Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-03-16


fully and decided that he couldn't give
money for it. He would give the goods
freely enough. The amount of them was |
fully ten times as much as the change |
coming, but they were only goods. |
Money was a different matter. He had |
probably heard of bogus checks. This |
might be one of them. He couldn't ex-
change coed money, however little, for
a bogus check. Perhaps he was new
driver. l hope so. for his sake.
The little woman's argument was OF
no avail. He was good-natured, but he
was firm. He was also ingenious. He
suggested that another check for the
correct amount would set everything
straight If the missus only had another
check now, she could write it to fit the
/ figures of the bill.
The little woman hesitated. She had
never been allowed to perform this espe-
cial and sacred rite, though she had
signed almost every other kind Of paper,
from receipt for load of coal to first
mortgage, with coupons. A check
seemed of less Importance than these.
Besides, new check would leave ball
+, ance as starting-point of new ac-
count. We were as one, why not?
She told me about it when got home.
1t seems she had certain misgivings by
that unexpectedly the promptings Of
a Subconscious memory of banking mat
ters and a cashiers arbitrary require
ments in the matter of characteristic
signatures. 1t was too late to do any
thing that night The bank was closed
long ago, and l did not think it wise to
spend the night in looking up the presi-
dent or even the cashier, to explain.
Besides, such explanations as could
invent quickly did not suit me. wanted
to sleep on the matter and take it up
fresh in the morning. Then, maybe, I
could make up something that would
keep the little woman in the back
!, ground.
l don't think she slept great deal.
!. She had some idea that an officer would
be waiting downstairs in the morning,
and that she would never look on our
. precious ones or her silk waist again.
l consoled her with the suggestion that,
: while ignorance of the law was regard
= ed as no excuse, there were certain ex-
tenuating circumstances = that
thought the precious ones would hard
= might be in fashion again by the time
i she returned to gladden. our hearts once
more. Still, there was an uncertainty
about the outcome that made the bright
morning, the new waist and our gen.
eral assortment of furnishing goods as
. ashes to the little woman. She was sor-
{ ry now. She wished she had let me buy
;, the chair. We had an early breakfast
The banker regarded me rather doubt
y fully when had finished my statement
e He had known me on both sides of the
/ ledger for some time, but this was new
. phase.
you say your-eh, housekeeper made
e a check, without full knowledge of the
seriousness attaching to the signing OF
IL names in that promiscuous way?"
> ''I-yes, that's about it"
was covering the little woman's
Ii identity and lack of knowledge. no
altogether unnatural to the sex. bu
II which l felt that he, as banker, Nigh
"a regard with scorn.
II ''Of course" he proceeded, "as on,
'e not directly related to you the mat
III ter appears somewhat more serious
re Had it been really one of your famil.
uOW-yOuT SlSLGT, LOT instance, o
lie your"
III ''Oh. but it's just the same, YOU know
I, put in. Il mean, Of course, that She
d that she's really one of the family-tha
IN is, of course, it's all right, mean"
III 1 had not explained my plan to tn
Ut little woman before starting. | had a.
undercurrent of wonder, now. what sh
~ would say if she could overhear my eff
~ forts to get her decently out of the pit
u fall into which her pride had tumble
or us l hoped she was enjoying her ney
Id things
Is A clerk brought the check at that mo
ne ment. 1t had come in from the clearin
lg house, having travelled safely throug
le several miles of circumlocution. TIL
LII six inches between the bankers hand
and mine would be it's hardest tug TIL
Id banker scrutiniZed the signature sc
e. verely.
d. Rather delicate hand for a-hous:
ne keeper. How long did you say she ha
re been in your service?"
Gu | named the largest number of year
~ within human limits and reviewed tn
Vi proprietary interest she had always fe
~ in our affairs-the amount of receipt
and things she was daily called upon t
pc Understand gave another and in
proved version Of the episode with til
re ;n+o,1igen+ driver who wac willing 4
give any amount of goods for my chec1
NY but no change. l abused the driver
us there was no harm in doing that