonized -breath. Again he had Leon to thank for this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -new difficulty in which Mr. Brady seemed determined -to place him.</p> - -<p>“It is not only the spoiling of the picture that -matters,” continued the buyer gravely. “You -see it has been marked with a blue pencil. You -know the rule regarding blue pencils.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.” Harry’s response was very -faint. Suddenly he brightened. “But I never -carry a blue pencil, Mr. Rexford. I wouldn’t -dream of doing so. This is the kind I always -use.”</p> - -<p>Harry’s hand went to his left coat pocket. -He made a curious, gasping sound, then allowed -it to remain there.</p> - -<p>“Let’s see the kind of pencil you use,” rasped -the assistant. In that audible intake of breath -he read guilt.</p> - -<p>Slowly Harry’s clenched hand left his pocket -and unclosed. On his outstretched palm lay a -blue pencil.</p> - -<p>“I knew it!” exploded the assistant. “You -see now, Mr. Rexford? He lied.”</p> - -<p>“Harry, I can’t believe——”</p> - -<p>“You mustn’t believe, Mr. Rexford.” Harry’s -interruption rang out with a fierce intensity -that made the two men stare. All the pent-up -bitterness of his young soul flashed into hot -words. “This pencil doesn’t belong to me. I -never put it there. I won’t stand for such injustice. -I won’t be accused of what I didn’t do. -Do you hear me? I won’t! I won’t!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Harry, Harry!” remonstrated the buyer. -Yet he gloried in the lad’s vehement outburst. -The boy’s whole bearing indicated truth and -innocence.</p> - -<p>“I can’t help it.” Harry refused to be thus -checked. “Ever since I came back from my vacation -things have gone wrong for me. Neither -of you will ever know what I’ve had to put up -with, because I’m not going to tell you. But -I’m not to blame for this. I’m going to leave -the store as soon as you’re through with me. -There are some things a fellow can’t and won’t -stand.”</p> - -<p>“You are not going to leave the store,” put -in Mr. Rexford firmly. “I believe you, Harry.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t,” contested Mr. Brady stubbornly. -“I’ve told you again and again that this boy’s -a sneak. If you choose to pet him and shut your -eyes to——”</p> - -<p>“That will do, Brady.” Mr. Rexford held up -an imperative hand. “Whatever I may choose -to do is no concern of yours. Now I wish this -matter dropped. Don’t let me hear of it again.” -With a decided hand he ripped the troublesome -picture across and dropped it into the waste -basket. “You may go,” he commanded the assistant.</p> - -<p>“Have it your own way,” Mr. Brady flung -back over his shoulder as he sought the door.</p> - -<p>Alone together man and boy faced each other. -“Now, Harry, I wish you to tell me what you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> -meant by saying that things have gone wrong -with you.” Mr. Rexford rose and laid a kind -hand on Harry’s shoulder.</p> - -<p>The boy’s lip quivered. He made no reply. -Gradually mastering himself, his mouth set in -the old firm line of secrecy. “I’m sorry, Mr. -Rexford, but I can’t tell tales. You—oh, please -don’t ask me to.”</p> - -<p>“All right, I won’t. I know you didn’t use -a blue pencil on that wretched picture,” mused -the man. “Yet the other boy insists that he -didn’t. It may have been some mischievous -messenger from another department. Around -half-past five he would not have been noticed.”</p> - -<p>Harry lifted a startled face to the buyer. He -never heard the word “mischief” without associating -it with Teddy Burke. A swift flashing -panorama of facts crossed his brain. Teddy -had sworn to be even with Leon. Teddy had -visited the department at that time last evening. -Leon had been arranging the table. It was -all plain except the blue pencil. Yet he could -not betray Teddy. As he fitted the pieces of the -puzzle together he became painfully aware of -Mr. Rexford’s acute survey.</p> - -<p>“What is it, Harry? I believe you have -guessed the guilty party. Whom do you suspect? -Speak up. I told Brady to drop it just -for your sake, but if it is one of the messengers, -I’ll take it up. I won’t countenance strange -boys making my department ridiculous.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> - -<p>Harry wavered between affection for Teddy -and loyalty to Mr. Rexford. “I’m not sure, Mr. -Rexford. I do suspect someone. I can’t tell -you his name.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Rexford looked displeased. Harry’s secrecy -piqued him. Under his quiet, kindly exterior -lay a strong vein of stubbornness. Harry -had aroused it. Yet his dignity would not permit -him to continue the argument. “Very -well,” he said coldly. “I won’t try to force -your confidence. You may go.”</p> - -<p>As Mr. Rexford abruptly turned away from -him to his desk, Harry saw a towering wall suddenly -erect itself between him and the man he -revered. His lips moved as though to make a -last appeal, but no sound came from them. -With a long, anguished look at the stern figure -before the desk, Harry left the office with the -bitter knowledge that one small boy’s mischief -had been the means of cutting him off from his -best friend.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX</a><br /> -<small>TEDDY’S DARKEST HOUR</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Once outside the office Harry’s thoughts -were again directed toward leaving the -store. Nothing would ever be the same -again between himself and Mr. Rexford. The -old friendly relations were now broken forever. -Mr. Rexford had defended him, and he had repaid -the buyer’s kindness by refusing to reveal -the identity of the author of the mischief. Yet -he had not found it within his heart to betray -Teddy. Had he done so, Mr. Rexford might -have decided to take the matter higher. That -would have meant dismissal from the store for -Teddy. Harry could not bear to think of it.</p> - -<p>But should he leave the store under a cloud? -He knew himself to be guiltless of any wrong -doing. To leave Martin Brothers now would -appear as a direct admission not only of guilt -but of failure. Resolutely Harry put that -thought away from him, also. He would stay. -Some day the clouds might lift. Some day Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -Rexford might understand. There was also the -question of Teddy to be considered. Were he -to acquaint the impish little boy with the havoc -he had created, Teddy would rush to Mr. Rexford -and confess his sins. He was too much of -a man to allow Harry to bear the brunt of his -iniquities. That would probably mean Teddy’s -dismissal, too. Harry resolved that he would -bear his cross in silence.</p> - -<p>If Harry had entertained any doubt of Teddy’s -innocence, it would have been rudely dispelled -by a question which the latter asked at -luncheon that day.</p> - -<p>“Say,” he blurted, fixing his round, child-like -eyes on Harry. “What’s a deebuttanty?”</p> - -<p>Harry did not fall into the trap. He divined -instantly that Teddy was burning to know the -result of his prank. Assuming an elaborate -carelessness he was far from feeling, Harry replied, -“I guess you mean débutante.” He -spelled the word.</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s it. Is it Rooshun?”</p> - -<p>“No; it is a French word. It means a young -lady who is just coming out in society. What -made you ask?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I just wanted to know.” Teddy’s face -fell. He wondered if his splendid effort had -amounted to nothing. “Very likely the old -Clothes-pole saw it and took it away ’fore anyone -else got a look at it,” was his disappointed -reflection. He was on the point of telling Harry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -what he had done. Then he changed his mind. -It might not strike Harry as a particularly -clever trick. Nevertheless, as he returned to -house furnishings that afternoon he felt rather -pleased with himself. At least he had done his -best to get the obnoxious Clothes-pole into -trouble. It was not his fault that Leon had thus -escaped. Had he known the true state of affairs -he would have been a most distressed and repentant -Teddy.</p> - -<p>As Christmas drew nearer, however, Teddy -was privately worried over the peculiar change -in Harry. He seemed sad and dejected. On the -way home after work he said little, allowing -Teddy to do most of the talking. The merry, -boyish laugh with which he usually responded -to his chum’s funny sallies had quite deserted -him. He had also ceased to confide the annoyances -he daily underwent at Leon’s hands. -Teddy became possessed of the idea that Harry’s -subdued demeanor was entirely due to fresh -persecution. He longed more than ever to -worst Harry’s enemy by holding him up to the -whole store in his true colors. Since the affair -of the picture he had not dared to more than -skirt the book department. It was now overrunning -with salespersons hired for the grand -Christmas rush. Whatever he might find to do -to add to Leon’s discomfiture was certain to be -observed.</p> - -<p>Night school was also an unsafe place for his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> -operations. Unsafe in that Teddy did not -choose there to court risks. His semi-weekly -drill was the pride of his heart. While at it he -had no inclination for mischief. Although Leon -was in company D, to which Teddy belonged, the -little boy kept his distance. Love of drill and -school were too strong to admit of trifling. To -Teddy they were as things apart from his usual -prankish self. Occasionally while at his studies -he would forget himself far enough to make -a derisive face at the ungainly figure lounging -at a desk on the opposite side of the room. He -would then concoct elaborate methods of “getting -even,” only to let them die a quick death as -he made a fresh attack on his lessons.</p> - -<p>On the last evening of school, preparatory to -its close until after the holidays, Teddy left the -dairy lunch for the fifth-floor barracks, feeling -unutterably lonely. Due to an overwhelming -amount of night work to be done in Department -84, Harry had been excused from school. He -had eaten supper with Teddy, then hurried back -to work, leaving his chum to make his disconsolate -way upstairs to drill.</p> - -<p>In this dark mood Teddy scornfully eschewed -taking one of the few elevators now running and -clumped dejectedly up the long flight of stairs, -pausing at each landing for a brief rest. -Rounding the corner of the third flight he halted -to peer aimlessly down the long aisle that -opened into the picture department. Of a sudden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> -his gaze came to a focus on a tall, ungainly -figure, bobbing about the decorative entrance -that was one of the beauty spots of the store. -In that bobbing form Teddy instantly recognized -Leon Atkins. Here and there he flitted, -poking at one object, laying irreverent fingers -on another. Now he dipped grotesquely forward -to seize what looked like a long, slender, -black stick. Pausing, he juggled the stick, catching -it in one hand or the other, balancing it first -on the end of his nose then on the tips of his -long fingers. His eyes becoming riveted on -something directly in front of him, Teddy saw -him raise the long, black stick on high and leap -forward as though about to annihilate an enemy.</p> - -<p>“What’s the Clothes-pole up to?” wondered -Teddy. Soundlessly he stole along the polished -floor toward the cavorting Leon. The entrance -to “pictures” was illuminated by an overhanging -arc light turned on for the benefit of the -night workers, most of whom were now at supper. -By its white radiance Teddy was able to -discern clearly the object of Leon’s capering -attentions. It was a huge oil painting reposing -on a strongly built easel.</p> - -<p>On either side of the entrance to the galleries -an imposing bronze dragon supported from one -upraised, gripping paw a gaily-colored lantern -of painted silk. These fantastic beasts were of -Chinese origin. In consequence, they owned -many tortuous curves, from which terrifying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -spines and points stood out in every direction. -Under the lanterns their savage heads drooped -low, with glaring eyes, snarling jaws and an array -of sharp-pointed, bristling whiskers. A little -to the right of one of them stood the easel, -its precious freight apparently under the -crouching watch of his formidable dragonship.</p> - -<p>Unaware of an audience to his manoeuvers, -Leon brandished his weapon and went through -the performance of charge, retreat and charge -again. Curious to discover why the picture -should call forth such unusual action on the part -of the sluggard, Teddy took advantage of the -other’s preoccupation to slip softly nearer.</p> - -<p>If in the past Dame Fortune had attended -Teddy Burke, for once she basely deserted her -small favorite. As Teddy noiselessly advanced, -he had just time to glimpse a remarkably realistic -representation of a battle scene with a -regiment in furious attack. Then something -happened. He caught a fleeting vision of a -lengthy body plunging riotously forward. This -time Leon charged farther than he had intended. -Unable to check himself he dashed plump into -the easel and fell sprawling under it. The -heavy canvas swayed, tottered, poised briefly -in air and descended sidewise like a huge avalanche.</p> - -<p>Crash! The major part of the heavily framed -painting hit the floor with a noise not unlike -thunder. Simultaneous with the crash came an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> -ominous ripping sound. The baleful Chinese -guardian had added to the effect by impaling -a side of the ill-fated painting on one of his -numerous murderous horns.</p> - -<p>Teddy darted forward, uttering a shrill cry -of horror. Leon, however, stood not upon the -order of his going. Picking himself up, he tore -off in the direction from which Teddy had come -and clattered down the stairs, craven fear lending -wings to his feet.</p> - -<p>“Stop!” yelled Teddy. Turning to pursue -Leon, he felt himself being spun about by the -momentum of a heavy gripping hand on his -shoulder.</p> - -<p>“Caught in the act!” roared a fearsome voice. -It proceeded from the owner of the gripping -hand, a big man, who glared threateningly down -upon his captive. “Tried to run away, eh? But -I got you, you young vandal!”</p> - -<p>Teddy tried to twist himself free of that iron -grasp. “Let me go,” he choked, his black eyes -blazing. “I didn’t do it. You’ve got the wrong -boy.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, I haven’t,” was the sarcastic reply. -“Don’t try to put anything like that over on -me. You’re the only boy I’ve seen so far.” -Not for an instant did the cruel hold relax.</p> - -<p>Having heard the ominous crash from the interior -of the picture department, two more men -now came running to the scene.</p> - -<p>“Whew!” ejaculated one of them. Both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -stared aghast at the wreck. Stooping over the -other grasped the maltreated painting, partially -raising it from the floor. The man who had indulged -in the horrified exclamation now sprang -to the assistance of his companion. Between -them they disengaged it from the dragon’s -horn and held it upright.</p> - -<p>But it was a sorry sight. The spiked bronze -protuberance had been the means of ripping a -long gash in the canvas, which cut in two a particularly -fine figure of a soldier.</p> - -<p>“This is a positive crime,” burst forth the -big man. “The picture’s ruined. It’s one of -the Martin collection, you know. Belongs to -Mr. Edward. It used to hang above the central -archway on the third floor. He had it moved -up here over Christmas because he thought it -would look nice at this entrance. I was telling -him only yesterday that I wouldn’t risk a valuable -painting like that on an easel. It <em>was</em> -worth five thousand dollars. It’s not worth five -now, thanks to this little ruffian.” He cast a -withering glance at poor Teddy.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t do it,” shrieked Teddy, his freckled -face white with righteous rage. “I won’t be -blamed for something I didn’t do!” Unknowingly, -Teddy had uttered Harry’s very words of -a few days past.</p> - -<p>“Tell that to the marines,” sneered the big -man. “If you didn’t, who did?”</p> - -<p>“It was another fellow. I’m not saying who.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> -He was here before I got here. He had that in -his hand.” Teddy pointed to Leon’s hastily -discarded implement of warfare. It was a woman’s -black silk umbrella, tightly rolled. It lay -on the floor precisely where Leon had fallen. “I -was going up to the barracks and when I got to -this floor I saw this fellow waving it around in -front of that picture. I wondered what he was -doing, and I came up to see. Just’s I got here, -he smashed into the easel with it and tipped it -over. Then he ran down those stairs. I yelled -at him, but he kept on running. That’s the -truth. I never went near the old picture.”</p> - -<p>“You’re a pretty foxy kid to cook up a mess -of yarns as quick as all that,” jeered his captor.</p> - -<p>“They’re not yarns,” contradicted Teddy. -“I don’t tell lies.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, keep quiet, you little rat,” growled the -big man, giving Teddy an ungentle shake.</p> - -<p>“What do you suppose Mr. Edward’ll say -when he hears about it?” said one of the two -men who had run to the scene.</p> - -<p>“Search me,” retorted the big man gloomily. -“He’s got himself to blame for putting the picture -here. He’ll fire this rowdy, but what’s that -amount to when the damage is done?”</p> - -<p>It amounted to a good deal to Teddy Burke. -“Won’t you please believe me?” he pleaded, -very near to tears. “I told you the truth. I -did, I did.” His voice rose to a desperate wail.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Maybe the boy is on the square,” suggested -the other of the two men. He had been somewhat -impressed by Teddy’s plea.</p> - -<p>“Forget it,” growled the big man. “These -boys are all alike. You can’t believe any of -them. They’re always ready for mischief and -just as quick to wriggle out of it. I’m going to -take him to Keene. He’s up at the barracks. -These kids all work for him. He’ll read the riot -act to this one and can him. If he don’t, Mr. -Martin will. He’ll froth at the mouth when he -sees this.” He jerked his head toward the picture.</p> - -<p>Teddy’s dejected face brightened at mention -of Mr. Keene. There at least, was someone who -would believe him. “I wish you <em>would</em> take me -to Mr. Keene,” he cried out vehemently. “He’ll -see, if you won’t, that I’m telling the truth.”</p> - -<p>“My, what a brave boy!” jibed the big man. -“Come on. We’ll see how much stock Keene’ll -take in that fairy tale of yours.”</p> - -<p>To the little red-haired boy came the most -dreadful moment of his short life when he was -marched into the well-filled drill room ahead of -the determined picture salesman. His Titian -head drooped in shame as the man loudly recounted -the misdeed in which he had played no -part to the superintendent of the store messenger -force.</p> - -<p>Mr. Keene made no comment as the salesman -blared forth the wretched tale. His kind eyes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> -rested gravely upon Teddy, as though he could -not believe what he was hearing.</p> - -<p>“Leave this boy to me,” he said, when the -man had finished his recital. “Go over there, -Teddy, and sit down. I will talk with you later.”</p> - -<p>Burdened with shame, Teddy sought a bench -at one side of the room. He seated himself upon -it too crushed even to think. Five minutes -afterward the drill began. Teddy watched it -with unseeing eyes. To him the ranks of uniformed -boys were as so many shadows. He did -not even try to ascertain if Leon were among -them. But Leon was not there. He, too, had -been excused that evening to help in Department -84. His presence at the entrance to the picture -department had been due to one of the numerous -jaunts about the store which he was prone -to take whenever the fancy seized him.</p> - -<p>The next hour seemed a year to poor Teddy. -Would the endless tramp of feet never cease? -Those boys must be tired. It was ages since -they had begun to drill. Ah, it was over at last. -They had broken ranks and now were trooping -to the smaller side room to put away their -equipment. Mr. Keene would soon be ready for -him. The superintendent was looking toward -him. Teddy sat up from the despondent attitude -into which he had fallen. From his usually -rougish face every vestige of color had fled. -But one thought lived behind his anguished -eyes. Would Mr. Keene believe him?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX</a><br /> -<small>ALL FOR THE SAKE OF TEDDY BURKE</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">It was noon the next day when a red-haired -boy, his black eyes blurred with tears, stumbled -his way to the coat-room and called for -his hat and coat. Teddy Burke was no longer -an employee of Martin Brothers. After the -hardest morning he had ever known, Teddy had -been discharged from the store. He had not -gone down easily to defeat. Neither had he been -unaided in his efforts to establish his innocence. -Mr. Keene had believed in him. So had Mr. -Marsh and Mr. Everett. All three had fought -for him, but without avail. Mr. Edward Martin, -highly incensed at the wreck of the picture, -had decreed that the boy who was responsible -for it should be discharged.</p> - -<p>If Teddy had not clung so tightly to his own -peculiar code of honor, he could easily have -cleared himself. No amount of quizzing had -succeeded in making him reveal the identity of -the boy whom he had declared guilty of the outrage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> -Mr. Keene, Mr. Marsh and Mr. Everett -understood Teddy’s code and respected it. -Usually lenient, for once Mr. Edward Martin -was adamant. He believed Teddy to be the -author of the mischief and that he was merely -trying to foist the weight of his own depredation -on another’s shoulders.</p> - -<p>It was all over now. He, Teddy Burke, was -an outcast, while Leon, the coward who had run -away from his guilt, was still working in the -store. And Harry, too, was as yet ignorant of -his dismissal. Teddy had not seen Harry after -leaving the barracks on the previous night. In -some way he had missed Harry and been -obliged to tramp gloomily home alone. He had -not tried to see his chum that morning, but had -taken a street car to the store. He had not confided -to his mother what hung over him. He -had hoped that matters might turn out all right. -Now he was going home to tell her all. In the -evening he would wait across the street from the -store for Harry. He preferred to pour out his -sorrows then as they once more trudged the -dear old path together.</p> - -<p>But when Harry met him that evening on the -corner, he was already in possession of the -whole story. “I knew you’d be here,” he -greeted, as he caught Teddy’s outstretched hand -in sympathetic pressure. “Ted, it’s awful. I -couldn’t believe it. I know you didn’t do it.”</p> - -<p>The quiet assurance in Harry’s voice caused<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> -Teddy to gulp briefly. “You’re a real chum,” -he faltered. “Course I never did it. It was -that—that Clothes-pole.” He jerked out the appellation -as though it burned his tongue.</p> - -<p>“Teddy Burke! You don’t say so?” Harry -cried out in amazement. His mouth set hard -as he said crisply, “Tell me everything that happened.”</p> - -<p>Teddy complied, his tones gradually steadying -as he related what had taken place on the -night before. “I tried to get even with him for -your sake, but he canned me all right,” Teddy -concluded sadly.</p> - -<p>“It’s the most unjust thing I ever heard of,” -was Harry’s indignant protest. “Really, -Teddy, it seems as though you should have -spoken.”</p> - -<p>“You wouldn’t’ve,” retorted Teddy. “You -wouldn’t’ve told, any more’n I did. I thought I -was going to tell on him, but I couldn’t.”</p> - -<p>“He deserved it,” reminded Harry sharply. -“I don’t know whether I would have kept still -about him or not. I haven’t said a word about -what he’s done to me. Still I believe I’d just -as soon go to Mr. Martin with what he’s done to -you.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you dare! I won’t have it. If you -did, every fellow in the store would be down on -you. I can stand it. I’m going to try to get a -job in another store. Mr. Keene said he’d give -me a good reference and so did Mr. Everett. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> -can’t ever be the same, though. I thought a lot -of Martin Brothers’ store. It’s a good thing -they’re having that Christmas house-party show -of fashions in Martin Hall. If they’d had a play -and I’d been in it, it would’ve been pretty bad -for me. Never you mind. Some day Mr. Martin’ll -know it wasn’t me that smashed his picture. -Things like that always come out some -time.”</p> - -<p>Harry comfortingly agreed with Teddy, doing -his best to console the injured boy as they -walked slowly home together. Secretly he was -resolved to try in some way to prove Teddy’s innocence. -If he could think of any means to entrap -Leon into a confession he would do his utmost -to bring it about.</p> - -<p>At home with his mother, Teddy’s plan of -seeking employment in another store met with a -decided check. “I never heard of such injustice,” -sputtered Mrs. Burke. “The idea of accusing -my boy of such mischief and of lying! -No, Teddy Burke, you can either go back to -school or stay at home with me. I’ll not have -you run the risk of any more trouble in stores. -I’d go and tell this Mr. Martin exactly what I -think of him, if you weren’t so determined that -I shouldn’t.”</p> - -<p>Teddy chose to remain at home. He had a -firm belief that sooner or later he would be vindicated. -School had no charm for him. He -wished to work, and to work in Martin Brothers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> -He resolved to keep up his studies at home -and patiently await the day of recall to the store -he loved.</p> - -<p>Every night, fair or stormy, found him on the -corner waiting for Harry, always with the wistful -question, “Heard anything to-day?”</p> - -<p>Christmas had come and gone. January was -almost over. The two boys had spent as merry -a Christmas day together as was possible under -the existing cloud that hung over Teddy. Yet -it lacked much of the joy of that of the previous -year. Thus far, Harry had gleaned nothing in -the way of even the most indirect admission of -his fault from Leon. Harry’s own days were -far from happy. He seldom saw Mr. Rexford -nearer than across the department, and never -spoke to him except to pass the time of day. -Of late Leon Atkins had been unusually innocuous, -for him. He was still cowering under -the weight of his guilt, and was in constant fear -that the day might dawn when he would be -found out and discharged from the store.</p> - -<p>What worried Teddy most of all was his inability -to help Mr. Everett. True, he had done -much toward vanquishing the ambitious Mr. -Jarvis, yet he had been always on the lookout -for a chance to turn the balance in Mr. Everett’s -favor. His wonderful plan that had to do with -the unmasking of the pretentious assistant could -never be carried to a finish now. Since the -morning of his dismissal, Teddy had not set foot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> -in the store. Twice, however, while waiting for -Harry, he had encountered his friend, Sam -Hickson, to learn from him that Mr. Jarvis was -still doing his best, or rather his worst, to supplant -Mr. Everett. His fault-finding had been -the means of causing two of the salesmen to resign, -who had been longest in the department. -Miss Newton was muttering darkly of sending -in her resignation. Even Hickson himself declared -that he wouldn’t stand it much longer. -He brought a grain of comfort to poor Teddy’s -sore heart by telling him how greatly he was -missed in house furnishings. The boy who had -replaced him was far from satisfactory. Mr. -Everett, too, deplored the loss of his little -friend. He had expressed very plainly to Hickson -his disapproval of Teddy’s discharge.</p> - -<p>Harry Harding was the only person, however, -to whom Teddy spoke his mind freely. Harry -alone knew the inside facts of the picture disaster. -It hurt him severely to see his chum so -unhappy. He missed the funny sayings and the -air of exuberant jollity that belonged to the old -Teddy. The new Teddy went about immersed -in a gloom utterly foreign to his usual sunny -self. Harry sometimes wondered if the sober-faced, -sad-eyed lad that greeted him so wistfully -at the close of each day could be the same boy -whose cheerful chatter had made the road home -merry.</p> - -<p>“If only I could do something to help Teddy,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> -was Harry’s constant wish. In his desperate -desire to restore his chum’s good name, Harry -sought the quick-witted, far-seeing Miss Welch. -Omitting only the name of the real culprit he -laid Teddy’s case before her one morning in -early February.</p> - -<p>“Hmm!” commented the exchange girl as she -mentally balanced the pros and cons of the affair. -“Your little chum has certainly got in -wrong, Kiddy. He oughtta’ve squealed on the -other fella. Too bad no one else was around. -If I was a certain red-headed youngster I’d -watch for that sneak that did it. One of these -nights I’d give him a beating he’d remember. -That’s what I’d do. I’d make him tell or I’d -punch his head off.” Miss Welch doubled a -small white hand and waved it threateningly.</p> - -<p>“He couldn’t, Miss Welch. The boy that’s -guilty is twice his size. Teddy’s small for his -age. He’s strong, though, but not strong -enough to tackle the other boy and punish him.”</p> - -<p>“Well, why don’t you do it for him?” urged -Miss Welch. “I’ll bet you could fight if you got -good and mad. Now’s your time to do it.”</p> - -<p>Harry regarded Miss Welch in stupefaction. -How had she guessed what had been in the back -of his head ever since Teddy’s discharge from -the store? Long ago he had hinted to his -mother that the day might come when he would -be forced to use his fists on Leon Atkins.</p> - -<p>“Miss Welch,” he said solemnly, “more than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> -once I’ve thought of doing that. After Ted left -the store I made up my mind that the first time -this boy interfered with me, I’d fight him. But -I hate to start on him unless he does something -to earn his licking. If I did, he might not confess, -but he <em>would</em> make a big fuss. Then I’d -get discharged and Teddy’s case would stay -just as it is.”</p> - -<p>“I get you.” A shrewd twinkle lurked in -Miss Welch’s blue eyes. The phrase “the first -time he interfered with me,” had caused her to -put two and two together. Harry, it seemed, -had reason to believe that the culprit would interfere -with him. This could hardly come about -unless the two were frequently brought together. -Miss Welch had already learned by -using her eyes that Leon Atkins was as a thorn -to Harry’s flesh. So he was the real offender. -She calmly stored up this information against -a time of need.</p> - -<p>“You’ve been ever so good to me,” Harry -continued, “and I know that if you could help -me in this, you would. I’m going to ask you to -keep your eyes and ears open in case you might -find out something that would help Teddy get -his place back again.”</p> - -<p>“You can count on me, Harry. I’ll say a -good word or do a good deed for both you and -your friend, if the chance comes my way. -Count on Margaret Welch to the last drop of -the hat.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> - -<p>Harry left the desk feeling more hopeful than -he had for days. Miss Welch was so clever. If -anyone could help Teddy, she was the very person. -And she had advised him to give Leon a -whipping. Harry smiled. Despite her slangy -manner of speech she was so delicately pretty -that the advice sounded strange from her red -lips.</p> - -<p>As February dragged its changeable way toward -March, the thought of pummeling the -truth from Leon took a decided stand in Harry’s -mind. Often as he watched the hateful -coward, shambling about the stock-room, he experienced -a savage desire to spring upon him -and compel the truth from his lying lips.</p> - -<p>“This won’t do at all,” he reflected one Saturday -morning as he found himself halting in -his work to stare longingly at Leon. Under a -flimsy pretense of work, the latter sat Turk -fashion before a bin, deep in the reading of a -paper-covered dime novel he had smuggled into -the store inside his coat. “It’s awful for me to -be always wanting to hit him.”</p> - -<p>The intense concentration of Harry’s gaze -beat across the narrow space between them, -causing Leon to stir uneasily. Slowly, as -though against his will, his eyes left the paper-covered -book and came to rest on Harry. -“Well, whada you gapin’ at?” he growled.</p> - -<p>“Nothing,” retorted Harry. Disgust of Leon -overcoming prudence, he added, “Oh, pardon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> -me. I believe I was looking at <em>you</em>.” Swinging -about, Harry returned to his task of filling -a truck.</p> - -<p>Two seconds later he became aware that an -angry face was peering down at him over the -truck. “Think I’m nothin’, do you? You’ll -find out who I am!” He gave the truck a vicious -shove that sent it rumbling down the -room.</p> - -<p>Harry sprang to his feet. It may be said in -his favor, however, that in spite of his private -pugilistic desires, he had not intended to draw -Leon into a quarrel. His sarcastic answer had -been nothing more than an outward expression -of his contempt for the bully. Given that he had -determined to punish Leon with his fists, he -would never have selected the store as a battleground.</p> - -<p>“Let that truck alone and go on about your -business,” he commanded. “I want nothing -whatever to do with you.” Turning abruptly -away he started in pursuit of the dislodged -truck. A clutch on his shoulder caused him to -whirl about, his eyes blue steel. “Take your -hands off me, you <em>coward</em>!” The word slipped -out unawares.</p> - -<p>With a wrathful howl Leon made a lunging -pass at him, his right fist doubled. The blow -landed squarely on Harry’s chest, knocking him -backward against a bin. Before he could recover -his balance Leon swept down upon him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> -like a hurricane. For a moment or two Harry -was completely at his mercy. But the tide soon -changed. Realizing that the fight for which he -had yearned was now thrust upon him, he forgot -everything except the knowledge that the -time had come to strike for Teddy’s honor.</p> - -<p>Although shorter than Leon, Harry was -strong and sturdily built. More than once he -had engaged in friendly wrestling bouts with -the boys of the Winthrop school. Never before -had the experience of a real fight been his. -Nevertheless, he gave good account of himself. -Now on his mettle he fought his way free of the -bin and rapidly took the aggressive. Leon -struck out wildly, too much amazed at Harry’s -whirlwind tactics to fight with any degree of -skill. Step by step, under a hammer of relentless -blows, he was being forced back into a -corner of the stock-room.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got you.” Harry slammed him into -the corner with both hands. “Now listen to me, -and don’t you dare yell for your father. If you -do, you’ll be licked to a finish before he can get -to you. You and I are going to settle a few -things right here. You are the one who spoiled -that big painting. You’ve let Teddy Burke suffer -for it because he was too white to give you -away. You’re going to tell me that you did it. -Now tell me, or I’ll begin punishing you all -over again.” Two determined hands pinned -him back with an iron grip.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> - -<p>Leon began to whimper. “You’ll tell on me -if I say I did.” Indirectly he had confessed.</p> - -<p>“No; you’re going to tell on yourself. Promise -to go downstairs and tell Mr. Keene the -whole thing, or take another licking. You’ve -got one black eye. You might as well have two. -Hurry up now, or——” Harry jammed the -thoroughly cowed Leon a little harder against -the bin. He hated to do it, yet what he had begun -must be finished.</p> - -<p>“I did it! I’ll tell him! Lemme go!” Regardless -of Harry’s warning, Leon emitted a -loud howl of “Pa-a!”</p> - -<p>Harry relaxed his hold. There was no need -of further punishment. He had wrung from the -coward the desired confession. But he did not -intend to stop there. He was resolved to escort -Leon to Mr. Keene’s office without further delay, -no matter what Mr. Atkins might say or -do. Keeping a grim watch on Leon, he vigorously -brushed his dusty clothing with his hands, -smoothed his disheveled hair and straightened -his collar and tie.</p> - -<p>Though the door between the stock and receiving -rooms was closed, the anguished howl -of his offspring was borne to Mr. Atkins’ ears. -Flinging open the barrier that separated him -from his son, he crossed the stock-room on the -run.</p> - -<p>“Pa,” wailed Leon, “<em>he</em> almost killed me. -Look’t my eye! He pitched onto me and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> -wasn’t doing nothin’.” The hopeful scion of -the house of Atkins was indeed a sorry sight.</p> - -<p>“You young scamp!” The enraged Mr. Atkins -made a dive for Harry.</p> - -<p>“Keep your hands off me, Mr. Atkins.” -Swerving quickly to one side, Harry eluded the -man’s grasp. His tense voice held a note of -command that caused Mr. Atkins to lower his -too-ready arm.</p> - -<p>Unbeknown to those concerned in the little -drama there had been an unseen witness to the -fight. With the coming of Mr. Atkins, a man -who had stood in the half-open door at the lower -end of the stock-room had slipped quietly away. -Who he was and how much of the turbulent -scene he had understood was something which -Harry was later privileged to learn.</p> - -<p>“I’m pretty near dead, Pa,” whined Leon -miserably. “My eye’s shuttin’ up. He made -me tell a lie. He said he’d half kill me if I -didn’t.”</p> - -<p>“That’s not so,” cut in Harry, his eyes an -accusing flame. “You told the truth a minute -ago because I made you. You’re not telling it -now.”</p> - -<p>“You be careful what you say about my son,” -stormed the father. “I’m going to send for -Mr. Rexford to come up here and tend to you. -I’ll show him how you’ve abused Leon.”</p> - -<p>“I wish you would,” defied Harry. “Send -for Mr. Keene, too. Leon has something to tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> -him. If you don’t send for him, I’ll make your -son go to him.”</p> - -<p>“I ain’t,” shrieked Leon. “Don’t you do it, -Pa.” He began to weep noisily.</p> - -<p>“Leon!” admonished Mr. Atkins. “Don’t be -a baby. I’m not going to send for Mr. Keene -and you are not going to his office. Come into -the other room, both of you. Don’t <em>you</em> try to -run,” he warned Harry.</p> - -<p>Harry made no reply as he walked quietly -into the receiving room ahead of the belligerents. -But his heart had become suddenly heavy. -Under present circumstances Mr. Rexford was -the last person he wished to see. Over him -rushed the sickening sense of defeat. He had -given Leon the long-deferred whipping, only to -realize that in all probability it would be productive -of nothing save his own dismissal from -the store. He had no one to prove that Leon -had attacked him. No one had heard the confession -he had forced from the other boy. It -was his word against Leon’s, and Mr. Atkins -was wholly on his son’s side. Undoubtedly -Leon would now whine out a fabrication which -Harry had no means of proving was false. If -Mr. Rexford still had any faith in him, he would -soon lose it. Worse, he might forbid Harry to -send for Mr. Keene.</p> - -<p>If Leon stuck to his own brand of story, -Harry would then find himself precisely in the -position of Teddy Burke. Suppose he were to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -reveal the true story of the damaged picture? -Would Mr. Rexford believe him? Harry believed -that he would at least investigate the -matter. Leon was too cowardly to stand out -long under any such investigation. Yet there -was Teddy and his inexorable code. Teddy had -followed it. It had led him out of the store. -Now it was about to claim Harry, for he had resolved -that, even to save himself, he would not -tell what Leon refused to confess.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI</a><br /> -<small>AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND AT COURT</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">Mr. Atkins’ telephoned summons soon -brought Mr. Rexford to the stock-room. -He listened without comment to Leon’s -garbled account of Harry’s transgressions. He -allowed Mr. Atkins to say his say, uninterrupted. -When they had both relieved their injured -feelings by forceful speech he turned -sternly to Harry. “And what have you to say -to all this, young man?”</p> - -<p>Harry winced at the harshness of the question. -“I did not force a fight on this boy,” he -quietly denied. “I warned him to let me alone. -He wouldn’t. I gave him something of what he -deserved. I am sorry that it had to happen -here. I am very glad that I whipped him in an -unfair fight. I would not have done him up so -thoroughly except for a certain reason which I -won’t tell. He knows that reason, but he is -afraid to tell it. I made him promise to go to -Mr. Keene on account of it. I know now that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> -never intended to do it. I was going to send for -Mr. Keene to come here, but it wouldn’t be of -any use. That is all I have to say.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Rexford studied Harry long and earnestly. -What had come over the lovable, courteous -Harry Harding of last year? What was -all this mysterious talk about a “certain reason” -and “going to Mr. Keene?” Why had -this frank-faced boy become so curiously secretive -in the past few weeks? And that affair of -the blue-pencilled picture. Harry had also refused -to reveal whatever he knew of that. With -a flash of that rare breadth of spirit which made -him the great man he was, Mr. Rexford suddenly -experienced a feeling of the utmost tolerance -toward Harry. Ranged beside the too-spiteful -father and the bullying son, Harry -looked every inch the man. He was secretly -glad that the latter had trounced lazy Leon. No -doubt he deserved it. Mr. Rexford had never -liked him. Only out of pity for the father’s -hard lot had he allowed the boy to remain in his -department.</p> - -<p>“Come with me, Harry,” he commanded not -ungently. “I’ll talk with you later, Atkins. -And you,” he frowned upon Leon, “take this to -Mr. Drayton.” As he spoke he had drawn a pad -and pencil from a coat pocket. On it he now -scribbled, “Send this boy home for the day. -Rexford.”</p> - -<p>Leading the way to the stock-room, he entered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> -Harry following. “Close the door,” he -said. “Now, Harry, what is all this about? -Can’t you trust me?”</p> - -<p>A quick rush of tears blinded Harry’s eyes. -Somehow the shadow had lifted. Boy and man -had once more set their feet on the old -friendly ground. Harry now saw Mr. Rexford -in a new light. Here was, indeed, a friend, -his father confessor, to whom he might pour out -his heart without fear. “I’ll tell you everything,” -he said simply. “Just as I’d tell my -father if he were living.”</p> - -<p>“My boy, I never imagined that such a state -of affairs existed.” The buyer’s brows were -drawn together in a scowl that had deepened -as he listened to Harry’s terse sentences. -“When I think of all you’ve had to endure from -that young rascal! It must be stopped. And it -was your friend Teddy who decorated the advertising -card. No wonder you didn’t care to -tell me. About the painting, I don’t know what -to say. It’s my duty to straighten out that -snarl.”</p> - -<p>“Teddy wouldn’t like it,” pleaded Harry. -“I’ve spoken of it to you as I would to my -father. Unless Leon owns up of his own accord, -Teddy wouldn’t feel right about it if either you -or I took it to the front. If someone else outside -had seen it happen—but no one did.”</p> - -<p>“You boys have set for yourselves a strenuous -code to live up to,” mused the buyer. “In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> -itself it is commendable. Yet in this instance I -think you have been over-scrupulous. But I -won’t have this Leon in my department. That’s -settled.”</p> - -<p>“His father needs his help,” reminded -Harry. “He has a very hard time to get along. -His son is better off with him.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I know that is true. Still there is my -side to consider. I can’t harbor useless lumber -in my department. I’ll have to think things -over. I’m not sure yet what ought to be done -about that painting.”</p> - -<p>Harry’s heart sank as the buyer left the stock-room. -What did Mr. Rexford intend to do? -He sighed as he laid hands upon his truant -truck and rolled it into place. Now that Mr. -Rexford had gone he hoped Mr. Atkins would -not seek him to deliver further condemnation. -Half-heartedly, he took up his work on the bin -he had begun to dismantle when Leon had attacked -him. He became suddenly erect as he -heard the sound of an opening door.</p> - -<p>“Are you 45?” In the lower doorway of the -stock-room stood a store messenger.</p> - -<p>“Yes.” Harry’s heart began to pound violently. -“Did you want me?”</p> - -<p>“Uh, huh. Mr. Keene sent me up here after -you,” grinned the boy.</p> - -<p>“Did you go to the department for me?” was -Harry’s anxious question.</p> - -<p>“Nope. He knew you was up here. He sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> -another kid over to 84, though. Something doing, -all right.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll go with you.” So Mr. Rexford had decided -that it was his duty to break the confidence. -Harry sighed. What would Teddy -Burke say? He wondered if his chum would -ever forgive him. His dignity forbade questioning -the boy, who seemed bursting with something -he longed to but dared not say.</p> - -<p>Mr. Keene’s office held two occupants besides -the superintendent. One was Leon Atkins, livid -with fear. He had not found time to seek the -aisle manager with Mr. Rexford’s note before -Mr. Keene’s messenger had swooped down upon -him. The other—Harry viewed him in silent -amazement.</p> - -<p>“Come here, Harding.” Mr. Keene waved -Harry into a chair at one side of his desk. “I -understand you and this boy,” he nodded toward -Leon, “had a fight in the stock-room this -morning.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir.” Harry raised steady eyes to the -superintendent.</p> - -<p>“How did it happen?” Mr. Keene’s tone was -kindly rather than harsh.</p> - -<p>“I’d rather not say.” A quick flush sprang -to the lad’s cheeks.</p> - -<p>“Did you begin it?”</p> - -<p>The flush mounted higher. “No, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Aw, he——” burst forth Leon.</p> - -<p>“Be quiet!” thundered Mr. Keene. “I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> -not yet ready to talk with you. Now, Harry, I -happen to know that you”—he paused significantly—“did -not begin the fight. I know -a number of things which I am very glad to -learn. I understand why Theodore Burke left -the store under a cloud. I know, too, who was -responsible for the injury to Mr. Edward Martin’s -painting. I am not sure that you and -Burke were quite correct in your behavior, but -I am sure that you were inspired by what you -believed to be the best of motives. Ordinarily -I would not countenance a fight such as came off -on the tenth floor this morning. Such things -have no place in a store like this. Yet it is a -pretty poor sort of boy who won’t stand up for -himself.</p> - -<p>“Now, Atkins.” Leon began to quake visibly -as Mr. Keene addressed him. “You are to tell -me exactly how you came to do the mischief to -Mr. Martin’s painting.”</p> - -<p>“Aw——” Leon’s voice forsook him. He -gulped, sighed, then dashed a hand across his -eyes. “I—was—goin’ to drill,” he stammered -brokenly. “I—I saw a pitcher of a—lotta—men -fightin’. One—of—’em had a sword—and -was—leadin’ the rest. Then I saw—a—rain -stick—standin’ by the railin’. Some’n had forgot -it. I was tryin’ to do like the—fella in the -pitcher—and—I—I—smashed into the thing it -stood on. It—it—fell down—an’ I run. Just’s -it keeled over—I saw that—red-headed kid from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> -house furnishings. He’d been lookin’ at me. -He yelled at me—but I beat it.” Leon was now -too frightened to tell anything save the plain -truth.</p> - -<p>“Is this what Burke told you?” Mr. Keene -asked Harry.</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” came the low reply.</p> - -<p>“You tried to make this boy come to me and -confess?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” still lower.</p> - -<p>“That is all I require of you, Harry. You -may go. Oh, yes. I am sure you will be glad -to know that I am going to send word by messenger -to Theodore Burke. Do you think he -will come back?”</p> - -<p>“I <em>know</em> he will.” Harry’s face broke into -sudden radiance. How he wished he might be -with his chum when he received Mr. Keene’s -message.</p> - -<p>“Would you like to be that messenger?” Mr. -Keene smiled at the boy’s delight.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Mr. Keene!” Impulsively Harry’s -right hand shot out. He had quite forgotten -that there was a difference in their positions in -the store.</p> - -<p>The superintendent met it with his own. -“We can’t afford to lose such boys as you and -your friend,” he said simply. “I am sure Mr. -Edward Martin will agree with me. Come back -in half an hour and I will give you a note for -Theodore.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> - -<p>Harry had a wild desire to shout at the top of -his lungs as he sped down the stairs to his department. -It was all so marvelous; so unbelievable. -And Mr. Rexford had had no hand -in bringing Leon to justice.</p> - -<p>It was precisely one hour later when Mrs. -Burke called down the stairs to her son, “Do -answer the door-bell, Teddy.”</p> - -<p>Teddy, however, was already on the way to -answer that jubilant, insistent ring. “I guess -it’s the laundry man,” he muttered. “I’ll tell -him we’re not deaf.” Opening the door to confront -the clamorous purveyor of laundry, Teddy’s -black eyes grew saucer-like. “Harry -Harding!” he shouted. “Are you fired, too?”</p> - -<p>Harry’s gay laugh held a note of exaltation -that Teddy instantly caught. His freckles stood -out darkly under his suddenly paling skin. “Is -it—is it——”</p> - -<p>“It is,” caroled Harry. “Read this.” He -thrust a square envelope into his chum’s hand.</p> - -<p>Teddy tore it open, his hands shaking. The -next instant a resounding war-whoop rent the -quiet hall and floated up the stairs. Mrs. Burke -wondered vaguely if the laundry man had suddenly -gone mad. That unearthly whoop had -surely not emanated from her listless, sober little -son. In his exuberant joy, Teddy Burke -did something of which he was ever afterward -a trifle ashamed. He flung his two wiry little -arms about Harry and hugged him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> - -<p>Seated side by side on the living-room davenport, -Teddy and Harry spent a blissful half -hour in rejoicing over the wonderful way in -which Teddy’s vindication had come about.</p> - -<p>“But see here, Harry, you haven’t said yet -who the fellow was that put me straight with -the store. How did anybody know, when you -didn’t tell ’em? I know you said you told Mr. -Rexford everything, but you will have it that -he wasn’t the one.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve been saving it for the last,” smiled -Harry. “Oh, Ted, you can never guess in a -thousand years who it was that told. It was,” -Harry’s smile grew broader, “your friend—the -Dustless Duster!”</p> - -<p>Hearing a second whoop more blood-curdling -than the first, Mrs. Burke descended to find, not -a demented laundry man, but a small, red-haired -son whose fantastic capering about the room -pointed strongly to the suspicion that insanity -lurked within her own gates.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a><br /> -<small>THE BEAUTY OF EFFICIENCY</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">When on the next morning Teddy Burke -returned to Department 40 he was -hailed as a hero and petted outrageously -by his delighted friends in house furnishings. -Mr. Jarvis, however, appeared not to -see him. He was deeply disgusted to behold -“that red-headed imp” again entering into what -he fondly dreamed of making his undisputed -domain. He had never reckoned Teddy Burke -as an obstacle until after it had slowly dawned -upon him that a Teddyless department was -highly conducive to his peace of mind. Luck -had recently favored him in that two days before -Teddy’s return Mr. Everett had succumbed -to a severe attack of bronchitis that promised to -keep him away from house furnishings for at -least two or three weeks. Mr. Jarvis was now -bent on making his temporary reign of buyer a -permanent one. He did not, therefore, classify -the reinstatement of 65 as an undisguised blessing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Where’s Mr. Everett?” was Teddy’s first -inquiry of Sam Hickson after making the rounds -of 40 and receiving its joyful approval of his -return. “I want to see him most of all. He -fought like a good one for me the day I got fired. -That was some day! Whew! I’ll never forget -it.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Everett’s sick,” informed Hickson -gloomily. “He’s got bronchitis. Couldn’t have -come down with it at a worse time. Your friend -the Percolator worried him into it, I guess. -Poor fellow, he’s had his hands full with the -crazy loon.”</p> - -<p>“That’s too bad.” Teddy showed real concern. -“Where does he live? I might go’n see -him.”</p> - -<p>“I wish you would!” exclaimed Hickson -heartily. “He thinks a lot of you, Reddy. -Maybe you could get him to change his mind.”</p> - -<p>“Change his mind about what?” Teddy’s -face registered round-eyed alarm. He wondered -if Hickson could mean——</p> - -<p>“He’s going to resign.” The salesman spoke -Teddy’s thought. “Just before he was taken -sick he told me that another store’d made him -a good offer. More salary than he gets here. -He’d rather not take it. He’s built up this department -and he loves it. But he can’t stand -Jarvis. When you spoke of going to see him it -just came to me that you’d be the very one to -let him know how much we need him here. He’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> -promised to take me with him. I’ll go, of -course. But I hate like sixty to leave Martin -Brothers. They’ve been fine to me.”</p> - -<p>Teddy gasped. His whole world seemed to -be on the verge of tumbling down about him. -Without Mr. Everett and genial Sam Hickson, -what a desert spot 40 would become! He would -go, too. Still, there was Harry to think of and -Mr. Keene. Besides, no other store had a school -like Martin Brothers, or a military company -like the Minute Men.</p> - -<p>“It’s <em>awful</em>,” he breathed, aghast at the -dreadful prospect. “If I hadn’t got fired I’d -have done my last canning before this and -sealed up the can.”</p> - -<p>“You had your own troubles,” sympathized -Hickson, “but you behaved like a brick. I’m -glad that young sneak got his. The story’s gone -all over the store.”</p> - -<p>“I guess I’m some hero.” Teddy puffed out -his chest.</p> - -<p>“You’ll do, but don’t go and spoil it all by -getting a swelled head,” was Hickson’s dampening -advice.</p> - -<p>“I won’t.” Teddy grinned, quite unoffended -at this jolt. “I’ve got to get busy an’ look after -the perky Percolator. He must have missed me -a lot.”</p> - -<p>“I noticed he did run up and kiss you this -morning,” jibed the salesman.</p> - -<p>“I’da punched his fat face if he had,” threatened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> -Teddy, looking utter repugnance of such -a horrible possibility.</p> - -<p>At luncheon that day, the first with Harry -in many weeks, Teddy remarked sourly: “I lost -a lot of time by getting fired. The old Percolator’s -been buzzing around to beat the band. -Mr. Everett’s sick. Mr. Hickson says he’s going -to resign from kettles and pans. I’m going -to see him one of these nights. I found out -where he lives. Mr. Hickson says Mr. Everett’ll -be glad to see me.”</p> - -<p>“I’m sure he will,” nodded Harry. “Oh, -Ted, I’ve got something funny to tell you. One -day while you were out of the store I was talking -to Miss Welch about you. I didn’t tell her -that it was Leon who spoiled Mr. Martin’s -painting, but she said that something I said -made her suspect him. You see I asked her to -watch out and if she ever heard anything that -might help to prove you didn’t do it, to let me -know. Of course she doesn’t get much chance -to leave her desk, but she remembered a man in -the store who goes all over it. She’s known him -ever since she came here.”</p> - -<p>“The Dustless Duster?” guessed Teddy.</p> - -<p>Harry nodded. “Miss Welch told him the -whole story. She even told him Leon’s name -and described him. Mr. Ferris, that’s the Dustless -Duster’s real name, said he knew Leon was -a bad boy. He told her about reporting him for -sleeping in the bin, and that he’d seen Leon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> -poking around the store in all sorts of places -where he had no business to be. He began to -keep his eye on the precious Clothes-pole. He -thought if he could catch him doing any more -mischief, he would take him to Mr. Keene and -scare him into telling about the painting. So, -to please Miss Welch, every once in a while -when he was near the book stock-room, he’d -poke his head in the lower door to see how Leon -was behaving. But he never caught him at anything -until the morning we had the fight. We -didn’t see him but he saw us and heard everything -we said. So you see you owe a whole lot -to the kind Dustless Duster.”</p> - -<p>“I wish I could do something grand for him,” -replied Teddy, his small face aglow. “I’m going -to if I ever get a chance. Say, Harry, what -a lot of nice men there are in this store.”</p> - -<p>“The finest in the world,” came the enthusiastic -response. “Mr. Rexford’s first with me, -though, and Mr. Keene next. A while back I -thought my Year of Promise was going to be a -big fizzle, but it’s getting better every minute. -There’s only one thing I wish was different. I -wish that business about the ring hadn’t happened. -It makes me feel silly every time I -think of it. Still I know I wasn’t wrong.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I wouldn’t care about that,” consoled -Teddy. “You did your best. These people -that steal for a living are too sharp for boys -like us.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I never dare look at Mr. Prescott. I always -feel ashamed. I haven’t seen him much -lately, but I suppose I shall next month. -There’s going to be a great big sale in silverware, -so he’ll be around jewelry, I guess.” -Harry did not seem elated at the prospect.</p> - -<p>“That’s nothing to cry about. Think of me -and the Percolator. Some little puzzle.” -Teddy looked as solemn as though his was the -responsibility of bearing the weight of the world -upon his thin shoulders.</p> - -<p>Afternoon found him trailing his plump aversion -with a will born of his devotion to Mr. Everett. -Now alone at the helm, Mr. Jarvis was -rapidly discovering how difficult it was to be in -half a dozen places at once. If he remained in -the office to receive and argue with the numerous -traveling salesmen who were forever dropping -in, he was obliged to let the department run -itself. Then, too, he was not fitly equipped to -meet these bland-faced, smoothly-spoken sons of -commerce whose business it is to exalt their own -wares above those of a rival manufacturer. -Their steady flow of irresistible argument bewildered -him. To hide his ignorance of this -branch of Mr. Everett’s work he met these men -with a high and mighty manner intended to -cover up his lack of knowledge of house furnishings.</p> - -<p>Naturally, they went away highly disgruntled, -to talk him over among themselves when they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> -chanced to encounter one another in a certain -hotel in the city to which most of the travelers -engaged in selling house furnishings gravitated -as a kind of wayside home. It is the most usual -thing in the world for traveling salesmen who -carry similar lines of goods to hang together -when their day’s work is done. Rivals though -they may be, their favorite pastime consists in -congregating to talk about the lines of goods -which they make their living by selling. Among -them Mr. Everett was known and respected, -whereas Mr. Jarvis was dubbed a “joke” and a -“mistake.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Jarvis, however, was not aware of these -very personal opinions of himself. Privately, -he yearned to put aside his haughty manner, to -buy right and left of these insistent clamorers. -He had been ordered, however, to buy lightly -and use the utmost judgment in purchasing that -little. Martin Brothers were not taking chances -on a man who had still to prove his superiority -over Mr. Everett. True, Mr. Jarvis was in line -for promotion, should Mr. Everett resign his -position, as it was rumored that he intended to -do. But Mr. Jarvis’ future as buyer of Department -40 was still vague.</p> - -<p>But while the ambitious assistant wrestled -with the buying problems of Mr. Everett’s department, -the salespeople in kettles and pans -heartily welcomed his frequent absences from -the selling floor. The rumor that Mr. Everett<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> -intended to resign had been wafted about the -department with the result that it went far toward -ruining the strict but kindly discipline the -buyer had ever maintained. A curious spirit of -insurrection, which had long lain dormant, -sprang suddenly into life. Threats of “The day -Mr. Everett’s resignation goes in, mine goes in, -too,” became a familiar mutter about the department.</p> - -<p>When first the news of the buyer’s illness had -been received, his flock had been inspired with -the desire to do their level best for his sake. -They had continued to remain in this beatific -state until word of his impending resignation -had reached them. Then their good resolutions -were swallowed up in revolutionary mutterings. -Their minds continually on this sore subject, -their salesmanship suffered in consequence. No -longer did they work with might and main to -make the day’s receipts count. They served -with due courtesy customers who wished to buy, -but no one went out of his or her way to bring -in additional sales. They made no concerted -plan to revolt. They simply did so, each in his -own fashion.</p> - -<p>The second week of Mr. Everett’s absence Mr. -Jarvis was taken to task for the falling off of -sales in Department 40 and admonished to do -better. The next evening he held a meeting of -the salespeople under his charge after the store -had closed. He lectured touchingly on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> -beauty of efficiency in selling to a company of -young men and women who listened to him with -the stolid faces of wooden Indians. And the -next day’s receipts dropped a trifle lower.</p> - -<p>“Halt!” challenged Sam Hickson late one afternoon -as Teddy Burke flitted past him.</p> - -<p>Teddy halted, assuming a strictly military -carriage.</p> - -<p>“March!” ordered the salesman. “March -back here a minute. I’ve got something on my -mind.”</p> - -<p>“I’m s’prised,” beamed Teddy, trotting back. -“I never would have thought it.”</p> - -<p>“That’ll do,” warned Hickson. “Look here, -I thought you were going to see Mr. Everett? -If you went, you kept pretty still about it.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t go.” Teddy came to instant sobriety. -“I’ve been waiting.”</p> - -<p>“Waiting for what?”</p> - -<p>“To jam on the lid. Don’t you understand? -If I could go to Mr. Everett and say, ‘Don’t -resign. The perky Percolator’s canned,’ he’d -come back to 40 when he got well.”</p> - -<p>“You’ll never go then,” predicted Hickson. -“You’re crazy, Reddy. You can’t wish the fellow -out and watch him go. It would take something -pretty serious to rush him out of here. -You and I aren’t the kind to try any crooked -work.”</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t do anything dishonest to him for -the world.” Teddy flared up like a torch.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> -“You must have a nice idea of me, Mr. Sam -Hickson.”</p> - -<p>“Now don’t get excited,” placated the man. -“Didn’t you hear me say that you and I weren’t -that kind?”</p> - -<p>“Y-e-s. Anyhow, something might happen.”</p> - -<p>“It’ll have to happen in a hurry then, or it’ll -be no use,” was Hickson’s disheartened opinion.</p> - -<p>“I’m going to go and sit on one of those big -whales o’ clothes hampers down by the office -an’ think,” announced Teddy. “I don’t want -you to come talking to me’n disturb my think-tank, -either.”</p> - -<p>“I’ve got something better to do,” laughed -his friend. “I’m going to count up my book.”</p> - -<p>With a backward grin over one shoulder, -Teddy strolled thoughtfully toward the clothes -hamper. Testing it carefully to insure that even -his light weight upon it would not result in catastrophe, -the boy seated himself. Chin on -hands, buried in thought, he resembled a wise -young owl on a perch.</p> - -<p>“Where can I find Mr. Everett?” A crisp -voice broke up Teddy’s meditations.</p> - -<p>“At home in bed,” leaped to Teddy’s lips, -but courtesy prevailed. “Mr. Everett is sick, -sir,” was what he did say. “He hasn’t been -here for over three weeks.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t say so! Hmm! Who is his assistant -and where will I find him?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> - -<p>Teddy was about to go in search of Mr. Jarvis, -but changed his mind. He decided that he -felt like indulging in a little further conversation -with this tall, good-looking stranger who -smiled upon him so pleasantly.</p> - -<p>“His assistant’s Mr. Jarvis. He’s an efficiency -man.”</p> - -<p>“You don’t say so!” repeated the stranger, -raising his eyebrows. His amusement appeared -to deepen.</p> - -<p>“Yep.” Teddy forgot himself. “He knows -all ’bout efficiency.”</p> - -<p>“And does he like to talk about it?” a peculiar -gleam shot into the man’s eyes.</p> - -<p>“Does he?” Teddy warmed to the subject. -“He eats it alive. He c’n talk yards of it and -never lose his breath.”</p> - -<p>“That is good. I am interested in efficiency -myself. Where did you say I would find him?”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t say.” Teddy’s brief liking for the -pleasant stranger vanished. Here was another -efficiency crank. Sliding from his makeshift -throne he peered up and down the department. -“There he is, down among the ice-chests.” The -little boy turned a scornful back on the man and -marched off. “Wait till he tries to sell the Percolator -a ton of tinware or a kitchen stove,” -muttered the lad. “He’ll get his head froze off. -Funny. He looked nice. Not a bit like a fishy -old fishiency fish. Guess I’ll watch him get the -freeze.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> - -<p>Teddy watched and saw something that made -him open his eyes. At first glance it looked as -though his prediction would be verified. Almost -instantly the assistant’s haughty stare broke -up in a fatuous smile. “What do you know -about that?” wondered Teddy, as he saw the -two men shake hands. “I s’pose they found -out that they were both fishy fishes.”</p> - -<p>In this Teddy had made a most accurate -guess. Thanks to his own yearning for conversation -he had put in the stranger’s possession a -most valuable method of approaching the unapproachable -assistant. As it happened the man -represented a house against whom Mr. Everett -had a grudge of long standing. For several -years he had refused to buy of them, due to a -fault which they had of taking orders at one -price and delivering them at another a trifle -higher than quotation. Mr. Everett had been -supported by the firm in his refusal to deal with -them, and for a long time they had not ventured -to send a representative to call on him.</p> - -<p>The pleasant stranger had heard of the assistant -from a friendly traveler staying at the -same hotel with him and had determined to take -advantage of Mr. Everett’s absence to try to -place an order. It is to be doubted whether he -had any extreme interest in efficiency, but he -hailed it as a trusty bridge on which to place his -feet.</p> - -<p>Mr. Jarvis was naturally delighted at last to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> -meet a man after his own heart. In triumph he -led him into Mr. Everett’s office, there to extoll -the beauties of efficiency to his heart’s content. -At the end of a two-hour session the smiling -stranger left with a good-sized order on his -book, while Mr. Jarvis was equally certain that -he also had done well.</p> - -<p>The result of his well-doing did not become -manifest until several days had passed. A call -to the system manager’s office sent him hurrying -there in the hope of being informed of Mr. -Everett’s resignation as buyer, followed by his -appointment to the position. His interview -with the manager was totally different from expectation. -He was informed that he had bought -neither wisely nor well. In a heart-to-heart talk -with that august individual it soon became evident -that Mr. Jarvis knew very little about the -relative merits and prices of kettles and pans -and less about the firms that manufactured -them. Efficiency of his sort withered beside the -clear business judgment of Mr. Everett.</p> - -<p>But the worst was yet to come. The following -day Mr. Jarvis again held down a chair in -the assistant manager’s office to learn what that -far-seeing individual thought of him as a business -man. He had not been placed in his proper -sphere, the manager concluded and suggested -pertinently that if he cared to remain in the -store another position suitable to his somewhat -peculiar abilities might be found for him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> - -<p>At the end of that session Mr. Jarvis returned -to the department which he in a few short weeks -had so nearly succeeded running into the rocks. -But he did not remain there. No, indeed. He -collected his possessions and shook the dust -of Department 40 from his feet without so much -as a farewell word to kettles and pans. And the -next elevator bore him upward to that mysterious -haunt known as the Bureau of Adjustment, -where in settling the claims of a claim-hungry -public his fatal efficiency might soar unheeded -and undisturbed.</p> - -<p>“Who stole the perky Percolator?” demanded -Teddy Burke on the morning following -Mr. Jarvis’ flight from house furnishings. “I -haven’t seen his sweet face this morning.”</p> - -<p>Sam Hickson laughed happily. “You won’t -see it unless you go up to the Bureau of Adjustment. -He bubbled up once too often, I guess, -and the system manager got him.”</p> - -<p>“Why, when, what for?” almost shouted -Teddy in wild excitement.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know much about it. I only know -he’s gone. Duffield just told me. I hope Mr. -Everett hasn’t sent in his resignation yet. If -he hasn’t, he might come back.”</p> - -<p>“And is the Percolator canned for good?” -gasped Teddy.</p> - -<p>“He sure is.”</p> - -<p>“Then I’m going to see Mr. Everett to-night.” -Teddy skipped joyfully up an aisle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> -to interview Miss Newton on the subject. Miss -Newton was busy, however, with a customer. -She looked so amiable and smiling that he decided -she had heard the news. Seized with a -brilliant thought he jerked the little leather-covered -book from his pocket. There was just -room on the page for one more item. So he -wrote, “March 14. Canned for good, but not by -me.”</p> - -<p>And it was not until some time afterward that -Teddy Burke learned just how important a part -he had played in the final canning of the “perky -Percolator.”</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a><br /> -<small>A BELATED RECOGNITION</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">When Teddy Burke left the store that -night to make his call on Mr. Everett -he was in a most jubilant frame of mind. -A great honor had come to his friend Sam Hickson. -Hardly had Teddy left him to interview -Miss Newton when Hickson had been summoned -to the system manager’s office. There he received -the surprise of his life. He was notified -that he had been selected to replace Mr. Jarvis -as assistant buyer. Mr. Everett had been consulted -by telephone and approved the proposed -change. It was expected that Mr. Everett -would be able to resume his duties on the following -week. Hickson thrilled with joy at this -news. It was equivalent to saying that his chief -had not resigned after all.</p> - -<p>As a matter of fact, Mr. Everett <em>had</em> done so, -by formal letter, on the day previous to Mr. -Jarvis’ downfall, his resignation to take effect -one month after date of notification. Beyond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> -the terse statement, “for personal reasons -which I shall not divulge,” the buyer had set -forth no direct cause for his act. The system -manager was in possession of numerous facts -which he shrewdly brought to bear upon the -matter. Mr. Everett had not advocated Mr. -Jarvis’ appointment as his assistant. Instead, -he had wisely recommended Samuel Hickson as -best fitted to serve in that capacity. He had -been overruled, however, by others, who had -believed Mr. Jarvis to be the right man for the -position. As the system manager himself had -emphatically sided with Mr. Everett, it now -gave him exquisite pleasure to be able to say, “I -told you so.” A long telephone conversation -had ensued between him and Mr. Everett, which -resulted in the removal of Mr. Jarvis to the -Bureau of Adjustment.</p> - -<p>Teddy Burke was ushered into Mr. Everett’s -comfortable bachelor quarters that evening, his -freckled face alive with friendly joy. He had -planned to conduct himself in a manner befitting -one who makes a call. The sight of his beloved -buyer completely banished his laudable ideas -of dignity. He behaved exactly like red-haired, -roguish Teddy and no one else. Seated opposite -Mr. Everett, who lounged luxuriously in a -big easy chair, Teddy forgot himself and proceeded -to convulse his chief with a somewhat -sheepish account of his numerous experiments -in the canning line. He proved himself such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> -good company that Mr. Everett insisted that -his young entertainer should dine with him. Accordingly, -Mrs. Burke was consulted by telephone -and Teddy, in the seventh heaven of bliss, -remained to break bread with his chief.</p> - -<p>That was a gala evening for him. For days -afterward he was prone to dwell fondly upon -the glories of that dinner to Harry Harding. -On his part, Harry was only too willing to listen -to whatever it pleased Teddy to tell and retell. -During the long winter so much unpleasantness -had befallen the chums that their common -misfortunes had strengthened wonderfully -the bond between them. With Leon Atkins’ -discharge from the store, peace and safety had -come to Harry. With Mr. Everett again in Department -40 and Sam Hickson acting as his assistant, -Teddy’s cup of happiness overflowed.</p> - -<p>“There’s only one thing that makes me feel -sorry that the perky Percolator’s gone into the -adjusting business,” confided Teddy to Harry -as they strolled home under a reddening March -sunset. “To-morrow’s April Fool’s Day. I -wanted to give him the Zoo’s number and ask -him to call up Mr. Lion. I might write it and -leave it up at the Bureau to-morrow before he -gets there.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you do it,” advised Harry. “Let him -alone and stick to kettles and pans. Then you -won’t get into trouble. You’ve had enough for -one year.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I guess that’s right.” Teddy squinted reflectively. -“Mr. Everett says if I watch my p’s -and q’s I might be his assistant some day. Only -I’ll have to grow a lot. I’m an inch taller’n last -year, anyhow. That’s growing up some.”</p> - -<p>“I’m almost three inches taller than I was -last year,” said Harry with pardonable pride. -“I hope I’ll grow up to be as tall as Father was. -He was six feet.”</p> - -<p>“You better get a grow on then,” grinned -Teddy. “I saw Miss Verne to-day. She wants -me to sing at an entertainment. It’s to be the -last of May in Martin Hall. It’s a benefit for -another sick man in the store.”</p> - -<p>“That reminds me, Mr. Barton’s coming back -next week. Miss Welch told me. He wrote her -a letter. He said in it he was going to write to -me, too. He’s entirely well. Isn’t that fine? -He’ll be back at a busy time. Next week’s the -big silver sale. I suppose Mr. Prescott’ll be in -jewelry. He must hate me. He scowls at me -every time I meet him as though he’d like to -gobble me up.”</p> - -<p>“I guess I’ll have to give him a name,” suggested -Teddy. “Let me see. Three Eyes -sounds pretty good. He’s s’posed to have one -eye in the back of his head. If he’d used it, -p’raps that woman wouldn’t’ve got away with -the ring.”</p> - -<p>Harry laughed a little at Teddy’s inspiration. -“You can’t ever make him believe she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> -took it,” he remarked with some bitterness. “I -hope nobody tries to steal anything next week -while I’m looking at him or her. If I reported -it, Mr. Prescott wouldn’t believe me.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t s’pose anyone will,” was Teddy’s -cheerful comment. “Silverware’d be -pretty hard to steal.”</p> - -<p>Harry agreed that it would and dropped the -subject. Mr. Prescott’s appearance in the jewelry -department on the following Monday afternoon -again brought it to mind. The big sale -had begun with a rush of customers that made -jewelry a hive of industry. The sale was an annual -event and many persons took advantage of -it with a prudent eye to future wedding or holiday -gifts.</p> - -<p>Up and down the humming aisles walked Mr. -Barton, strangely transformed from the crabbed, -hard-faced aisle manager of the past to -a pleasant, mild-mannered man whose eyes -still held a hint of suffering. He was thinner -than of old, but moved with an alertness that bespoke -a return of strength and health. Whenever -he chanced to encounter Harry he smiled at -him in a fashion that bespoke his everlasting -gratitude. As for Miss Welch, she and -“Smarty Barton” were in a fair way to become -excellent comrades of work.</p> - -<p>Though jewelry buzzed with importance, -books had slid into an unusual state of placidity -after an early Easter. Gardening and nature<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> -study were now coming rapidly to the front and -a great changing of tables went on daily.</p> - -<p>As the week progressed, the jewelry department -grew busier.</p> - -<p>“Beats everything I ever saw the way these -people spend their money,” grumbled the -cashier in jewelry, whose cage was situated next -to the exchange desk. Her remark was addressed -to Miss Welch. The latter had just -concluded an elaborate argument with an irate -woman who insisted that she exchange a damaged -cut glass bowl for a perfect one.</p> - -<p>“You’re lucky,” was Miss Welch’s grim assurance. -“You can take their money and keep -your mouth shut. But me! I have to take their -sass and talk like an angel. If I told that customer -once, I told her ten times to take that -bowl to the Bureau of Adjustment. But no, -she couldn’t see it. She bought it here and -here’s where she’s going to stick till she gets -another. ‘Madam,’ I says to her, ‘you can stand -here till the store closes if you want to, but I -can’t do nothing for you.’ But she wouldn’t believe -I was giving it to her straight. So I had -to call Barton and he led her away, she telling -him about ‘that snippy girl’ as far’s I could -hear her. If I don’t come to work to-morrow -you’ll know I died of a broken heart over being -called a snip. If to-morrow wasn’t Saturday -I’d take a rest. This desk is the main pavilion -of Trouble-hunters’ Resort.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I’m glad to-morrow’s Saturday,” sighed the -cashier. “This has been a heavy week. Three -or four times a day this cash box runs over. -I’ve got about a thousand dollars in it now. I -hope Mr. Wiggins sends someone down pretty -soon to get it. He generally has a messenger -down here after it before this. Must be he’s -forgot.”</p> - -<p>“It oughtta be a man,” declared Miss Welch -reprovingly. “It ain’t safe to trust all that -money to a girl.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I don’t know. The elevator’s only a -step and these boxes the messengers carry are -safe enough. They’re lock boxes. He’s always -had special messengers to do it. They’re not -cash girls. They’re grown up women and -oughtta know their business. All this talk about -girls not being able to do as well as men makes -me sick.” The cashier pouted, looking rather -nettled. “I b’lieve in woman’s rights, I do.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t get huffy,” dimpled Miss Welch. -“I’m something of a suffragette myself. I was -only saying what <em>I</em> thought. This is a free country, -ain’t it, Kiddy?” This to Harry Harding, -who had stopped before her desk to speak to her. -Harry was the bearer of a note from his mother -asking Miss Welch to take supper with the -Hardings on the next Friday evening. Harry -had intended to deliver the note that morning. -A call to the stock-room had caused him to forget -it until that very moment. He now extended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> -it to her, saying, “Here’s a note from -my mother, Miss Welch. What was it you asked -me?”</p> - -<p>“Forget it. I’m busy.” Miss Welch began -a hasty exploration of the square white envelope. -“Aren’t you the nice kid?” she beamed as -she finished reading the prettily worded missive -of invitation. “I’ll be there, both feet first. -For goodness’ sake, don’t tell your mother that. -She’ll think I was brought up in a barn. I’ll -write her an answer to this before I go home. -I hope the whole town don’t get the exchange -craze while I’m trying to do it. I’m liable to -write, ‘Dear Mrs. Harding: No, we don’t exchange -men’s shirts at this desk. You better -see the aisle man. I accept with pleasure your -kind invitation to go two aisles to the right and -all the way back, etc.’ That’s about what I’d be -writing.” Miss Welch indulged in a merry -laugh at her own expense in which both Harry -and the cashier joined.</p> - -<p>“You’re awful funny,” giggled the cashier. -“I—oh, here you are! About time someone got -busy with this.” She wagged her head toward -the well-filled cash box.</p> - -<p>A slender, fair-haired young woman dressed -in the customary store black, relieved only by a -wide, white collar, stood before the desk, lock -box in hand.</p> - -<p>“How much have you for me? Tell me -quickly. I must get back upstairs.” She spoke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> -imperiously, at the same time producing a small -receipt pad and pencil.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I guess you can wait a minute. You -kept me waiting,” was the cashier’s stolid retort.</p> - -<p>Shrugging her shoulders, the young woman -stepped into the cage beside the cashier and began -to transfer the bulk of the money to the now -open lock box, leaving only a small percentage -of notes for change. Scribbling a receipt for the -amount she had taken, she signed it with an illegible -scrawl and prepared to depart in a -hurry.</p> - -<p>“Wait a moment.” A boyish form resolutely -barred the messenger’s path. A determined -hand caught her by the arm. With a haughty -stare at the offender she jerked herself free.</p> - -<p>“Let me go,” she hissed. “What——”</p> - -<p>Harry Harding’s fingers clutched the young -woman’s arm in a tighter grip. Her appearance -at the desk had awakened in his brain a -curious recollection of something unusually unpleasant. -As he continued to stare at her, that -which at first had been merely a disagreeable -impression deepened to an alarming knowledge.</p> - -<p>“I will <em>not</em> let you go,” he returned, his young -face set and stern. “Mr. Barton!” Raising -his voice he hailed the aisle manager, whom he -sighted a short distance off. Miss Welch and -the cashier were staring in dumb surprise. An -instant and Mr. Barton was at his elbow.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> - -<p>“What’s the trouble here, Harry?” he asked, -amazed at the strange tableau.</p> - -<p>“Make this boy let go my arm. He must be -crazy. I’m in a hurry. Make him let go, I say.” -A pair of pale blue eyes, scintillating with rage, -flashed an accompaniment to the furious command.</p> - -<p>“She’s not a messenger from Mr. Wiggins’ -office,” Harry cried out. “I know she isn’t. -Send for Mr. Wiggins and let him identify her. -She’s the ring woman, Miss Welch!”</p> - -<p>“Great goodness!” exploded Miss Welch. -“Hang on to her, Mr. Barton, good and hard. -I’ll bet Harry knows what he’s talking about.”</p> - -<p>Dropping the cash box the young woman -made a furious struggle to break away. Her action -was in itself so suspicious as to condemn -her. Harry relinquished her to Mr. Barton’s -stronger guardianship. By this time a crowd -had begun to collect. Miss Welch was already -busy telephoning Mr. Wiggins. A man at the -far end of the department glimpsed the crowd -and now came toward it on the run.</p> - -<p>“What’s all this?” he asked gruffly.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Prescott,” Harry’s tones held a suspicion -of triumph, “this is the woman who got -away with the ring last Christmas. I told you -I’d know her if ever I saw her again. Ask her -about it. Ask her, too, what she was trying to -do with that cash box.”</p> - -<p>Before Mr. Prescott could answer, a second<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> -man pushed his way to the center of the crowd. -“Is this the girl?” he questioned, his voice unsteady -with fright.</p> - -<p>“That’s the one.” It was Miss Welch who -answered.</p> - -<p>“I never saw her before. Where’s the -money?” The query ended almost in a shout.</p> - -<p>“It’s here, and you may thank this boy for -it.” Mr. Barton nodded over one shoulder, still -holding firmly to the now cowering imposter. -“This is your case, Prescott. Better take -charge of it.”</p> - -<p>The detective’s face was a study as he moved -forward to collect his own. “You’d better come -with me,” he said to Harry. “I may need -you.”</p> - -<p>Harry was not at all proud of making one of -the trio that set out for a neighboring elevator. -Yet this time he knew that what he had done -was beyond criticism. It remained now for Mr. -Prescott to extract the true story of the ring -from his prisoner. Once shut off from all means -of escape, the woman’s remarkable assumption -of bravado in a measure left her. She could -not very well deny the raid on the cash box, but -pretended ignorance of the affair of the ring. It -was a long, wordy battle to which Harry was -compelled to listen. In the end the woman broke -down and confessed not only the theft of the -ring, but that she was also one of a gang of -professional thieves. No amount of argument,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> -however, could persuade her to reveal either -their identity or their whereabouts.</p> - -<p>It was at this juncture that Mr. Prescott allowed -Harry to go, with, “I’ll see you later, my -boy. I’ve a good deal to say to you.”</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, down in the jewelry department -a radiant-faced young woman was singing Harry’s -praises to Mr. Barton.</p> - -<p>“That boy’s shooting upward like a rocket,” -she exulted. “What’s more he’s going to stay -up. He’s got a wise head on his shoulders. I’m -glad he got a chance to show Prescott a thing or -two.”</p> - -<p>“He’s a smart boy and a good one,” agreed -the aisle manager. “He did a great deal for -me. You know he spoke to Mr. Keene about me -when I was sick. That’s how Mr. Keene came -to know of it and started the plan for the benefit.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Keene nothing,” retorted Miss Welch. -“He’s the one that cinched the idea for that -benefit. Him and that red-headed kid he runs -with. They planned it out, but kept it under -their hats because they was afraid to let folks -know it for fear they’d think the show wasn’t -much if two youngsters steered it. He’s a wonder, -that boy. I supposed you knew the rights -of it, if no one else did. Well, I guess Mr. Keene -and me must have been the only ones in the -know. It’s only one more star in Harry’s -crown.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I never knew. I——” Mr. Barton wheeled -and walked away, too much overcome for further -speech. He wondered if Mr. Edward Martin -knew the truth. He determined to find out -from Mr. Keene. If the senior partner were not -in possession of the facts, then his own duty -lay before him. Mr. Martin should learn from -his lips the story of one boy’s golden deed.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV</a><br /> -<small>ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL</small></h2> -</div> - - -<p class="cap">“So you are Harry Harding. Sit down -here, Harry. I should like to talk with -you.” The senior partner of Martin -Brothers waved a distinctly embarrassed boy -into a chair opposite his own and surveyed the -lad with an earnest, kindly gaze.</p> - -<p>Inwardly Harry was wildly cogitating the -reason for this interview which had been thrust -upon him. It could hardly pertain to the affair -of the cash box. It was four days since -that had happened. In four days an excitement -of that nature has ample time to die out in such -a busy world of trade. Yet Mr. Martin did not -seem displeased; quite the contrary. His singularly -youthful dark eyes, which contrasted so -sharply with his gray hair and mustache, were -filled with friendliness.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Keene has told me so much that is good -of you, I thought I should like to see the boy who -has looked out so thoroughly for my interests -and for those of my employees. Your prompt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> -action saved the store a loss on last Friday. -You are greatly to be commended for it.”</p> - -<p>“It was all in the day’s work, sir,” Harry replied, -his already flushed face turning pinker. -“I only remembered the woman’s face and suspected -she wasn’t a real messenger.”</p> - -<p>“It takes a pretty smart boy to remember -a thing like that at the right moment,” smiled -the senior partner. “Mr. Prescott tells me you -were instrumental in breaking up that chain of -thieving last year. He says he would like to -have you on his staff. Do you wish me to place -you there?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, no, sir!” Harry expressed emphatic -disapproval of such a change. “I shouldn’t like -to be a detective in the least. I just happened -to get into both those affairs.”</p> - -<p>Mr. Martin smiled whimsically. “You’re -rather different from the average youngster. -Most boys would jump at a chance to become a -sleuth. What would you like to become?” he -questioned, staring hard at Harry.</p> - -<p>“A business man, sir. I’d like to learn a lot -about a big store like this; about the way things -are done here. Then if ever I had a chance to -go into business for myself, I know just what to -do and how to do it.”</p> - -<p>“So you’d prefer becoming a business man. -I should say you had already made a fair start. -How would you like some day to be a book -buyer?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span></p> - -<p>Harry’s answer came somewhat haltingly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve thought a -good deal about that. In one way I’d like it -and in another way I wouldn’t.”</p> - -<p>“Tell me just what you mean,” tactfully -urged the man.</p> - -<p>“I think——” began Harry. “You see it’s -like this. If I were some day to go into business -for myself I don’t believe it would be in books. -I don’t know yet just what it would be. I won’t -know, either, for a long time to come. I’d like -to stay with Mr. Rexford, of course. Still in -another year I ought to be something more than -a stock boy. I don’t want to be a salesman, and -even if I knew enough I couldn’t be an assistant -by that time. I’d still be considered too -young for such a responsible position.” Drawn -out to speak of what lay nearest his heart, -Harry had quite forgotten his brief embarrassment. -He was opening his mind to his interested -listener in the same frank fashion in which -he might have talked to Teddy Burke.</p> - -<p>“I understand,” nodded Mr. Martin. “As -you say you are still rather young to talk with -any certainty of your future. But you’ve made -a good start, young man; a good start. Keep -on in the same way and some day you’ll find -yourself where you hope to be. You can’t do it -in a day, or a month, or a year. You must build -your future, stone upon stone. It won’t be easy. -Nothing worth having is easy to get. Remember<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> -that. Now, Harry, I am very glad to have -met you; glad to have such a boy as you in my -store. I shall not forget you. Every now and -then I shall send for you to come to me to ask -you how you are progressing.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Mr. Martin,” Harry rose, believing -the pleasant interview to be at an end. -“I shall try always to have good reports to -bring you.” He was about to say “good morning” -and depart when the senior partner halted -him.</p> - -<p>“Wait a moment,” he commanded. Picking -up a sealed envelope on his desk he tendered it -to the amazed boy. “This is for you, with Martin -Brothers’ heartiest thanks. You are not to -open it until you are in your own home.”</p> - -<p>Harry drew back, the ruddy color leaving his -cheeks. “Oh, I couldn’t——” he stammered.</p> - -<p>“This envelope does not contain what you -think it holds,” returned Mr. Martin, his eyes -twinkling. “Whatever it contains I insist that -you accept it.”</p> - -<p>Reluctantly Harry took the envelope. A sudden -mist flashed across his blue eyes. He tried -to speak, but could not. For an instant the -whole room became a blur. Then he managed to -articulate an unsteady, “I thank you, Mr. Martin. -Good morning.” Completely unnerved by -his astonishing good fortune, he cast an eloquent -look toward the man at the desk and hurried -from the office.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> - -<p>Regaining Department 84 his first move was -to seek Mr. Rexford’s office. He felt that he -ought to tell the buyer of his recent call on the -senior partner. The day following the affair of -the cash box, Mr. Rexford had come to him and -said: “Well, Harry, I hear that you saved the -store considerable money yesterday. Hereafter -Prescott will have to look out for his laurels. I -understand he is anxious to have you transferred -to his office. You don’t want to go, do -you?” And Harry had answered with a decided, -“I do not.” Mr. Rexford had appeared -vastly relieved at the reply and offered Harry -his hand in unspoken apology for certain -brusque speeches he had given utterance to, directly -after the trouble over the stolen ring.</p> - -<p>It was now most disappointing to the boy to -find Mr. Rexford’s office deserted of his presence, -just when he wished most to see him. -Later he learned from Mr. Brady, who, since -Leon’s removal, had grown quite friendly, that -the buyer had gone out of the city for a day -or two. So Harry hugged his good news until -lunch time, when he could relate it to Teddy.</p> - -<p>Teddy was vastly impressed. “I guess -you’re it,” he observed, his black eyes glowing. -“What do you s’pose is in that envelope? Let’s -see it.”</p> - -<p>Harry took the envelope from a coat pocket. -Teddy hefted, pinched and fingered it in crafty -speculation. “It’s quite heavy. Maybe it’s a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> -picture of Mr. Martin,” he guessed. “He might -want you to have it to remember him by.” His -accompanying grin belied the seriousness of his -guess. “Wouldn’t you like to have me walk -clear home with you to-night?” he asked slyly.</p> - -<p>“You funny Teddy,” laughed Harry. “Of -course I would. I was going to ask you to.”</p> - -<p>There was one other person to whom Harry -felt bound to confide his good news. That person -was Margaret Welch. On his way from -luncheon he sought her desk.</p> - -<p>“Why, here’s Nick Carter the second!” exclaimed -the jolly exchange clerk.</p> - -<p>“Don’t tease me,” protested Harry, smiling. -“I want to tell you something.” Modestly he -spoke of the honor that had so recently been his.</p> - -<p>“Well, I never!” Miss Welch became all -smiles. “You certainly are the candy kid. Be -sure you tell me to-morrow what was in that -envelope. And Prescott’s aching to get hold -of you! But none of that Sherlock business for -yours. Say, Harry, I wanted to ask you something, -but I kept forgetting it. How did that -girl put over that cash box stunt? You was -up in Prescott’s office when she was. Did she -tell? Now don’t cry. I know you hate to talk -about it. Still you can oblige your friend Irish -for once. Her middle name’s Rubber.”</p> - -<p>Harry’s face had clouded as Miss Welch -brought up the subject he had resolutely put -behind him. Her final speech made him smile.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> -“She told Mr. Prescott that she had been watching -the cashier in jewelry for a week. She had -a cash box made to look like those in the store. -The receipt pad she had was almost the same as -those they use in Mr. Wiggins’ office. She -thought no one would notice the difference until -after she got away. It was easy enough to dress -in black like the store girls, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“Hm! She must have figured out the whole -cash system pretty well,” mused Miss Welch. -“Say, Harry, did you know Breeden’s going to -leave Saturday night?”</p> - -<p>“No.” Harry showed some surprise. “It’s -funny, Miss Welch, but Miss Breeden has been -quite nice to me lately. I never thought she -would be after what happened last Spring.”</p> - -<p>“Ha, ha!” Miss Welch seemed vastly -amused. “There’s a reason, and this is it. -Breeden’s going to be married soon, not to Farley, -but somebody else. She and Farley -smashed their wedding ring plans right after -New Year’s. I heard about it just a few days -back.”</p> - -<p>Harry went back to his work feeling that the -last ghost had, indeed, been laid.</p> - -<p>“Let’s take the street car home,” was Teddy’s -audacious proposal after work that night.</p> - -<p>“You’re more curious about what’s in that -envelope than I am,” laughed Harry.</p> - -<p>“Course I am. I want to see Mr. Martin’s -picture,” grinned his unabashed chum.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was a thrilling moment for Harry when -with Teddy at his left, his mother at his right, -he tore open the concealing envelope, to find a -small pasteboard-covered book, bearing the -printed legend, “Martin Brothers’ Bank.” -Underneath was written, “Harry Harding.”</p> - -<p>“Hooray!” shrieked Teddy.</p> - -<p>Harry had already opened the book. He -gasped, then overcome, hid his face against his -mother’s ever ready shoulder. “Mothery!” he -whispered in choking ecstasy.</p> - -<p>Harry suddenly raised his head from his -mother’s shoulder, his blue eyes shining. “I -thought last year that the twenty-dollar gold -piece was splendid. But, a hundred dollars! -I’m going to give it straight to you, Mothery!”</p> - -<p>“You’ll do no such thing,” declared Mrs. -Harding with a shake of her head. “This -money is yours and you must keep it in the bank -and try to add a little to it whenever you can. -That’s what Mr. Martin means you to do.”</p> - -<p>“I’m going to write a letter to Mr. Edward -Martin to-night,” announced Harry. “I’d like -to have him know how much this means to me.” -Fondly he patted the bank book.</p> - -<p>“Summer’s coming,” observed Teddy irrelevantly, -his black eyes dreamy.</p> - -<p>“So it is. I know what made you think about -it just now, too. You’re remembering last vacation -and——”</p> - -<p>“The Year of Promise,” supplemented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> -Teddy. “It’s been some year, hasn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it has. When we sat under that tree -last summer and read that story, I never -thought we were going to have such a queer winter -in the store. My mother says nobody can -become great or broad-minded without having -troubles,” mused Harry.</p> - -<p>“I think my mind <em>is</em> broader,” returned -Teddy seriously. “My head’s bigger than it -was last year.”</p> - -<p>Harry burst into rollicking laughter. Teddy -glared reproof, then giggled. “It’s so,” he contended. -“I wear a size larger hat’n I did a -year ago. That’s a sign, all right.”</p> - -<p>“There are lots of other signs besides that,” -reminded Harry warmly. “I’m lucky to have -you for my chum, Teddy Burke.”</p> - -<p>“You mean just the other way ’round.” -Teddy’s thin hand sought Harry’s in a firm renewal -of their boyish covenant. Builded upon -the foundation of loyalty, theirs was a friendship -that would defy time and change.</p> - - -<p class="p4 noic">THE END</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="tnote"> -<p class="noi tntitle">Transcriber’s Notes:</p> - -<p class="smfont">Printer's, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently - corrected.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.</p> - -<p class="smfont">Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Harry Harding's Year of Promise, by Alfred Raymond - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HARRY HARDING'S YEAR OF PROMISE *** - -***** This file should be named 52872-h.htm or 52872-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/8/7/52872/ - -Produced by Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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