The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-11-14
AN
UNPROTESTED
CHECK.
BY Edith N. Doone.
Copyrighted, 1907, by NJ. NJ. Cunningha

ended and the fortune that had been
Robert Maxwelrs was finally handed
over to his beloved d:;.ghter Eliza
beth,' that young lady regarded her
new found responsibilities in dismay
and promptly proceeded to shift them
to other and broader shoulders. James
Gordon had been her fathers sec:etar!
and his shoulders We're presumably bet
ter fitted for the burden.
But you cannot hand me over yoi,r
fortune to carry, as if it We're Il book
or 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.
l shall appoint YOU
Chairman of the finance committee"
suggested Gordon.
"Yes," said Miss Maxwell. Il will
be the committee"
well, l shall do my best said Cor
don, laughing But the committee
will please remember that it has GER
tain active duties"
Il don't see why it should have any"
she retorted practically. you have
already managed the estate fo: the
past five years. You were Invaluable
to father
''Perhaps l was" Gordon returned.
though I don't remember it, and he
never mentioned it. However, l appre-
ciate your confidence and viii serve
you faithfully: but (gravely) what if l
should make mistakes? Is it wise to
intrust the handling Of so much money
to one man."
Il should think it might depend 4
good deal upon the man." said Miss
Maxwell softly
So Gordon fitted up an Office in 4
| downtown skyscraper. where lie sat ut
a table strewn with papers and pink
taped, legal looking documents. figur-
ing and writing late into the nights,
| financial affairs to her liking. annexed
a meek, elderly relative as chaperon
| and turned her attention to other diff
| ficulties.
Her first, chiefest and most immedi
| ate difficulty was her cousin Tom Cor
nish.
1T isn't that do not like you,' she
painstakingly explained for the hun
dredth time "You know I do. AS q
sister, now, y
''Oh, drop it," retorted Tom inele
gantly.
"And anyhow 1 shall never marry"
80 it's all up?"
II think have been telling you thai
for the past five minutes" said Miss
Maxwell impatiently.
"You know what meant all along,
he said sullenly ''Some one has beer
giving you a resume of my vices"
"Your vices are nothing to me nol
your virtues either. If you Tht
words died on her lips. For the frs
time in all their lives his arm close,
around her Convulsively he held he
to him. bending his head till his lip:
met her soft brown hair.
"Retty, live got to-tell you-Tn
in no end of trouble. I need you
need your help-I'-
BY Il single vehement effort Betty re
leased herself.
"How dare you? How dare you?
she ragged, then came to dead stop
Her eyes grew wide with dismay an'
fixed upon the doorway at the end o
the room.
''Mr. Gordon" she said in con
strained voice.
1t was Gordon indeed. He was quit
at the other end of the long room, brl
not so far that the late tablcau coul'
be unseen by him, and the distress o
her face was intensified in his as h
bowed hurriedly and the yellow poi
there fell behind him.
Betty blusled furiously. \ pefso
looking OH and not underStanGin
might, of course-she turned suddenl
to Tom, who stood staring at her I'll
easily.
"Now gor' she cried desperatel.
"Gor'
Meanwhile Gordon had found his ha
and the sidewalk and walked blndl
down the avenue, forgetting the paper
he had gone for-fOrgetting everytlin
except q girls flushed, dismayed face
1t was scandalous that she should b
allowed to drift into complications wit
that fellow. 1t was all very we'll tha
Cornish was her cousin, but what G
fortune hunter? Yet what could h
do? All day he had looked forward I
seeing Betty. Well, he had seen he
> And she must have been in earnes
She wasn't the kind Of girl to let
man-and as memory gripped him b
plunged gloomily on.
= 1t was several days later that Mis-
Maxwell, blue gowned and demur'
turned into the entrance of bank o
lower Broadway and walked calmly
the paying tellef's window.
Il suppose you know that this owe
draws your account. Miss Maxwell
said that gentleman. handing out
packet of fresh bank notes.
The girl stared at him in astonisl
ment. mo, did not know. | had III
thought" she said nervously
'That last check was rather large
ten thousand
'Ten thousand!'' repeated Bett
weakly
Yes. We did not question it. {
! course, because Mr.. Gordon SO ofte
draws large amounts He looke1 /;
her keenly. 1T was all right su
pose:"
"Yes; oh, yes" said Betty unsyeadil
1T was all right II suppose NJ
Gordon casbed it?'