The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-10
Banker Lingar's Son-in-Law
BY JAMES o'SHAUGHNEssY. tCopyrhgt, l902, by Daily Story Pub. Co.,

| BY JAMES OSHAUGHNESSY. fCopyrihgt, l9oe. by Daily Story Pub. Go. Upon the promotion of William Tarnle. raldts to the position of receiving teliel of the Thirteenth National Bank he began | 70 show signs of the widening of his hori I zon. He spelled out his middle name il full and acquired the art of appearing a ease in a dress suit. He narrowed his so ctal orbit until he felt justified in ciassi Tying himself as exclusive, and then h' or Abel Lingar, the president of the bank l Fortunately for him Miss Lingar wal not beautiful of face, and there was neith CT symmetry nor grace in her figure These gaps in her structural charms made ms love course easy.
 The hattery that wealth attracts had made her aware of tho potent charm oi millions. and she was naughty and crit At the age of S7 she realized the vanity or her hope as we'll as the barrenness oi her prospects, and she was willing to go out in search of admirers.
 In visiting her fathers bank her keen eye fell on Faldis. He was rather pleas ing in appearance, with light blue eyes, blonde mustache and pink and white complexion. He could sing all the popu- lar and sentimental songs. He sang the sentimental ones for her and before the end of the season he was calling her Ethyl when no one else was in hearing.
 When he asked her to marry him, she gave him her hand and their secret uoth was piighted. All that remained to be done was to obtain the consent of Abel Lingar. Here Faldis' training was a hindrance and not help to him. He could not disassociate Ethyl's father from tho president of the Thirteenth National Bank, and he could ot summon suit cient courage to ask Pl esident LinsA. f"r the hand of his daughter in marriage
 When he arose in the morning his es- olution was fixed. but at night he re- turned fretfully to his couch with the dreaded task still ahead of him. When ever he would put himself in the pres ence of EthyPs father 1t was only to dis cover the great president of the Thir- teenth National Bank and he would re- tire in deferential confusion. He could no longer concentrate his mind on his work. He stumbled over his balance sheets and figures blurred his eyes.
 One evening when closing his accounts he found they were wrong. There. in his own handwriting, was a false entry of $B.0Oc.i Over and over the books he went, but the studied examination only con- hrmed the awful evidence that he was short $20.0O0.
 At the sight of President Lingar stalk ing majestically through the counting room of the bank to his private office, Faldts shook with terror. It suddenly oc- cured eo his overwrought mind that per- plus of $2o.OOO. With the impulse of this vagary he rushed off to the office of the president.
 T beg your pardon. Mr. Lingar." he faltered. "but-er-has-is there an over plus of s2o.oOo."
 ''What?"
 Has anyone made an error?''
 An error? An error of s20,oo0?' thun- dered Iingar.
 The cold, accusing manner of Lingar sounded the depths of Faldis' objection. The reaction was instantaneous. The pale blue eyes of the teller ceased to wayer in their glances and became as fixed and steely as those of the presi- dent. No longer cringing, he strengthened up def1antly.
 Did you say there was an error of s2o0oo?'' said Lingar in slightly softened tones
 q did not. but there it an item of that amount in my books which am unable
 You arc i'll. Faldis. Take rest of a day or so. Johnson will take your place."
 Faidis went back to his cage. A few minutes later Johnson. the assistant cashier. entered it. Faldis had on his hat and was ibuttoning his overcoat Johnson did not notice that Faidis' overcoat was b9lging at the breast.
 Go through my accounts carefully. MT: Johnson. and find the mistake, am i'll.
 Fafdis walked slowly out of the bank. A thick jawed, athletic looking man stepped quietly out of the office from be- hind Lingar, and followed like shadow on the footsteps of Faldis.
 A few hours later Johnson entered the presidents office with sheet of paper in his hand.
 T find that this item of s2O,0 is mere ly clerical error, MT. Lingar,' he said.
 Then there is nothing irregular in Faldis accounts?" said Lingar, bright ening up.
 'Nothing-that is nothing in this con- nection. I have not brought the figures up to date yet
 Then do it. I'll wait.'
 Johnson returned to the presidents of- flee late that afternoon with trembling hand and quivering lip.
 Fridays story. "OLD LETTERS" by Ec