Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-03-23
NOTHING PER CENT.

JOHubOu CdIIItu VA V'o buSAAceo VI
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 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 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, 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 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 stick.
Mr.. johnson was deeply engrossed in
the consideration Of 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 a 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 never wise to be in
too much haste to welcome callers. But
presently he rose and opened the door,
the quill pen still retaining it's 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 the little counter stood a
young lady-nay, a girl OF some 10 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
from beneath the ravishments of a
much behowered picture hat and seemed
strangely out of keeping with the dingy
color of his little lobby.
"Oh-er-you are Mr.. William John
son 2" she said
eyes" answered Mr.. Johnson
T-I want to borrow some money,
she said looking out of half averted
eyes at the money lender.
MI johnson 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 Dor
row, ma ann" said Mr.. johnson
"Wh- ah-well, ego.
d Now said Mr.. johnson. II sup
pose you could furnish good security?'
81 thought that you-it says in your
advertisement. you know. that you
lend money on borrower S note of hand
alone-l think that's how it's put
;.,,+ II md ro ;po, ;,.i oc ood M SI1ra.
ties--isn t that it2'
ITO approved borrowers-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 -
81 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 imag-
mary patterns on the floor.
perhaps I'd better tell you all abort
it," she said "Of course you won t
tell any body. will your
"Never divulge professional secrets,
said Mr.. johnson.
"Well want to borrow ego to
buy bicycle. ThereI" said the girl,
with a 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 aud ! saw
yours, and 90 came to you.
might l inquire what name.
ma amp said Mr. johnson.
ooh, I'm Miss Lattimerl OF course
you know my father. Mr.. Robert Lat
timer ,"
"Certainly." replied Mr. johnson.
more astonished than ever I've nj
doubt that he'd buy you bicycle
now
mo. be won't He thinks two hun
dred a year quite enough for a girl Il
spend. No, shall have to buy my owl
bicycle. "
Mr.. johnson took the quill pen out o
his mouth and scratched bis head wit
the feathered end of it.
"Im afraid your father wouldn't ar
prove. ma am he began.
ooh, but he's not to know. 70
know. This is little deal just betwee
You and me. After all it's not gettin
things on credit, is it2 Because tn
money will really be mine when You '