“The next story,” she said, “is that of a brave girl who lived in the work-a-day world.”
XXVIII
ANN CATCHES A THIEF
AS a rule the office in which Ann Carstairs was employed did not close until six o’clock, but at five-thirty on the December afternoon of this story Ann found herself alone.
At four, the heads of the firm left for the day; and the billing clerk and the stenographer, taking advantage of the absence of authority, helped themselves to an extra half hour.
“We have a little shopping to do,” the billing clerk explained as they passed Ann’s desk.
Before they reached the stair door, the inside salesman closed his desk with a snap, and seized his hat and coat.
“Wait a minute, girls,” he called; “I’ll take you down to Broadway in my machine.” As he followed them he said to Ann, “Good night, Miss Carstairs, don’t stay late!”
A few minutes after they had gone, Mr. Bradford, the bookkeeper, closed the safe and twirled the nickel knob gayly; “I’m off, too,” he announced. “I’m going to leave the vault for you to close to-night, Miss Ann.”