Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-03-09
NOTHING PR CENT.

Johnson carried on ne business or
money lender and financial agent was
in no way different fromthose surround
ing it, save that the down stairs front
window bore the legend. Loan Office, =
in large black letters on white
ground. A quiet, ordeny. middle aged
man was Mr. johnson, ind people who
met him in the street and did not know
him would have taker him for any
thing rather than a nan who put out
his money to usury,
Certainly there was nothing of the
Shylock about him as h5 sat one spring
morning in his dingy sfice going over
much thumbed account book. He was
tall, spare, loosely built man, with
pale face and a thin. struggling crop of
beard and whisker that always looked
as if it had grown in pitches Usually
when he was not talking to his clients
he carried a quill penin his mouth.
There was something in this habit
which gave him the appearance of an
distracted poodle carrying a stick
Mr.. johnson was deeply engrossed in
the consideration of a certain entry in
his account book when the door of the
loan effice opened very suddenly and
set the bell ringing With sharp disso-
nance. He heard light step in the lit
tie lobby which was partitioned off
from the rest of the room. For mo-
ment he did not answer the summons
Of the bell 1t was neFer wise to be in
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 a vague, uncomfortable ST.
lence.
Behind the little counter stood a
young lady-nay. a girl of some 1S or
40 years, fashionably dressed, evidently
of good position and palpable refine
ment. Her pretty. fresh face, revealed
itself to Mr. johnson s astonished eyes
from beneath the ravishments of
much befowered picture hat and seemed
strangely out Of keeping with the dingy
color of his little lobby
.Oh-er-you are Mr. William John
SOM" she said.
Eyes, answered Mr. johnson.
"I-I want to borrow some money"
she said, looking ont Of half averted
eyes at the money lender.
Mr.. Johnson's first impulse was to
stretch out 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.
When she had passed INTO the office, he
closed the door 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 bor-
row, ma am ~ said Mr.. johnson.
"Wh- ah--well, e90. .
Now said Mr. johnson. Il sup
pose you could furnish good securityY''
81 thought that you4-it says in your
advertisement, You know. that you
lend money on borrowers note of hand
alone-I think that's how it's put,
ism t it-and no inquiries and no sure
ties-isn't that it3
ITO approved borrowers rs-yes. an
swered Mr.. johnson
"Oh, said the girl "Oh. then
you
1--WE 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
Il see. said the girl. 'Yes-of
course you don't know anything about
me. How silly of mel 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 inag-
mary patterns on the floor
Perhaps l d bettertell you all about
it, she said ''Of course you won't
tell anybody, viii your
Never divulge professional secrets.
said Mr.. johnson.
well, want to borrow $50 to
buy a bicycle There, said the girl,
with decisive tap Of the parasol upon
the floor. You see, I've spent every
penny of my quarters allowance, and
there's still month before I've any
more due-and | simply must have that
bicycle. and | looked over all the ad-
gertisements about money and / saw
yours, and so came to you.
"Might | inquire what name.
ma ann" said Mr.. johnson.
"Oh. I'm Miss Lattimer Of course
you know my father Mr.. Robert Lat
timer 2
Certainly. replied Mr. johnson,