文档介绍：A WASTED DAY
A WASTED DAY
Richard Harding Davis
1
A WASTED DAY
When its turn came, the private secretary, somewhat apologetically,
laid the letter in front of the Wisest Man in Wall Street.
"From Mrs. Austin, probation officer, Court of General Sessions," he
explained. "Wants a letter about Spear. He's been convicted of theft.
Comes up for sentence Tuesday."
"Spear?" repeated Arnold Thorndike.
"Young fellow, stenographer, used to do your letters last summer going
in and out on the train." The great man nodded. "I remember. What about
him?"
The habitual gloom of the private secretary was lightened by a grin.
"Went on the loose; had with him about five hundred dollars belonging
to the firm; he's with Isaacs & Sons now, shoe people on Sixth Avenue.
Met a woman, and woke up without the money. The next morning he
offered to make good, but Isaacs called in a policeman. When they looked
into it, they found the boy had been drunk. They tried to withdraw the
charge, but he'd mitted. Now, the probation officer is trying to
get the judge to suspend sentence. A letter from you, sir, would--"
It was evident the mind of the great man was elsewhere. Young men
who, drunk or sober, spent the firm's money on women who disappeared
before sunrise did not appeal to him. Another letter submitted that morning
e from his art agent in Europe. In Florence he had discovered the
Correggio he had been sent to find. It was undoubtedly genuine, and he
asked to be instructed by cable. The price was forty thousand dollars. With
one eye closed, and the other keenly regarding the inkstand, Mr.
Thorndike decided to pay the price; and with the facility of long practice
dismissed the Correggio, and snapped his mind back to the present.
"Spear had a letter from us when he left, didn't he?" he asked. "What
he has developed into, SINCE he left us--" he shrugged his shoulders. The
secretary withdrew the letter, and slipped another in its place.
"Homer Firth, the