The Natchitoches enterprise., 1899-05-25

reflection he Lftd lLa swinging shelf
and asked this nw cliA to step inside.
When she had PISSED hto the Office, he
closed the oriand ioired her, and
from sheer force of habit he restored
the quill pen to his nodth The girl
saw the resemblance t Che distracted
poodle, and a smile Hppled over her
face. Mr.. JohnsA DID not. observe it.
He indicated a clar At the side Of his
desk, and when he sri chad taken it
resumed his own eat nd looked at her.
''What amount did you wish to bor-
row, ma am 2" SAID ny Johnson
"Wh-ah-weB 50 -"
"Now''- said Hr johnson. "I sup
pose you could fuipisl good security p
Il thought thaE Ego:s -it says in your
ssSzveru1se1nonC, ybt 1sze-rs=-that you
lend money on borrowers note Of hand
alone-I think that's how it's put,
isn't it-and 10 inquiriesand no sure
ties-isn't that it2''
'To approved borrowgs-yes, an
swered Mr.. johnson.
"Oh," said the girl "Oh. then
you
"We don't lend monsy without Sc
curity. said Mr. JohnsN. "Of course
if we know the party md know that
it's all right and safe, Why, of course,
in that case
81 see, said the fri. "Yes-of
course you don't know ,nything aboEt
me. How silly Of mel / thought one
had just to come and get the money
and sign a paper or somtthing."
The girl looked up from her parasol,
with which che had beer tracing imag-
mary patterns on the for.
"PerhGps I'd better tel you all about
it, d." she said. "Of couBe you won't
tell anybody, will your
'Never divulge professional secrets, -
said Mr.. johnson.
"Well, I want to borrow e20 to
buy bicycle. ThereP' said the girl,
with decisive tap If theparasol upon
the floor. "You see. I've spent every
ianny 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-
Va p4SNIAANALG hOC0t. LuOACJ anu = O0"
yours, and so came to you y
"Might l inquire what name,
ma ann said Mr. johnson.
"Oh. I'm Miss Lattimer OF course
you know my father, Mr.. Robert Lat
timer"
Certainly" replied Nj johnson.
more astonished than ever I've Ut
doubt that he'd buy yop bicycl,'
now.
"No. he won't He thinks two han
dred year quite enough for a girl "a
spend. No; ! shall have to buy my OWE
bicycle. !"
lIr. johnson .oSs fh9sqni,l pen ont Of
his mouth and scratched his head WITH
the feathered end of it.
"Tm afraid your father wouldn't ap-
prove, ma am he began.
"Oh, but he's not to know, you
know. This is little deal just between
you and me. After all it's not getting
things on credit, is ita Because the
money will really be mine when you've
lent it to me, won't itH'
"Ye-es," answered Mr.. johnson.
"Ye-es"
"That's all right, then!' said Miss
Lattimer triumphantly. "Well, have
got to sign any papers or anything,
Mr. Johnson?"
''1t is usual to make inquiries before
completing.
"Oh, but I've no time for inquiriesl"
exclaimed Miss Lattimer. "I've got to
meet friend at the cycle agents in an
hour OH Look here I'll leave you my
card, Mr.. Johnson. in case you want
my address. "
Mr.. johnson looked at the bit Of
pasteboard and then at Miss Lattimer.
Something inpelled him to rise and un-
lock safe which stood in a corner of
the Office. He fumhled about, and final
ly produced four a5 notes. new from
the Bank of England.
"Well, ma am" said Mr.. johnson,
''it isn't my usual way of doing busi-
ness, but''-and there he paused, utter
ly unable to explain matters to himself.
"When did you say you could pay it
back. ma 'am2"
"Oh, on the 1st of July" replied
Miss Lattimer. "That's scarcely
month, is itf"
'Then may expect to see you on
the 1st of Jul-. ma'ami" said Mr..
johnson, laying down the notes.
Certainly you mayl" exclaimed
Miss Lattimer deightedly. Thanks, |
awfullyl' She stuffed the notes into a
geld mounted purse and smiled at Mr..
johnson with all the innocent pleasure
Of a child who has DOT what it wants
But we haven arranged anything
haven't l to sign a paper or anythingf"
''I think, said Mr.. johnson slowly,
that well leave that over until you
pay the money, na'am. I'll only
charge you reason able interest for such
q short loan. OF course, ma am, you II |
not mention tn little transaction to
he a. ed, anxiously. "We
always keep the matters quiet-very
quiet.
"Oh, to be 81 el' laughed the girl.
''Well, thanks. r. johnson, and good
By, You'll see me on the 1st of July
lead certain, yo7 know"
On the 1st ol July Mr. johnson sat
n his Office in state of nervous ex-
oectancy, but le nervousness had
nothing to do III the money which
was due from NJ 5 Lattimer. All the
morning he wa ed and all the after
loon, and still came not And then
Is evening dr. near the postman
brought a regi cred letter. and Mr..
Johnson opened and drew out e2O in
notes and 81 j. gold and a note that
melled Of violets
After a long ne Mr.. johnson rose
rom his desk locked up the notes