Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-12-17
,ng In unison with her slumberins
husband.
CHAPTER Nv
ftJa pynyx His EInnu.

non NlllGldIu 80.
decided upon a corcse OF action' ~
was not the iDaI 20 hesitate ABOUT Ioi'
lowing it up. He drove stralght 10 III,
London and Westminster Sank anu
boldly presented the Endorsed afhil iof
{ 300. The cashier glanced at me IN
dorsemcnt. Ernest &. Norton ne rS-
marked, as though tie name we're not
very familiar to him. ON, YES l re-
member now. The r,anaTtr mas gwen
instructions that you are to be shown
int his private room whenever you
should call, sir"
VERY WE'LL replied Somervilie. a
shall see him.
"rhen please pass around TO nc
right said the cashier, ana ! VII
take You to him"
.,NIr Ernest Merton. | believe. Sati
the manager, half-inauirinely.
Somcryillc bowed, scarce daring To
trust his voice.
.,;Iad to make your acquaintance,
Mr.. Norton continued the manager.
rising 10 extend a plump, white band.
"Our bombay advices with respect To
you are most satisfactory-very much
so. indeed. l trust you had a pleasant
%FOyage:'
Fairly so,'' replied Somerrillc, ut Il
venture. though the Red Sea passage
was rather trying, as usual.
"Ah. yes. of coarse" assented the
blandly. lit always y, un-
derstand. Well, Mr.. Norton we are
nuite 1T your orders With respect 10
business matters
..Thcy need not occupy much OF
your valuable time" remarked Somer-
vile, who had now recained his self
possession. II wish, OF course, 10 cor
vert my drafts into money"
Naturally. my dear sir. was the
smiling reiointler. For what other
purpose do banks exist? Let NE see.
| think | have some memoranda OF
one or two little formalities IN your
case. All, yes! here we are. The first.
apparently, concerns your signature"
Yes assented Somerville, readily.
81 was advised. as a precaution. 10
alter it TO its present form"
$50 we were advised from Bombay.
May l ask whether you propose to
leave your money with us On deposit
or to place ii to current account:
Somerville hesitated, There might
be some p~re-arranged answer TO this
apparently simple question vhieh Nor-
ton had omitted to tell him. Once
iQore he had to take his chance, and
again Fortune befrlended him.
II propose drawing the fl2,100 draft
for immediate expenses" he answered,
coolly. '.The other drafts | shall util-
ize as necessity may arise or Upportu-
MY occur for investment"
''Such is, in effect. the substance of
our Instructions, remarked the man-
agcr, referring to his memoranda,
though somewhat differently word
cd"
Somerville breathed freely again.
There had been n trap in the question,
which he had escaped by the merest
good luck.
You will pardon me il / venture to
question the wisdom Of your decision"
continued the manager, intent upon
doing q stroke for the bank, ''you
would thereby be losing the interest
that would accrue were you to place
the entire sum with us on deposit ac-
count"
THAT is true" said Somerville, as
though this view ~ the east had not
occurred to him. 1.-The fact is. | have
not yet thought the matter out, and, in
any case, | can do nothing definite this
morning, as | have not brought the
other drafts with me. l rather think /
shall invest the entire amount they
represent either in Consofs or French
Rentes."
Very safe, certainly" said the man
ager. by no means overpleased at the
suggested withdrT wal Of so large a
sum, "but the rate of interest is cru
ely low. However, Mr.. Norton. You
are the best judge, ard we are entirely
ut your orders. Meanwhile, / shall IN
struct the cashier to pay you f2.jU0.
How much shall you need in goldg'
Not 4 great deal" replied Somer.
vile. reciprocating the slight smile
which accompanied the last question.
About forty-cight pounds will suf-
fee"
Better call it fifty, then" laughed
the manager, ringing for the cashier.
Fifty be it, then" assented Somer-
vile. And. IA few minutes later, he
left the bank with the proceeds of the
draft in his pocket.
SO far, all had gone well. Including
f4.S50 brought to London by Norton,
he had now f7,350 in hand. besides
drafts for f23,O 900 more, and Jewels
obviously worth an enormous sum.
And he had t. consider how he should
proceed with respect TO these drafts
and the disposal of the Jewels. He
had passed muster at the bank as Err
nest Norton, and this would greatly
simplify subsequent Withdrawals. Yet
excessive haste in effecting such with
drawals might arouse suspicion: and.
besides, he needed more practice IN
forging Norton's signature, He would
open negotiations with some broker.
ana, through him, would gradually