Middletown transcript., 1905-07-29
A MIDSUMMER QUEST ;.
BY EDITH MACTANE

~-~~----~N~~J
amounted to dollar and quarter. "AnC
with quarter for the waiter" she mur
INJURED to herself as she opened the small
blue valise which hung upon her arm
THAT makes my bill exactly dollar anc
half" From the confusion OF hand
kerchief, powder-puff, sachet, smelling
bottle, and other neces>aries, her search
ing fingers gradually drew forth various
loose silver coins. These, upon counting
she found to consist OF a half-dollar, foul
quarters and two dimes.
"Just twenty cents left for me, }" re-
Elected Miss Carleton. ''llumph !! Lucky
/ remembered to make papa give me that
check %
From the wilderness Of her bag she
drew forth pink and crumpled slip OF
paper, which, when smoothed out, proved
to bear the words: "Bay State Trust Com
pany. Pay to Lily Carleton, or order
Fifty dollars" 80, evidently" she re-
marked to herself, as she went out TO her
cab, "the thing for me to do is to rush
and get this thing cashed, just as quick
as can"
The cab drew up to the curbstone, and
Miss Carleton stepped into it with
flutter of white taffeta ruffles and the
vision of brown silk stocking. "The
Amsterdam Bank" she commanded,
briefly.
The way down the avenue was hot and
breathless, and the hour Of ten striking
from neighboring steep!e served also to
strike terror to Miss Cartoons hedrt.
1.-TWO hours before that train goes to
Tuxedo p she said ''Was ever anything
SO stupid p For, even under its most
favorable aspects, New York had during
the past year been to her place Of pain
full thoughts and reproachiul recolections;
and now, as she glanced out at the sun
smitten streets, she repeated mournfully
to herself, 1.-TWO hours-oh, dear y
They stopped before the high windows
and imposing gold letters Of the Amster-
dam Bank. In moment Miss Carleton
found herself before the desk of the pay
ing teller, and in sudden concern noted
that the face behind the grating was one
that she had never seen before. She
pushed the pink slip of paper silently
over the barrier Tie official took it up,
loal-oJ lonln1 Mt l,ar
Endorse it, please, said he, brnskly.
Then, relenting "Write your name across
the back, you know-this way"
"Oh," murmured Miss Carleton, over
come with confusion. "IIow stupid Of
me. forgot"
She remedied the fault, with one Of
the fne-pointed and scratchy pens which
it is the way of banks to supply, then
returned to the cashier.
Again he examined tie check, and
again his searching eye fell upon her.
"Hum. Miss Lily Carleton. You are
Miss Lily Carleton?'
Miss Carleton nodded 'Of course"
said she.
ANY one to identity YOU >"
Miss Carleton gasped. why, no."
she replied, in dismay but | always
come here when | come to New York.
| have been getting money here for years
and years"
The face behind the grating nodded
patronizingly. oh! 1t was Mr. Miller
l suppose, who attended to you"
II suppose SO, faItered tile girl
"Mr. Miller has gone On his vacation,'
remarked the teller, agreeably
"And can't anybody else give me tile
money % cried Miss Carleton.
"Do you know any body else here"
Miss Carleton shook her head
Then there is no other way out Of it.
The rules Of tie bank are strict. Yru
must bring some Ole 10 identity l"n Le
fore we can pay You the MONEY" {
Miss Carleton fingered tie cheek ncr
vously. "Oh, but | can assure snu lis
quite regular" Size insisted T. Ii. [
Carleton, that's my iatIer-aud am c
Miss Carleton truly am r |
II have no doubt Of that, madam. /" |
came the response, with a lailt reaxa
ton Of severity. The RUE il, ii course. a
mere matter Of form in this instance.
but nevertheless all bank regulations are |
We cannot luiiur our own '
checks, and in no case can we honor a t
foreign one" Q
but this isn t foreign check Y cried s
Miss Carleton, in irritation. That bank
is right there in Boston, I
The teller nodded solemnly every e
bank but our own, madam is foreign b
bank, he said, with some conteu,pt az '
her ignorance; ''and as say-no MONEY
can be paid on any cheek whatsoever, i
except to persons Of our acquaintance, or 8
else properly introduced d
''Then if bring some one to introdure 7
me, It will be all right" asked Miss D
Carleton, frightening. y
That's all that is necessary. madam y 81
That's easy" cried Miss Carleton -"
with unbusinesslike gIee II know heaps n
OF people, right here in town y
She turned with a futtering sNisI Of {,
silk and FASTENED back to her hanson. A
Where to now, lady ~ came the c
never-failing question. Ii
ITO the Republican Life" She repli4d :
with an effort of memory.
For in one of the sky cleavng aeri-s Of il
the Republican Life was the office Of II
Nolan & Vantage, her fathers New 0
York lawyers. n
A fifteen minutes drive and fift.an q
seconds whirling ascent brought her be- n
lore the imposing glass and mahogany If +
the desired door She rang tI,e .l.rtr;e h
button impatiently, and beat the d4,irs Il
tattoo with one restless foot until tho :,
brought paIlid and listless
youth to the door.
us Mr.. Nolan in p inquired The fair 4
client, hastily. II
The expressionless face before her broke
or,,, 1.