The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-02-09
BEYOND
THE GREEN
BAiZE DOOR
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By ANSON Is. ARDwELL.

4 knew. since 10 one but Mr..
No~ Bakeiy ever saw the in
side o. his private room at MessrS.
Bakply X stephens Bank.
Mr.. BIakely was president OF the
bank, which was ihc only one in the
town, aud showed every scmb,ance
OF Il sound financial bas.s.
Mr.. BIake!y was man strangely
devoid OF ccccntricitipS The chief
faults the bank stan found with him
were his indcratigabilty and tnat
whenever there was business 10 br
done in selling or buying stock. pro.
curing loans. etc, he .Lyariabiy at
tended 10 it himself
| was sealed t the desk Of The chief
cashier who was away ON Il short
h0liiay, one morning in September
when one Of our depOsilors entered
the bank.
"Mr. BOyton. look herr" hr said
Slipping half dollar coin upon the
counter. "Whcre did You set IT,"
whats wrong with it." inquired.
examining it closely. without noticing
any defect Did | give II TO YOU"
Yes. Lock a. the edge; its quite
smooth"
passed him another hair dollar. aud
as he went away, | slipped the obicc-
tiOnal cou into my pocket. intending
10 keep il rs II curiosity. Eut later
in the day. when Mr.. R'akciy was in
the office, I showed i, to him.
Curious" he murmuycd cone OF
an experimental coinage, no doubt. tor
it's Gatei 1901. DO YOU th,nt we've
any others Similar"
NO; | have Epcu through them"
Strange! Well I'll keep il. It's
probably unique
| was disappointed with his decision.
rs | wanted the coin myself. 1t was
against my principles. however. TO pro-
test. | forgot ii entirely until SOmc
weeks later when Mrs. Blakely. to
the utter astonishment Of the bank
Stah. turned up an hour or Two before
luncheon time.
Up To that time. although she had
been married more than ten months.
Mrs. Blakely had never been inside
the bank. Now she drove up ia her
carriage. came in proudly, aud asked
for Mr.. Rlakeiy.
| replied that If she would step
in'o the waiting room. would sum
mon him in the usual way
NO. Show me into his private
room. | am Mrs. Blakely. she said
hastily.
II recognize you. madam I replied
'But the rule is that all visitors. who.
ever they may he, are to he shown
into the waiting room. whore Mr..
Blakely will interview them"
Nonsense" she calculated "Such
rules DO not refer to Mr.. Blakely'>
wife. The room is at thc end OF the
passage, is il not
"Nou are putting me in an awkward
position replied. II am not a..
lowed TO let visitors approach the
green baizc door--"
"Ah!' Her proud eyes flashed. $50
there is a green baizc door, which no
one approaches
When Mr. Blakely came. he did so
in his habitua lcisurely manner: aud
he walked into the waiting room. leaN.
ing the door aiar.
"Mr. Blakely," she said haughtily. 81
have been insultcd by one of your
clerks Since when has your wife
been denied the right 10 enter your
private ROOM
Ever since she wrongl. assumed
that she had such a right Mary. My
clerks have their orders. they obey
them. You cannct blame them for
upholding rules myself have framed.
What do YOU want? | nm busy this
morning The market is unsteady
just now"
Tell me. Richard; had you known
I was coming. would you have allowed
your clerk TO deny me access td youI
private ROOM Mrs. Bakery inquired
''The rule is Of many years standing
Mary he said deliberately. If il
were set aside for you. it would b,
the thin end of the wedge: my room
would no longer be private"
"You indorse your clert's insults"
II uphold my clerk, who upholds IN,
banks rules"
felt her lush past me as he cam,