The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-06
THE WIT
OF
MARION.

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The institution was too new to scar
crest to be treated with aught save
reverence and ave. so there was more
than one who dared suggest that DaV-
i'd Prescott had erred in making his
daughter Marion his paying teller.
Not that Marion was not suited to the
place, but that even Scarcrest knew
that a woman teller was unusual.
Comment did not worry Prescott.
His holdings in the bank amounted TO
more than ninety percent OF the capl-
tai invested, and at the directors meet
ing he had offered to make another
choice if the board could suggest any
one better qualified through acqualnt-
ance or experience at figures. mat SET
tied the matter officially, and when the
spick and span new Office opened 1t was
Marion's pretty blond head which was
seen through the plate glass square
lettered Paying Teller"
Bert Howard was the receiving tel
Ter, and this was further cause Tor Cos
sip, for Bert had been a willing Save
to Marion ever since the days Wnen
he used to drag her to school on his
sled.
Many comments had been made in
the postoffice and around the stove IN
Van Zant's grocery, but after Ned Da-
Wis had been soundly thrashed by How
ard for suggesting that if the pair OF
tellers held their positions long enough
they would have no trouble starting
life properly, there was an abrupt
cessation of this sort Of gossip, ana
the bank officers were accepted without
further comment
But it was not pleasant sailing for
Bert and Marion. He had been given
his position, not because Prescott ap-
proved Of his suit for Marion's hand,
but because, like Marion, he had been
the most available person for the po-
sition. Prescott in his hard, deep
mitchell voice had assured the young
man that if he ever caught glimpse
of loye-making in business hours there
would be an imported teller IN the
bank within twenty-four hours.
So it was that man and maid were
nerforce content with such satlsfac-
tion as could come from the knowledge
of each others propinquity, and even
Tony Dwight who would have been
glad to see his rival disposed of, could
find no cause for tale bearing.
Dwight with Prescott, Bert and Mar
ion. constituted the clerical force of
the First National, and oddly enough
Prescott, usually an excellent judge OF
character, favored Tony's aspirations
for Marion's hand. The one unpleasant
feature of her position was the fact
that she had frequently to consult
Tony as bookkeeper and he never
let pass an opportunity to press his
suit.
Then the agent of the Chester Bank
v.ult Company came to Scarcrest one
moon hour, driving over from the near
oct railroad town behind pair of
spanking bays. Curtis was the name
in one corner of the card he presented
to Prescott as he strolled urannounced
into the presidents office.
Rut selling bank vaults was appar-
emily not his principal business, for at-
fer a while Prescott came out of lis
*oe;oe Here is a check for which Mr..
Curtis wants the cash" he said,
thrusting the slip of paper through the
window to Marion. You have a pack
age of thousand dollar bills in the cor.
ner of the small safe. There are TWEEN
+v.five of those. He will take the 9TH
= bolf in hundreds"
Marion looked curiously at her faith
mrs face, white and drawn.
Are you sure this is all right?"
curtis laughed lightly.
He moved closer to the bank presi-
dent, and Prescott, with the muzzle
of revolver pressing into his side
could only nod his assent. Curtis had
seaurea him that at the first sign OF
attempted communication with any of
tbo two clerks all would be SHOT and
be would be safe in the country before