ams or something. I've been monkeying
with it for the last half hour, and can do nothing with it." And as he
uttered the words, he held out the bunch of keys toward him.

If Mr. Conway had been startled before, he was certainly alarmed now,
and he looked at his companion in amazement which could not be
concealed.

"Well," cried the other, his temper rising, the result of the brandy
diffusing itself through his brain, "what are you staring at me like
that for? Why don't you take the keys and go ahead?"

Quite as soon as speech would come to him the old cashier said, slowly:

"You seem to forget, Mr. Armstrong, that the keys have been done away
with some time, and the desk now opens with a secret spring which you
yourself devised."

"Well, come here and open it. My fingers are all thumbs to-day,"
replied his companion, looking at him doggedly.

Mr. Conway stepped forward and touched what appeared to be one of the
brass nails that studded the outer rim, and, as if by magic, the desk
flew open, the other watching keenly to see how he did it.

Without further comment Mr. Conway turned away and with slow, heavy
tread left the private office and walked toward his desk. When he
reached it his emotions overcame him completely, and he laid his head
down upon his ledger, tears falling like rain down his face.

In an instant half a dozen of his fellow bookkeepers were about him,
frightened beyond words at this unusual scene and inquiring what could
be the matter.

For a moment the old cashier hesitated, then he resolved to break the
truth to them; they would soon find it out for themselves; he would tell
them, and at the same time instruct them as best he could in this
unfortunate affair. He raised his white head, the head that had grown
gray in the employ of the firm he had loved so well and served so
faithfully.

"You must know the truth, my fellows," he answered, slowly, huskily, and
with apparent difficulty. "Our Mr. Armstrong has, for the first time
since we have all known him, gone wrong; he is under the influence of
strong drink, and by no means himself. I may add that I earnestly pray
that each of you be loyal to him, even through this misfortune, and not
let even a hint of it go forth to the outside world, for at this crisis
it would ruin the well-known firm of Marsh & Co., which is now vested in
him."

The horror and amazement on the faces of the men can better be imagined
than described. All had loved and r