The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-03-09
NOTHING PER CENT.


money lender and financial agent was
in no way different from those surround
ing it, save that the down stairs front
window bore the legend, loan Office.
in large black letters on 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 a man who put out
his money to usury.
Certainly there was nothing of the
Shylock about him as he sat one spring
morning in his dingy Office going over
a much thumbed account book He was
tall, spar, loosely built man. with a
pale face and thin, struggling crop of
beard and whisker that always looked
as if it had grown in patches. Usually
he carried quill pen in his mouth.
There was something in this habit
which gave him the appearance of an
distracted poodle carrying stick.
Mr.. johnson was deeply engrossed in
the considerable of a certain entry in
his account book when the door of the
loan office opened very suddenly and
set the bell ringing with sharp disco
nance. He heard light step in the lit
tie lobby which was partitioned off
from the rest of the room. For a mo-
ment he did not answer the summons
of the bell 1t was never 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 81
lence
Behind the little counter stood a
young lady-nay, a girl of some 18 or
10 years. fashionably dressed, evidently
of good position and palpable refine
ment Her pretty, fresh face, revealed
itself to Mr. johnson s astonished eyes
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
son p she said,
Yes, answered Mr.. johnson
Il want to borrow some money.
she said locking out of half averted
eyes at the money lender.
MI ,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 a 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 am said Mr.. johnson
-ah-well, ego.
Now said Mr.. johnson Il sup
pose you could furnish good security
81 thought that you-it says in your
advertisement, you know, that you
lend money on borrower note of hand
alone think that's how it, put,
ism t it-and no inquiries and no sure
ties-isn't that it?'
ITO approved borrowers 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
ii s all right and safe, why. of course
in that case
II 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 a paper or something.
The girl looked up from her parasol
with which she had been tracing mag
mary patterns on the floor
Perhaps I'd better tell you all about
it, e" she said "Of course you won't
tell anybody, will you?''
Never divulge professional secrets,
said Mr.. Johnson.
"Wel. want to borrow ego to
buy 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-
vertisements about money and | saw
yours, and 80 came to you.
might inquire what name.
ma am p said Mr.. johnson.
"Oh. IN Miss Lattimeri Of course
you know my father. Mr. Robert Lat
timer 2
Certainly replied Mr. johnson.
more astonished than ever I've no
doubt that he'd buy you bicycle
now
mo. he won't He thinks two hun
bred year quite enough for girl to
spend. No shall have to buy my own
bicycle. =
Mr.. johnson took the quill pen out Of
his mouth and scratched his head with
the feathered end of it.
II IN afraid your father wouldn't APP
prove ma am - he began
l,tHf h,fa 70