Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-01-16
CirCumStaltial-..-
Evidence !
BY MARY K. sTIcKNEY.

L
prehension, smiled benignantly. lifting
his eyebrows with a slightly quizzical
expression He regarded women as
properly classified with children and
idiots in matters of business. To
night? Why. Mrs. Bartels, it would be
a pleasure to oblige you, but you know
that banking hours ended at three
o'clock, and the cash was in the safe and
the time lock on before five"
"Of course | knew that this was not
the proper time for business" sweetly
apologize, her smile seductively win
ming; "but thought perhaps you might
manage it for me some way, and felt
sure you would if you could"
why. certainly, of course" cried the
little man, with an eagerness that sur
prised himself While beautiful eyes
were beaming with such tender conf
dence upon him, it waS not in human ma
ture to willfully spoil good impression
And if fifteen or twenty dollars will do
you any good never carry much
money about me; pay all my bills with
| cheeks; most sensible way in the world
for then you always have your voucher
for receipt if You happen to lose the
other-but if so much will answer your
purpose | can let you have it with pleas
ure. Otherwise | am afraid you will
have to wait until the bank opens in the
morning"
But wanted to take the early
train" dejectedly turning away.
And twenty dollars won't do?'
Il I'm afraid not-thanks You will
excuse my troubling you, Mr. Ingalls,,
|
pointment was very evident.
why. now think of it, exclaimed
the other, OBTAINING her, "a man Just
Gown from the mountains came into tho
bank with IL deposit after we We're about
closed up tonight, and -
And banking hours only end at three
for those who would take money away
and not for those who have it to leave
playfully interruptng, her smile daz'
cling, her eyes Frightening again Mr.. In
| gals kccncyed wife would have detect
ed at glance that all Mrs. Btrtels I'M
usual sprightllneSs and charm of manner
was but acting. hystrrlcally strained and
overdone. but Mr. Ingalls, had never AS
sumed to understand women since he
was married
PRECISELY" accepting her little rail
lery with utmost seriousness, His WA:
that order of mind that generally works
at cross purposes i'll matters Of humor
He habitually missed the point of Othel
peoples jokes. and when he essayed t.
be funny himself it was like Il small DO,
struggling to whistle-nobody could eve
comprehend that the result attained wa!
mt all commensurate to the effort in
volved. And that money is lying loos'
in the vault-something like $500, be
ieve. wonder did not think Of it be
fore. But now, if you would not minC
walking down to the bank, could casl
your check with pleasure, provided you
did not want more than that amount"
"Ah, how delightfully."- kind of you!
with hys,erical little laugh. like
child ovrrrXcitcd 'Do you know,
with a charming air Of confidence, rs sh
turned back with him down the street
you could hardly have imagined that
had left my fate i'll your hands, as
were. came TO You just as small boy
= toss up pennies to decide what the
shall do. said to myself, If get tn
money | will go: if not will stay MI
Ingalls, shall decide it for me.
"And | am very glad 10 settle it t
please you, pausing abstractedly. "Bu
if you will excuse me for Il moment
Mrs. Bartels, think will just I'll
back and leave my gum shoes"
why, certainly, Mr. Ingalls,. Their
is plenty of time bef..' the mornin
train goes. Leave them sub EoSa, by Il
MEANS" with another mjrthlrss laug
- that left a ranking suspicion in Mr. II
- gals mind, rs he searched out n cacl
N for his property under the rose bushp
If Mrs Bartels was a charming woman
IS surprisingly jolly; but if she were dis
IS posed to poke fun at his gum shoes, h
II must regard such lcvity as bad taste, t
~ say the least,
There was II close, stufy smell abou
the large, shadowy banking room as tn
heavy door was opened
Darkness there, and nothing more,
quoted Anita, who, it seemed, must cor
tinually be talking 1t ,.ems like
Id church on week day, does it not?'
Yes? do YOU think so: Wen. 20
shall pass Il contribution plate, and max
it seem more like Sunday" beanin
with consciousness of his wit HO'
much will y"u have? think if You wi
sit at this desk by the window You wi
have light enough to fill ont your check
methodically dating the paper for he
7 with rubber stamp, and pushing 70
ward pens, ink and blotter
Did you say that could have thrt
hundred dollars? | would like ahor
- that, please.
What! the whole of it," with am
able righteousness, us he lighted lam
Il think you must be going into re
estate, Mrs. Bartels.
,r Il might, perhaps, to the extent of
- few feet" laughing at the grim hum
of her thought
Perhaps you had better not put in Il
- figure until see how much we have
His lamp held in one hand, the CASH
Il IL