Part 8 (1/2)
Jack was soon to have his opportunity of ”seeing,” though a more disagreeable experience was first to come.
V
AN ELECTRICAL DETECTIVE
”Orr, Mr. Black wants you.”
Jack, who was pa.s.sing through the business department of the Hammerton office, toward the stair which led to the operating room, promptly turned aside and entered the manager's private room.
”Good morning, Jack. Sit down.
”My boy,” began the manager, ”can you keep a secret?”
”Why yes, sir,” responded Jack, wondering.
”Very well. But I must explain first. I suppose you did not know it--we kept it quiet--but the real reason Hansen, the janitor, was discharged a month ago was that he was found taking money from the safe here, which he had in some way learned to open. After he left I changed the safe combination, and thought the trouble was at an end.
”Last Tuesday morning the cash was again a little short. At the time I simply thought an error had been made in counting the night before. This morning a second ten-dollar bill is missing, and the cash-box shows unmistakable signs of having been tampered with.
”Now Johnson, the counter clerk, to whom I had confided the new combination (for it is customary, you know, that two shall be able to open a safe, as a precaution against the combination being forgotten)--Johnson is entirely above suspicion. Still, to make doubly sure, I am going to alter the combination once more, and share it with someone outside of the business department. And as you have impressed me very favorably, I have chosen you.
”That is, of course,” concluded the manager, ”if you have no objection.”
”Certainly not. I am sure I appreciate the confidence, sir,” said Jack quickly.
”Very well, then. The combination is 'Right twenty, twice; back nine; right ten.' Can you remember that? For you must not write it down, you know.”
Jack repeated the number several times; and again thanking the manager for the compliment, continued up-stairs to the telegraph-room.
Two mornings later Jack was again called into Mr. Black's office. For a moment, while Jack wondered, the manager eyed him strangely, then asked, ”What was that combination, Jack?”
”Right ninety--no, right thirty--Why, I believe I have forgotten it, sir,” declared Jack in confusion.
”Perhaps you have forgotten this too, then?” As he spoke the manager took from his desk a small notebook. ”I found it on the floor in front of the safe this morning.”
”It is mine, sir. I must have dropped it last night. I worked extra until after midnight, sir,” explained Jack, ”and on the way out I chased a mouse in here from the stairway, and when it ran under the safe I dropped to my knees to find it. The book must have fallen from my pocket.
”But what is wrong, sir?”
”The cash-box is not in the safe this morning.”
Jack started back, the color fading from his cheeks as the significance of it all came to him.
”And now you pretend to have the combination entirely wrong,” went on the manager.
Jack found his voice. ”Mr. Black, you are mistaken! You are mistaken! I never could do such a thing! Never!”
”I would prefer proof,” Mr. Black said coldly.