The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-10-27
beyond The GREEN
D bR|ZE DOOR
A Wife Forces Her HusbAnd's Sc.
cret Chamber and Makes
q Discovery.

There was mystery beyond the green
baize door, tangible or intangible 10.
body knew, since no one but Mr.. Blake.
~ ever saw the inside Of the door
which shut his private room ut Messrs.
Blakely s. Stephens bank from the
narrow passage connecting 1t with til"
general offices.
Mr.. Blakely was sole proprietor Of
the bank, which was the only II In
the town and showed every semblance
Of the soundest financial basis.
Mr.. Blakeiy was n man strangely de.
void Of eccentricitles. The chief faults
the bank staff found with him were his
indefatigability and that whenever
there was business to be done IN Lon.
don-selling or buying stock, buying
cash, etc.-he Invariably attended to 1t
himself.
l was seated ut the desk of the head
cashier, who was away on Il short holl.
day, one morning In September, when
one Of our clients entered the counting
house.
"Mr. Boyton, look here" he said, slip.
ping u crown piece upon the counter.
"'Where did you get It"
whats wrong with itY | inquired,
examining 1t closely without noticing
any defect. Did l give 1t to you|
"Yes. Look at the edge. It's quite
smooth" ..."..O.
l passed him two halt crowns, and Us
he went away l slipped the crown into
my pocket, intending to keep 1t as Il
curiosity, but later In the day, when
Mr.. Blakely was in the office, l showed
1t to him.
"Curious" he muttered. "One Of an
experimental mint, no doubt. for It's
dated 1896. Do you think we've any
others similar"
mo; l have been through them"
"Strange! Well, III keep It. 1t II
probably unique"
l was disappointed with his decision,
as l wanted the coin myself. 1t was
against my principles, however, to pro.
test. l forgot It entirely until some
weeks later, when Mrs. Blakely, to the
utter establishment Of the banks STAFF.
turned up an hour or so before lunch.
con time.
Up to that time, although she had
been married more than ten months.
Mrs. Blakely had never been inside the
bank. Now, she drove up In her car.
rage, came IN proudly and asked for
Mr.. Blakely.
l replied that II she would step into
the waiting room ! would summon him
in the usual way.
mo. Show me into his private room.
I am Mrs. Blakely," she said hastily.
IL recognized you, madam" l replied,
"But the rule Is that NIL visitors who.
ever they may be, are to be shown into
the waiting room, where Mr.. Blakely
| will interview them"
"Nonsense!' she calculated. "Such
rules do not refer to. MI. Blakely's wife.
| The room Is at the end Of the passage.
Is 1t not"
"You are putting me In III awkard
POSITION" | replied. IL am not allowed
to let visitors approach the green bnize
door
"Ahv' Her proud eyes flashed. 80
there Is a green balze door which no
one approaches"
When Mr.. Blakely came he did 80 In
his habitual leisurely manner. and he
walked into the waiting room. leaving
the door ajar.
"Mr. Blakely." she said haughtlly. II
have been insulted by one OF your
clerks. Since when has your wife been
denied the right to enter your private
roomY
"Nver since she wrongly assumed
that she had such a right, Mary. My
clerks have their orders; they obey
them. You cannot blame them for up.
holding rules l myself have framed,
What do you want? | am very busy
this morning. The market IL very I'm.
steady just now"
"Tell me. Richard, had you known !
was coming would you have allowed
your clerk to deny mt @ To your
private roomT Mrs, Blakely inquired.
'The rule IL Of many years stand
Ing, Mary" he said deliberately, III
1t were set aside for you, II would he
the thin end OF the wedge. Ny room,
would no longer DO private"
"You indorse your clerks insultY'
III uphold my clerk who upholds the
banks rules"
felt her brush past mo rs she came
out OF the room and saw her walk
round the desks, her lips tightly com
pressed and her head very high,
The following morning when turn
Cd up ut the bunk the porter moi ms
with the inquiry, had | seen anything
OF Mr. BlRkelyf No ono had seen mn
since the bank closed the night before
He was not In tho bank-h not hseI
home--indeed. II was Mrs, Wakely VIM
had driven down the first thing 70 Ia