THE CLERK WAS COLORLESS, BUT ONLY FALTERED AN INSTANT.
“Look here, Orr!” As Smith again spun about a hard look came into his face. “Look here, how do you come to know so much about this business, yourself? Eh?”
Jack uttered an exclamation, and a sudden fear of the clerk came over him. Was Smith thinking of trying to place the blame upon him?
However, further discussion was clearly useless, and he turned away.
The following morning brought quick proof that Jack’s suddenly inspired fear of Smith was too well founded. As he entered the telegraph office Mr. Black called him and handed him a note. “Now what have you to say?” he demanded solemnly.
In a lead-pencil scrawl Jack read:
“Mr. Black: Your yung operatur Orr can tell you sumthin about thet cash box, he was showin the key of the box to sumone yesteday and i saw him. Mebee you will finde the key in his offis cote.
“Yours, a frend.”
“It is the key,” said the manager, producing a small key on a ring. “I recall having left it in the lock.”