Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-05
DEBIT AND CREDIT.


Cashier Butter must leave the bank tenn
porsrily for long vacation, if he did no
wish TO leave it permanently for another
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 year,
leave of absence, and on the first day OF
neat quarter would begin doing what he
bud never done before IN his hfe-noth
ing.
Who was to take his plaCeH That ques
tiOn 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
ad"rahly pretty-but still no more than
tie 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
sta dest Of GrecIans, and ended with an
unexpected and enchanting little twist at
the tip-in short, 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 she, II was an excellent
plsn. Her father liked it, because he
loved 10 have her with him, and knew
her qualifications for the position; Nettie
liked it, 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
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 irrsdiated by a smile
which lit up that temple of Plutus like
a rise in the rate of interest, you would
never have taken her for the shrewd lit
tie tinanCier 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 business
point of view. Peter COupon-thin. sal
low, impOlite, and Just hOrrid"-was, As
he ought TO be regarded by cashier, a
perfect Prince Charming, always To be
given whatever he asked i'll the way of aC-
commodatiUn, while Charley Poor. as
handsome a picture, must be COnSid-
cred a veritabie Beast. Lecause Peter had
collateral and Charley none. She learned
that Smith might renew his notes till
dGOmsuay 4 he chose. being the seventh
directors cousin. hut that Jones was to he
refused discounts under all circum-
stances. because he had voted against the
president at town meeting. She was per
fectly aware of the mpenling 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 pauper,
would eventually make a neat thing ont
those western lands of his; and, most
wonderful of ali, she never lisped single
word of these interesting .ecrets.
This being the state Of the case. it is not
surprising, in the midst of the specula-
tions ABOUT Mr. Buffers successor when
name rT name was suggested and re-
JeCtrd, Il began 10 be apparent that
OblaiuIu- new competent cashier was not
so easy as 1t might be, that the question
should suddenly occur to Nett.e, why
shouldn't il he - For moment her
breath was fairly taken away, but when
it came back she Immediately made aC
tive Use Of it IN brOaChing the idea to her
father. who. much TO her surprise, took il
so coolly that she began 10 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 reyO-
lutionary, and Yet they could bring up no
argument against it, except that such a
thing had never been heard OF before.
Time it WAS, then" said Mr.. Butler,
who, as an efficient o'icer and a stock
holder besides could say what he pleased
But lady bank cashier" demonstrated
a director
Why not, if she knows her business'"
Why not, indeed' There was certainly
no reason.
Then" went on Mr.. Butler. al can look
in and advise her if she needs (which |
she wOn't-and there are you gentlemen |
to supervise. Besides, if you don't take
her, whom can you gety"
The officers felt the force of these argu
ments, and were still more influenced by
motives of economy; and it all resulted in
the choice of Miss Gettie =. 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 bright land 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 inducted |
into office, and most solemnly given an in |
finite quantity Of instruction regarding |
her duties lby 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 Nett.e pail no at
tentiun 10 them and a great deal TO bust |
ness. in consequence of which she sue |
cceded so admirably that the whole board
Of seven directors were unable to find II
mistake in her foOtings, although for the |
first week or two they collectively and
individually moused them over as if
they suspected a defa. cation. But
they couldn't have for none had taken |
place, and it is notorious that directors /
never examine footing, until the institu- /
ton they direct has completely lost its /
own. SO after a while the directors re
sumed their previous occupation of talk /
ing stocks or politics arOuni the fire IL
the private room, and Nettie soon had a.
complete control as ever her father had. .
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