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diff --git a/old/52872-h/52872-h.htm b/old/52872-h/52872-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index a8f9c93..0000000 --- a/old/52872-h/52872-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9755 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - Harry Harding's Year of Promise, by Alfred Raymond—A Project Gutenberg eBook. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -/* DACSoft styles */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -/* General headers */ -h1 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -/* Chapter headers */ -h2 { - text-align: center; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5em; -} - -/* Indented paragraph */ -p { - margin-top: .51em; - margin-bottom: .49em; - text-align: justify; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -/* Unindented paragraph */ -.noi { text-indent: 0em; } - -/* Centered unindented paragraph */ -.noic { - text-indent: 0em; - text-align: center; -} - -/* Drop caps */ -p.cap { text-indent: 0em; } - -p.cap:first-letter { - float: left; - padding-right: 3px; - font-size: 250%; - line-height: 83%; -} - -/* Non-standard paragraph margins */ -.p2 { margin-top: 2em; } -.p4 { margin-top: 4em; } -.p6 { margin-top: 6em; } - -/* Horizontal rules */ -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} - -/* Tables */ -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -/* Table cell alignments */ -.tdl {text-align: left;} - -.tdrb { - text-align: right; - vertical-align: bottom; -} - -.tdrt { - text-align: right; - vertical-align: top; -} - -th { - font-weight: normal; -} - -/* Physical book page and line numbers */ -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - right: 3%; -/* left: 92%; */ - font-size: x-small; - text-align: right; - color: gray; -} /* page numbers */ - -/* Text appearance */ -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -/* Small fonts and lowercase small-caps */ -.smfont { - font-size: .8em; -} - -.smfontr { - font-size: .75em; - text-align: right; -} - -/* Images */ -img { - max-width: 100%; /* no image to be wider than screen or containing div */ - height:auto; /* keep height in proportion to width */ -} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - max-width: 100%; /* div no wider than screen, even when screen is narrow */ -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.tnote { - background-color: #E6E6FA; - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - padding-bottom: .5em; - padding-top: .5em; - padding-left: .5em; - padding-right: .5em; -} - -.tntitle { - font-size: 1.25em; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -/* Title page borders and content. */ -.title { - font-size: 1.75em; - font-weight: bold; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -.author { - font-size: 1.25em; - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -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 - - - - - - -</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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