The Columbus commercial., 1907-08-13
AN
UNPROTESTED
CHECK.
Copyrighted, 1907. by NJ III. Cunningham
BY Edith NJ. Doone.


ended and the fortune that had been
Robert Maxwelrs was finally handed
over to his beloved daughter Eliza
beth" that young lady regarded her
new found responsibilities In dismay
and promptly proceeded 10 shIft then
to other and broader shoulders. James
Gordon had been her fathers secretary
and his shoulders We're presumably bet
ter fitted for the burden.
but you cannot hand me over your
fortune TO carry, as Ii 1t were a book
or a parcel" said Gordon distractediy,
though inexpressibly cheered by this
profession Of confidence. You do not
understand
"Oh. yes, / do" returned Miss Max
well serenely. II understand perfectly.
shall appoint you
chairman of the finance committee,
suggested Gordon.
"Yes," said Miss Maxwell. Il VIII
be the committee"
"Weli, shall do my best" said Cor
DON. laughing Put the committee
will please remember that 1t has GER
tain active duties"
..Y don't see why II should have any,"
IL
already managed the estate for the
past fve years. You We're Invaluable
10 father"
Perhaps | was" Gordon returned,
though | don't remember 1t, and he
never mentioned 1t. However, / appre-
ciate your confidence and Will serve
you faithfully: but (gravely) what If
should make mistakes? Is 1T wise TO
intrust the handling Of SO much money
% one manW
"I should think 1t might depend
good deal upon the man." said Miss
Maxwell softly.
So Gordon fitted up an office In
downtown skyscraper, where he sat ut
O table strewn with papers and pink
taped, legal looking documents, ngur-
ing and writing late into the nights,
and Miss Maxwell, having arranged her
financial affairs to her liking annexed
a meek, elderly relative as chaperon
and turned her attention to other DIFF
Hculties
Her first, chiefest and most immedi-
ate difficulty was her cousin Tom Cor
nish.
"It isn't that / do not like you," she
painstakingly explained for the hun
dredth time. "You know | do. AS
sister. now, r.
'Oh, drop itr' retorted Tom inele-
Rantly.
"And anyhow 1 shall never marry"
80 it's all upT'
81 think | have been telling you that
for the past five minutes" said Miss
Maxwell impatiently.
''You know what I meant all along"
he said sullenly. "Some one has been
giving you a resume of my vices"
''Your vices are nothing to me nor
your virtues either. If you The
words died on her lips. For the first
time In all their lives his arm closed
around her. Convulsively he held her
10 him, bending his head till his lips
met her soft brown hair.
Betty, 1--we got to-tell you-Pm
IN no end of trouble. / need you'll
need your help-T'-
BY single vehement effort Betty re-
leased herself.
How dare your How dare your
she ragged, then came to a dead stop.
Her eyes grew wide with dismay and
6xed upon the doorway at the end of
the room.
"Mr. Gordon" she said in a con-
strained voice.
1t was Gordon indeed He was quite
at the other end of the long room, but
not so far that the late tableau could
be unseen by him, and the distress Of
her face was intensified In his as he
bowed hurriedly- and the yellow por
there fell behind him.
Betty blushed furlously. A person
looking on and not understanding
might, OF course-she turned suddenly
to Tom, who stood staring at her I'M
easily.
Now goF' she cried desperately.
'.Gof'
Meanwhile Gordon had found his hat
and the sidewalk and walked blindly
down the avenue, forgetting the papers
he had gone for-forgetting everything
except girls flushed, dismayed face.
1t was scandalous that she should be
allowed to drift into complications with
that fellow. 1t was all very well that
Cornish was her cousin, but what of
the fellows character-a gambler, a
fortune hunter? Yet what could he
dot All day he had looked forward to
seeing Betty. Well, he had seen her.
And she must have been In earnest.
She wasn't the kind of girl to let a
maIi-and as memory gripped him he
Dlunged gloomily on.
1t was several days later that Miss
Maxwell. blue gowned and demure,
turned into the entrance OF a bank on
lower Broadway and walked calmly to
the paying telier's window
Il suppose you know that this over
draws your account, Miss Maxwell
said that gentleman, banding out
packet Of fresh bank notes.
The girl stared at him In astonish-
ment Enc. I did not know. had not
thought" she said nervously
That last check was srather large
ten thousand
ten thousandr' repeated Betty
weakly
Yes We did not question ii, OF
course, because Mr. Gordon SO often
draws large amounts" He looked at
her keenly. 1T was ali right, 1 sup
poser
Yes; Oh, yes" said Betty unsteadily
IL y