Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-13
DAILY SHORT STORY
Mrs. CIendenin's Banking.
IOriginal.l

feminine One feminine trait she pos
sessed to high degree-she could
learn nothing about the practice of
banking.
One day Mr.. Clendenin was called
away hastily-indeed so hastily that
he had no time to arrange for his wife's
financial needs during his absence.
"Go to the bank" he said, land get
what you want. Sign my name to the
check. They will understand it. Banks
are not very particular where they
know all about the parties"
Snatching Il hasty kiss and his suit
case he hurried to Il trolley car.
The funds that Mamie had on hand
were all expended within a few days.
Taking out her husbands checkbook,
she drew Il check for hundred dollars.
She did not wish to go TO the bank her
self, the day being stormy. and intend
ed sending her coachman. Not know
ing what to write in the space left for
the name OF the payee. after much de-
liberation she concluded to keep on the
safe side by leaving it blank. Then she
signed her husbands name TO it and,
calling Patrick, told him to go to the
bank and draw the money. Patrick
did as he was told, but returned with
out funds.
THE man at the winder, ma'am, says
to put my name to it. But if We do Ofn
have to be idintyfied.'
whats identified mean?'
well, OF think, ma'am, some one
will have to tell 'em that Ofm mesilf."
How provoking. l don't know any
body TO do that"
But he says if ven write bearer
in it he'll pay anyway"
This appearing to be the easiest way
out of ii, Mrs. Clendenin inserted the
word bearer" and Patrick made an
other visit to the bank and returned
with the money.
1t was about Il week. after this that
Mrs. Clendenin while shopping noticed
a man who seemed to be keeping pair
of very sharp eyes on her. He followed
her from shop to shop, and when she
got home she found him there waiting
for her
Madam he said, ~ tell fortunes by
means of the handwriting of the sub
ject''
Il don't care to have my fortune
told" said Mrs. Clendenin.
The man was persistent, and in the
end the lady, to get rid of him, gave
him specimen of her handwriting.
After securing this he did not seem es-
pecially anxious to tell her fortune,
and as she did not urge him he retired,
saying that he would study the case.
The next day Edward Clendenin re-
ceived the following telegram:
Return at once Am in great trouble.
MAMIE.
As soon as Mr.. Clendenin could re-
cover from the shock he took a train,
telegraphing from the station that he
would be at home the next day. When
he drove up to his house at rapid
pace, threw open the cab door and
rushed into his home, he found his wife
q prisoner in charge of the man who
had called on her for a specimen of her
handwriting.
"Oh, Edward. I'm arrestedr' moaned
the wife, throwing her arms about her
husbands neck.
What for?" cried Edward, aghast.
Tell him." she said to the man who
stood by.
Il am sorry to inform you, sir, that
1 have felt it my duty to arrest your
wife for forgery. 1, however, permit
ted her to remain here till your re-
turn
Forgery! What forgery
''She has forged the name of Edward
Clendenin to check on the Manufac-
turers' bank"
Il am Edward Clendenin."
What. You Edward Clendenin? l
didn't know that you were the man
whose name was forged. Then, sir,
your wife has forged your name"
Have you the check with your
The detective produced a bundle of
papers, from which he took the check
in question.
Mamie" said Edward after glanc-
ing at the signature. why the dickens
didn't you sign IL in your own hand
writing?"
why, l thought must make it as
much like your signature as possible"
The two men looked at each other.
Difference on the part of the detective
kept his features straight, but when
the husbands face broke into IL morti-
fed smile he joined. The smiles of
both became broad laugh.
"Go upstairs, my dear" said Edward.
81 think / can bride this gentleman to
release you from arrest"
NOW, zen me, Saiu NiShuehih' luh-
ing the detective to n sideboard, how
the bank came to press such case"
The bank places all its law bust |
ness. criminal and civil, in the hands |
Of Perkins * Lamb, attorneys. / am
their detective. They gave me the |
check, with directions to hunt up the |
person who drew it. 1 traced it to
your wife, not knowing her to be your |
wife. 1 got a specimen of her hand
writing, compared it with the body |
of the check and knew it to be hers.
The officers of the bank as yet know
nothing about the matter. Since Mrs. |
I,Inndoni,, IL N ,.oGnnd ladv I gave her L