Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-02-17

side OF his private room at Messrs
Blakely Il Stephens Bank.
Mr.. BlakeIy was president of tn,
bank, which was the only one in tn
town, and showed every sembanc,
of sound financial basis.
Mr.. Blakely was a man strangely
devoid of eccenuicitles. The chic
faults the bank staff found with hin
were his indefatigNblity. and that
whenever there was business to bt
done in selling or buying stock. pro
curing loans, etc, he ;hyarinbly at
tended to it himself
| was seated It the desk of the CHIEF
cashier, who was away on shor
holiday, one morning in September
when one Of our depOsitOrs entered
the bank.
mfr. BoytOn, look hera." he said
slipping a half dollar coin upon the
counter. Where did you set it?"
whats wrong with it," / inquired
examining it closely, without noticing
any defect Did give 1t to you?"
Yes. Look AZ the edge: it's quite
smooth"
passed him another half dollar, and.
ms he went away, slipped the obiec.
tlonaI coin into my pocket intending
TO keep it as curiosity But later
in the day, when Mr.. B'akely was. in
ST., A. showed ii 10 him.
CURIOUS! he mUrIiIuICu. Si,,-
an experimental coinage no doubt for
it's datel 1901. DO you think we've
any others simiar?"
NO; | have been through them"
Strange! Well III keep Tits
probably unique" .--~-'
| was disappointed with his decision.
rs i wanted the coin myself 1t was
against my principles however, 10 pro-
lest. | forgot it entirely until some
weeks later, when Mrs. BIakely, to
the utter establishment of the bank 5
staff, turned up an hour or Two before
J luncheon lime ----
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 In her
carriage, came in proudly, and asked
for Mr.. Blakely.
replied thar, if she would step
into the waiting room. | would sum
mon him in the usual way.
mo. Show me into his private
room. am Mrs. BIakeIy,' she said
hastily.
II recognize you. madam" replied.
"But the rule is that all visitors, who
ever they may be, are to be shown
into the waiting room, where Mr.
Blakely will interview them"
"NonsonSew she calculated. "Euch
rules do not refer to Mr. BIakelys
wife. The room is at the end Of the
passage, is 1t nOt?"
"You are putting me ia an awkward
position | replied. II am not al
lowed to let visitors approach the
green baize d00r---"
"Ah" Her proud eyes flashed SO
there Is a green bRize door. which nc
one approaches?"
When Mr.. Blalicly came, lie did Sc
in his habituaI lelsurely manner; and
he walked into the waiting room, leav
Ing the door ajar.
mfr. Blakely," she said haughtlIy, 81
have been insulted by one Of your
clerks Since when has your wife
been denied the right TO enter your
private rOOm?
Ever since she wrOngl.- assumed
that she had such right, Mary. My
clerks have their orders; they obey
them. You cannot blame them fol
upholdng rules myself have framed
What do you want? | am busy this
morning. The market Is unsteady
just now
Tell me, Richards had you know
{ was coming, would yOu have allowed
your clerk TO deny me access to yOul
private rOOm?" Mrs. BlakeIy inquired
THE rule Is of many years standing
Mary" he said deliberately. "lf /
were set aside for you, 1t would b,
the thin end OF the wedge; my room
wonld no longer he private"
I 'YOn indOrse your clerks insult?"
81 uphold my clerk, who upholdS tn,
banks rules"
| felt her lush jast me as he CAM
out of the room, and saw her wall
round the desks, her lips tightly com
pressed. and her head high.
The following morning when | cam
10 the bank, the porter me- me witt
the inquiry, had 1 seen anything o
Mr. Blakely? No one HAD seen hin
since the bank closed the night before
He was not IN the bank-had not bee
hOme-indeed, il was Mrs. Blakel,
who had driven down early to inquir
about him; and no one had seen him.
"Mr Boyton." she asked, "haVe yo1
seen my husband? You we're the las
to leave. / believe?"
yes, madam but have not see
Mr.. Bakely since he put you int
your carriage yesterday"
"That decides It," she muttered
Something has happened to him /
his room. The door must be forced
Porter, go for a carpenter"
you take :he whole responsibility O
forcing the green baize door," | sus
gestnd.
"Thc whole responsibility" she re
piled.
When the carpenter arrived, Mrs
Blnkely led him to the door, and Of
dered him to force it, Ee smile
grimly rs he looked the door up an
down.