There was no rule against a clerk opening one of the cases, for the documents kept there were of no major importance. Something in Tully’s attitude caught Bob’s attention. Then he realized that Tully was looking into one of the files which was under Bob’s supervision and there was a strict rule against that.
Bob hesitated for a moment. It seemed a little foolish to make an issue over that. Probably Tully had done it absentmindedly. Then he remembered his uncle’s warning to watch everything going on in the division.
“Tully, you’re in the wrong file,” said Bob.
Tully turned around quickly, his face flushing darkly.
“No harm, I guess. I just wondered what you’ve been doing and how you’ve been handling your file. I heard Jacobs complimenting you the other day and thought I could get some good pointers by looking your stuff over.”
“That’s okay, Tully. I’ll show you sometime when Jacobs is here, but you know the rule about the files. I’ll have to ask you to close that one.”
“And suppose I don’t?” snapped Tully.
“Oh, you’ll close it all right,” said Bob. His voice was still calm and even, but there was a note of warning that Tully dared not ignore.
Bob closed the file on his desk and stood up, stretching his long, powerful arms. Tully didn’t miss the significance of the motion for Bob had a well founded reputation as a boxer.
Tully turned back to the filing case and slammed the steel drawer shut.