The Florence daily tribune., 1899-04-12
NOTHING PER CENT.

The house in which Mr., William
johnson carried ON the business of
money lender and financial agent was
in no way different from those surround
ing il. save that the down stairs front
window bore the legend. Loan Office,
in large black letters ON a white
ground A quiet, orderly. middle aged
man was Mr. johnson, and people who
met him in the street and did not know
him would have taken him for any
thing rather than man who put ont
his money tn usury.
Certainly there was nothing of the
shylock ahout him as he sat one spring
morning in his dingy Office going over
much thumbed account book. He was
a tall. spare. loosely built man. with
pale face and n thin, struggling crop of
beard and whisker that always looked
as if it hnd grown in patches Usually
when he was not talking to his clients
he carried quill pen in his mouth
There was something in this habit
which gave him the appearance of an
distracted poodle carrying "A stick
Mr.. johnson was deeply enRrossed in
the consideration of n certain entry in
his account book when the door of the
loan Office opened very suddenly and
set the bell ringing with sharp disso-
nance. He heard a light step in the lit
tie lobby which was pariitioned off
from the rest OF the room. Fer mo.
ment he did not answer the summons
= q 1. III 4 =.
too much haste to welcome callers. But
presently he rose and opened the door
the quill pen still retaining its horizon
tai position in his mouth He lifted his
eyes carelessly from the little swing
counter to the person who stood behind
it He was not easily surprised. for he
had seen many strange things in his
time but what he now saw surprised
him into vague. uncomfortable 81
lence.
Behind tho little counter stood n
young lady nay, girl of some Is or
10 years, fashionably dressed, evidently
of good position and palpablc refine
ment Her nretty. fresh face, revealed
itself to MI Johnson astonished eyes
from beneath the ravishments of a
much beflowercd picture hat and seemed
strangely on. of keeping with the dingy
color of his little lobby
"Oh-er-you are Mr. William John
son2' she said
"Ses, answered Mr.. johnson
IL want to borrow some money,
she said, locking out of half averted
eyes at the money lender.
Mr. lohnson's first impulse was to
stretch ont his hand for one of the
application forms which stood ready in
a small box ON the counter. but upon
reflection he lifted the swinging shelf
and asked this new client to step inside
W hen she had passed into the office, he
closed the dooi and Joined her, and
from sheer force of habit he restored
the Quill pen to his mouth The girl
saw the resemblance to the distracted
poodle, and smile rippled over her
face Mr., Johnson did not observe it.
He indicated chair at the side of his
desk. and when the girl had taken it
resumed his own seat and looked at her
What amount did you wish to Dor,
row, ma ann" said Mr.. johnson
"Wh-ah-well $50, =
Now said Mr. johnson Il sup
pose you could furnish good securityg'
IL thought that you--it says in your
advertisement. you know, that you
lend money ON borrower : note of hand
alone-l think that's how it's put
isn't it-and no inquiries and no sure
ties -isn t that itf''
ITO approved borrowers-yes. an
swered Mr. johnson.
"Ch. said the girl ''Oh, then
you
I'VE don't lend money without Sc
curity, said Mr.. johnson, ''Of course
if we know the party and know that
it's all right and safe. why, of course
in that case's
II see, said the girl. '.Yes-of
course you don't know anything about
me How silly of me thought one
had Just to come and get the money
and sign paper or something,
The girl looked up from her parasol
with which she had been tracing imag-
mary patterns on the floor
Perhaps I'd better tell you all about
it, she said ''Of course you won't
tell anybody. will your"
Never divulge professional secrets.
raid Mr.. johnson.
well | want to borrow e20 TO
buy bicycle. Therer' said the girl.
with a decisive tap of the parasol upon /
the floor "You see, I've spent every
penny of my quarter 5 allowance. and !
there's still month before Eve any
more due-and | simply must have that |
bicycle. and | looked over all the ad-
vertiscments about money and ! saw
yours, and SO | came to you.
might inquire what name,
ma am = said Mr. johnson.
'.Oh. | IN Miss Lattimerl OF course
yon know my father. Mr. Robert Lat
timer =
Certainly. replied Mr. johnson.