Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-06-06
WHEN THE STENOGRAPHER
SAVED THE CASHIER

copyright, 1902, by w. r. Hearst)
Guarded by plate glass door sat the
cashier of the bank in small western
town. and by his side-some of her time
sat the stenographer busy with the dicta-
tions of her chief. Later Gertrude Moffat
transcribed the shorthand notes to letters
on her typewriting machine. When the
day was far spent 1t was her duty to
tidy the private office, and that Is how she
happened to be ia the vault when the
editor OF the evening paper came in. The
massive iron door was partly shut and
no one seemed to see the girl, and the
editor evidently thought Harold Conway
the sole occupant OF the room,
How much is 1t worth to you to have
this item suppressed" asked Mr.. Quigley.
the editor. The item referred to was on a
proofsheet and there were matters of
news before and after the one pointed to.
The banker read aloud:
There was run on the private bank
of Higgins & Co., this afternoon, and the
institution was forced to close its doors
In the face of big crowd" Mr.. Conway
looked up with a smile. THAT is easy to
answer" said he 1T is not worth that"
and the cashier snapped his fingers.
But 1t has been modified" the editor
explained. Now It reads that the bank
of this town is a part of Higgins & CO.
the company, in fact. / know 1t is worth
something to you to have that kind Of an
item suppressed-and 1t will cost you a
thousand dollars"
You cannot get a cent here. If"
There will be a run on this bank to-
morrow morning or you will pay"
If"
us the suppression of this item nothing
to you, then?"
IF you print such a libel"
you must not make threats, 1 don't.
i simply came to ask yoll.3 the act was
worth anything to you. jOk course there
will be run on this bank. the first thing
in the morning. But you can probably
stand that. Good day" The editor was
gone, slamming the office door behind
him.
Gertrude came from the vault and
found the cashier with his head bowed
above his desk.
You here?"
81 could not help hearing" explained
Gertrude, with a trace of tears in her
voice. 1T Is a mean act. and / know he
has no right to add a thing to the item
as read by you. Is there no way to stop
the press?"
mo, and no way to get enough money
here TO meet the demands of the people If
they ever get to coming this way and
come they will If that item is printed" "
But the cashier was talking to a woman
less ROOM for Gertrude had put on her
hat and was on the way to the printing
office. Mr.. Conway leaned back in his
chair thinking. Since closing time all
| things had changed. In his minds eye he
could see the long line of people against
| the teller's window, and devised ways to
| cause a delay. The bookkeeper brought in
| the balance sheets and the assistant cash
| Ter came in with the money deposited
| since noon. How could he, Harold Con-
way, prove that this bank was solvent "A
| hours before it's doors should be closed for
| good. He knew there was not money
| enough in the cash box to pay all the
claims, and he saw Jail and trial and
states prison before him. His secretary
the only one who knew his secrets, had
| left him. The bookkeeper and the assist
ant cashier went away.
You shall not print another paper II
| you publish that item," Gertrude was say
| ing to the editor
That Is a thing to be decided in the
future. But why, may ask, do you make
that threat?" Editor Quigley turned his
chair toward the girl. Idle words like
| that are useless"
"The authorities shall be told of your
lottery advertisement. That is ALL" And
Gertrude whipped out OF the newspaper
| office as she had come in. In the far
| room she heard the presses running and
| newsboys hurried back and forth through
the front office as she went out
| THE girl has got me-" sighed Mr.
| Quigley as he sent word to the foreman
that he wanted the bank and lottery items
taken out. That night the papers were
| later than usual. But there was nothing
about the bank failure
How did it Gomez" repeated Gertrude.
ut was the result of my visit there last
night. You see there is nothing about the
lottery"
And Mr.. Conway could not help it.
| Neither could Gertrude. When the we'd
ding was held Mr.. Quigley was there, and
the evening following a half column was
given in the paper to the marriage of
Gertrude Moffat and Harold Conway.
1t was afterward that Mr.. Conway sold
his interest in the bank and with his
| wife came 10 Chicago.