The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-08-15

"Whar Mrs. Dot is shes"

Like comet he disappeared into what
seemed one Of set of catacombs; the
next instant reappeared.
This check. madam" smother look
more unutterable than befo lis upon
the High Stepping bank. Way, then
Fair land of our fathers! D.1 he expect
me to explain, in presence Of the bank,
and the crowd my shoulders knew was
gathering behind them, that Dot and
were one; that she was more than inn
mersed in literary work, and had offer
ed to run the practical part of the house
this winter; that, being methodical as
she was literary, she had placed a house
keeping allowance in the Everlasting
Hills, introduced me there, and had put
her and my private funds in the High
Stepping by themselves; that, being tel
egraphed away, she had sent me back
this check, forgetting that ! could not
take it there. Was there any law Of
morals or finance that demanded this?
| glanced at the paying teller. His
face, turned sorrowfully in profile, wore
a mournful hush; it seemed to me that
the backs of the other bank men wore
the same, and mine felt it breathing
from the crowd behind.
But why then"-th? examining jus
tlce was shafting at me once more
AS told you. have been introduced
only here
But this check, madam
Ny flame" was white heat now, and
again, without malice prepense | cut
him off:
do you mean to say that this bank
never cashes the draft of any other house
than its own
mo; but and then out it came.
The secret climax that it seems he had
been making momentary effort to re-
strain. No; but |. do not know that
Mrs. Dot has any money in the High Step
ping bank"
For one instant held my breath. He
did not know? He suspected she had
not? Then that meant-that meant Dot
and were putting up a fraud? A fell
ony? We were-what do they call it
conspirators? And conspiracy thin"
enough for idiots at that?
II will not trouble YOU" | said.
He tossed me the paper and disap-
peared.
Where is the High Stepping bank" l
asked of the teller, who had not stirred.
Ills lips parted, as if statue of "Trag-
edy'' could speak. Half block away.
he said
Once on the street white heat" had
to come down to asking ''What next"
Give the High Stepping men their oppor-
tunity next? Never, if | died!
And yet-if were telegraphed? "a
telegraph boy brushed past me, going
toward our street! la a flash | was up
the steps and at the hated wires. The
paying teller stood there. Was his blood
frozen to icicles. each sharper than a ser
pent's tooth:
thrust in the check, and sparks fly
ing as did SO.
II don't know whether you'll give
me the money for this" | said, biting
every word; I'm not introduced here
He lifted handsome, pleasant face
1T is not customary" he said.
Tin quite aware. But | went to the
Everlasting, where I'm known, and they
made eyes at me till | was hot, and
asked me to leave my photograph"
A low ripple of amusement broke from
Under his mustache.
But they would not do it them What
do you think? Perhaps Mrs. Dot had no
money here at all! That would be fell
ony, wouldn't it? | was furious then. If
you're not going to give it to me, be care
full how you tell me, please; that's all. "
The ripple broke into little peal this
time. Evidently it was very droll to
him.
ut is not customary" he began again
"but'- and his eyes lifted a swift
glance. That one glance, | felt, was
first at my bonnet and then at me, and
knew that was saved!
There are few unlucky persons who do
not once in life make fortunate in
vestment, and that bonnet has been
minel have had bonnets that belied
me, and bonnets that could only carry
off, but that one on more than once one
of my own sex has risen in the street car
to give me up her seatl
That bonnet once on the blood of the
C's, DIS and Els that feel always
tingling at my finger tips, seems COM
manded to the front with leap. and
people (who can see at ALI know in one
instant that no member of our family,
though possibly left in infancy to chop
cherry tree, could ever, ever do it by
the Ratchet Of a fraudulent check! And
in later life! us soon ask Juno if she had
been thinning the ranks in a chicken
house as suspect one of us of even
pricking cherry tree with pin.
But the teller continued, with
a smile half hidden where the ripple had-I