With Links of Steel | Page 2

importer of
diamonds and costly gems.
Mr. Garside's countenance took on an expression of mild surprise.
"From Hafferman? An order from Venner?" he murmured, inquiringly.
"I was not aware that Venner sent out any order for diamonds this
morning."
"One of your clerks brought the order, sir, and requested Mr.
Hafferman to send the stones here as soon as convenient," replied the

messenger. "Mr. Hafferman did not know your clerk personally, so I
was sent here to deliver the stones."
"What is your name, young man?"
"Harry Boyden, sir. I have worked for Mr. Hafferman for nearly five
years. I think you will find that the order was properly sent."
"Wait just a moment, Mr. Boyden," suggested Garside, smiling.
Then he hastened to the rear of the store, and spoke through the open
window near the cashier's desk.
"Do any of you know of an order sent out by Mr. Venner this
morning?" he inquired, addressing the several clerks at work in the
office. "An order to Thomas Hafferman for ten diamonds."
Only a girl stenographer, seated at a typewriter near the office door,
replied:
"I think Mr. Venner sent Spaulding out about half an hour ago, sir," she
replied. "I saw him give Spaulding several letters."
"Ah, doubtless it's all right enough," bowed Garside; "yet I wonder that
I had heard nothing about it. Joseph, has Spaulding been here within a
few minutes?"
"No, sir," replied the clerk, the same who had at first been questioned.
"I saw him go out just before Mr. Venner departed, and he has not yet
returned."
Garside had now reached the middle of the store again, where Boyden
was still waiting.
"Are you quite sure that the order came from Mr. Venner?" he again
inquired. "How long ago was the messenger at your store?"
"About half an hour ago, sir," Boyden readily answered. "The order
was, I presume, signed by Mr. Venner."

"Was it our man Spaulding who delivered the order? Do you know him
by sight?"
"I do not, sir. Joseph Maynard, yonder, is the only clerk here with
whom I am acquainted, and I think he will vouch for me," said Boyden,
now beginning to smile at Garside's manifest caution over receiving the
diamonds. "Surely, sir, no harm can come from your keeping the stones
until Mr. Venner returns, since I am willing to leave them with you," he
added, laughing.
"Oh, no, no--I wasn't thinking of that," Garside quickly answered. "I
wished only to avoid the needless trouble of returning them, in case the
order did not come from us."
"I think the order was all right, Mr. Garside. Besides, sir, I saw Mr.
Venner yesterday at our store, examining some diamonds. Doubtless
these are the same."
"Oh, if that's the case, leave them, by all means," Garside cried. "I was
not aware that he had called there. Probably they are for some order of
which he has personal charge. Yes, yes, Mr. Boyden, leave them,
certainly. Here, Joseph, place the package in one of the vault drawers,
and hand it to Mr. Venner when he returns. Sorry to have detained you
so long, Mr. Boyden. Had you begun by stating that Venner called
yesterday upon Mr. Hafferman, I should not have demurred over the
matter."
"There's no harm done, Mr. Garside, none whatever," replied Boyden,
bowing and smiling. "I appreciate your caution, sir. If there proves to
have been any mistake in ordering them, you can easily return the
stones. Good-morning, sir."
Garside replied with a nod over his shoulder, having turned to hand the
parcel to his clerk back of the counter, and Boyden immediately
departed.
"Is that young man an acquaintance of yours, Maynard?" inquired Mr.
Garside.

"Yes, sir. He has been with Hafferman for several years."
"Doubtless it's all right, then. Odd, though, that Venner should have
made no mention to me of this order. Hand him the package as soon as
he comes in."
"I will, sir, at once."
Maynard had already placed the small parcel in a drawer of the huge
steel vault back of the counter, and he now resumed the work at which
he had been engaged.
Mr. Garside sauntered toward the front of the store, and presently
greeted a lady who entered.
Twenty minutes passed, and the incident of the diamonds was almost
forgotten by both employer and clerk.
Soon both were reminded of it, however, by the entrance of another
man--a smooth-featured young fellow, with pale blue eyes, a sallow
complexion, slightly pock-marked. He was of medium height, and well
put together, and was clad in a neat business suit of fashionable
appearance.
Quickly approaching Mr. Garside, who was then disengaged, he
tendered one of Thomas Hafferman's business cards, and said, glibly,
while bowing and laughing lightly:
"Excuse me, Mr. Garside, but we