, 1886-09-07
DEBIT AND CREDIT.

World. Hard work and no play having
wrought their inevitable effects, tired
brain and fagged-out body imperatively
called for rest. So he was to have a years
leave Of absence, and on the first day of
next quarter would begin doing he
had never lone before in his hfe-noth-
ing.
Who was to take his placer That ques-
ton exercised the minds OF all who were
concerned, and of a good many who
weren't. but particularly interested Net
tie. Nettie was Mr.. Buffers daughter,
and as good and intelligent as she was
pretty, which is saying a great deal
since everybody acknowledged her to be
adorably pretty-but still no more than
the truth. Brunette, with eyes like black
diamonds, and cheeks like the golden
brown side OF a fall apple; with a mouth
that you ardently wanted to kiss until
YOU perceived from the decided cut OF
her lips that you had better not try; with
a nose which began very demurely AS the
stsidest OF Greoians. and ended with an
unexpected and enchanting little TWIST AT
the tip-in short, "A darling; such was
Nett.e. For two years she had been her
fathers assistant In the Baalbec First Ma
tional bank-ever since she left school, In
fact. From dropping in of odd afternoons
to tighten his work, when business was
unusually pressing, she had come TO
spending her whole day with him; and
when he was allowed a clerk, who more
suitable than shep 1t was an excellent
plan. Her father liked 1t, because he
loved 10 have her with him. and knew
her qualifications for the position; Nettie
liked 1t, because she helped her father and
rendered herself independent at the same
time; and the bank officers liked it, be
cause they paid her not quite half what
a man would have received for the same
work. Thus all parties were pleased.
A vast number of things she learned in
the First National. To see her with her
bright, pleasant face irradiated by n smile
which lit up that temple of Plutus Xix
a rise In the rate of interest, you would
never have taken her for the shrewd lit
tie financier she really was. She acquired
first the ability to separate her work
from her sympathies, and put womanly
likes and dislikes entirely out OF the ques-
ton. She knew that, from n business
point of view, Peter Coupon-thin, sal
low, impolite, and Just horrid"-was, as
he onght to be regarded by n cashier. a
perfect Prince Charming, always to he
given whatever he asked in the way of ao-
commodation, while Charley Poor, as
handsome as a picture, must be consid-
tItd II "a itth'tf ~ taNA 49,
collateral and Charley none She learned
that Smith might renew his notes till
doomsday II he chose. being the seventh
directors cousin, but that Jones was to be
refused discounts under all circum-
stances, because he had voted against the
president at town meeting. She was per
fectly aware of the impending bankruptcy
of Robinson, who was supposed absolutely
safe, and had recently donated the fire
company a sumptuous electro plated
trumpet. She was equally well informed
as to the high probability that Brown,
universally thought almost a pauper,
would eventually make a neat thing out
those western lands of his; and, most
wonderful of all, she never lisped n single
word Of these interesting secrets.
This being the state of the case, it Is not
surprising, in the midst of the specula-
tons about Mr.. Buffers successor, when
name after name was suggested and re
jected, and IL began to be apparent that
obtaining a new competent cashier was not
so easy as it might be, that the question
should suddenly occur to Nettie, "why
shouldn't il be II" For a m her
breath was fairly taken away. but when
IL came bach she Immediately made ac-
tive use Of in ~broaching the idea to her
father. who, much to her surprise, took 1t
so coolly that she began to suspect he had
been thinking of 1t himself. However
that may be, he saw President Parr that
very day, and made a proposition to
him. The president hummed and
hawed and consulted the directors, who
likewise hummed and hawed. They
thought the scheme most novel and revo-
lutionary, and yet they could bring up no
argument against 1t, except that such n
thing had never been heard of before.
"Time IL was, then" said Mr.. Butler,
who, as an efficient officer and a stock
holder besides, could say what he pleased.
But n lady bank cashierl" demonstrated
II director.
why not, II she knows her business'7
Why not, indeedi There was certainly
no reason.
Then went on Mr.. Butler, ~ can look
In and advise her II she needs (which
she won't-and there are you gentlemen
to supervise. Besides, II you don't take
her, whom can you getty"
The officers felt the force of these argu
ments, and were still more influenced by
motives Of economy; and 1t all resulted in
the choice Of Miss Celtic =. Butler as act
ing cashier, at a salary that, even added
to her fathers half pay, saved sundry dol
lars toward dividends, and in the employ
ment OF n bright tand cheap youth as as
sistant. Then, the quarter being at an
end, Mr.. Butler turned his attention from
finance to flowers, and began vigorously
cultivating Bonstettins and Jacks" at
the same time Nettie was solemnly notified
of her election, more solemnly indicted
into Office, and most solemnly given an In
finite quantity OF instruction regarding
her duties (by the president, who didn't
know half so much about them as she did,
and on a memorable Monday morning
took her place behind the shining black
walnut counter of the Baalbec First Ma
tional.
OF course people wondered and criticised
they always debut Nettie paid no at
tention to them and n great deal to bust
ness. In consequence OF which she sue
ceeded so admirably that the whole board
OF seven directors were unable to find a
mistake in her footings, although for the
first week or two they collectively and
individually moused them over ms II
they suspected a defalcation. But
they couldn't have for none had taken
place, and II is notorious that directors
never examine footings until the institu-
ton they direct Inns completely lost its
own. So after n while the directors re-
sumed their previous occupation OF talk
ing stocks or politics around the fire In
the private room. and Nettie soon had as
complete control as ever her father had.
She showed herself worthy OF IL, too. She
could solve the most mixed-up problem in
partial payments. complicated with I'M
even periods of time, varying percentages,
and all sorts OF provoking allowances and
drawbacks. She chased errors through
tangled thickets Of entries till they were
run to earth and finally disposed OF in
L.... l-s - Aa -uA.f
books. detected counterfeits hke n
financial NfI.ens aud aafaIv .xtrtsatnl