Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-01-01

well, suppose I telegraph to Wal
dron 4 Co. Can you come in again this
afternoon?"
YES"
When she returned in the afternoon
the cashier handed her a slip of paper.
1t read:
merchants Bank. Talbottom, Ca
Gentlemen: Nothing to explain. We
forwarded check to Willie Smith. Tai
bottom. as requested. If the party pre-
senting it can be identified you may
cash same with perfect safety. Yours,
"WALDRON s CO."
$50 you see it Is all right" said the
cashier. Now, you will please indorse
the check"
Willie did so with a sudden feeling of
e%Xultation.
How will you have it," briskly.
Suppose you give me $4,000. That
will pay off the mortgage and make
some necessary repairs. The rest l will
deposit with you. And-and suppose
you let me have a check book; it will
be more convenient"
The ext few hours We're momentous
ones in the young girls life. The mort
gage was paid. and visits were made
to grocery and hardware and seed
stores. and to painters and carpenters
and stone maSons: and before she went
home II check was OH it's way to the
principal of her school mt Staunton.
In the morning men came out and
made estimates. and they We're follow
el by painters and carpenters and la
borers. who began to repair the old
family mansion, and to surround the
neglected fields with substantial fences,
and to build new cabins under the mag
niticent live oaks that grew along IL
side of the plantation.
Willie spent most Of her time out
doors watching the work and making
occasional suggestions. The new cabins
were surrounded by generous truck
patches. and when they We're finished
she was careful to rent them only to
industrious, reliable negroes. In this
she was greatly assisted by the cashier,
who came out frequently to watch the
progress of the work and whose advice
was always valuable.
man stepped into the Talbottom post
office.
"Any letters here for Willie Smith?"
he asked.
mo. she called after them not an
hour ago"
"She?" %curiously.
"Yes. Generally her man Tobc gets
them, but she happened to be in town
this morning. You're one of the men
working out there. l suppose?"
mo, lot exactly"
He left the postottice and walked
across the street to the bank.
Has Willie Smith presented a check
here for $4,000 recently?" lie asked.
Miss Willie Smith has," replied the
cashier.
II beg your pardon. l mean Miss
Willie Smith. You see. out West. we
get in the habit of dropping ceremony"
The old cashier looked at him
tlloughtfully.
$50 YOU are Il Westerner, are you?"
he asked.
II was. hut expect to he Il Soutlerner
now," said the young man frankly.
MY mother left this country nearly
thirty years ago.. but l have often heard
her describe her old home. When 1
made my pile 1 concluded to come
down here and look around; and if 1
liked the place to stay permanently"
The cashiers face cleared instantly.
Good" lie exclaimed. you can't
help liking such Il grand country. All
it lacks is money and energy. But what
part of the West are you from?"
"Leadville, Col"
"Ah, / began to suspect 1t. You have
been connected with the house of Wall
dron u Co.. and called in to see If the
check reached its destination all
right" He came from behind the coun-
ter and took the young mans hand!
warmly. II an right glad to see you,
sub. Yo' house eve sent out n better
check than that III all its life. Miss
Willie has paid off a mortgage on her
plantation, and is making wonderful
Improvements. suh-wonderful! And
do you KNOW" lowering his voice, "if
it hadn't been for that check l achally
believe she'd been forced to go off and
look for work-achally forced, suh."
Indeed! That would have been too
bad" said the young mar "but-"
'There's no but now," interrupted
the cashier c%heerfully. "Her futures
rs clear as II June sky. If I'd received
the check myself l wouldn't have been
half as much pleased. Miss Willie's n
fine girl= gem in Il land that is full
Of jewels. You must excuse my enthu-
siasm. suh," apologetically, "but in n
sort of way yo' house seems to have
had Il hand in the good fortune. But
come into my private room and We'll
talk over the country. You're to be one
of us now. and maybe l car give you
some points on buying n place. And
I'll tell you about Miss Willie and her
plans" Here Il new thought seemed to
strike him. How'd you IKE to go out
and e her yo'self?" he asked abruptly.