The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-02-14
Wolf or
Sheep ?
Bv J.. lUDLUM LEE.


There was a run OH the Ilion Nation
al bank, and depositors were standing
in line hour after hour waiting their
turn to withdraw their money. Pay
ing tellers worked with deliberation
that was maddening. Some days only
half a dozen people would be paid off,
but still tie line increased, hoping
against hope. For two days and nights
the figure Of a young girl had been
noticed. She was slowly working her
way to the front. At 2:45 p. m. on
the third day she was admitted to the
bank and withdrew her entire account.
To avoid confusion depositors were
admitted at one door and passed out
through a side entrance, and as she
emerged from the latter she cast a bur-
ried glance about her. She gave a
sigh of relief when she saw that she
was quite alone and apparently un-
noticed. Then suddenly a tall man
appeared in the doorway behind her.
Lillian Burkhart trembled as she
clutched the roll of bills, her teeth
chartered, the color faded from her
cheeks, and she was conscious that her
hands trembled visibly. The man look
ed at her sharply, stepped forward
and asked If he could be Of service to
her.
"You seem to be in trouble. Can I
do anything for you?" he asked. with
some concern.
"You can go away" she managed to
answer.
The man calmly proceeded to button
his heavy ulster, slipped his hand in
the pocket thereof and pulled out Il
heavy pair of gloves, which he drew
on slowly. His tall. broad shoulders
were surmounted by a handsome clear
cut face: his whole appearance waa
faultless. He glanced concernedly az
Lillian. whose color had not yet re-
turned and who seemed to tremble
from head to foot.
Really, l feel that l must call for
assistance. Will you have a cab or q
doctor? 1t would be nothing short OF
brutal to leave you here shivering like
that. Are you i'll or simply cold? :
insist upon knowing"
Lillian was forced to look at him
again, and it seemed to give her cour-
age to speak.
"Were you ever hungry" she muir:
INJURED as she took a firmer hold on
the bills.
Eyes, indeed" said her companion.
but never with that amount Of mon
ey in my grasp"
Lillian started with a sudden jerk at
the mention of her money and drop
ped the entire roll Of bills. He stoop.
ed to pick 1t up, and after n wild
shrek she called ~distractedly:
"Stop thief! Stop. l say"
), The crowd was massed in front Of
the bank. and the cry seemed to have
! passed ~unnoticed. The man picked III
! the bills despite her exclamation anf
! handed them to her. Lillian laughed
I a sickly little gurgle, saying:
fPerhaps you're not a thief after al
2 are your"
5 mo. I'm not! Are your" suggested
{ the man. II am merely n Of thu
z many depositors trying to get Il few
2 dollars. But you were more fortunate
) than |. When I reached the window
I the cashier pulled it down, saying
4 was 5 O'clock and too late to draw
, Better put that wad out Of sight an
s not tempt the hysterical mob outside.
& he added.
4 That's what j wanted to do, bu
2 you won't go away and let me. A wo
) man doesn't have pockets all over he
{ clothes like a man.. And, oh, l wis!
4 you would go, for TIM SO hungry an'
2 want to get home! I've stood in tina
5 line for nearly three days to get mon
& ey for the landlord. My, but l hat
that man." she expostulated. with
z shrug Of her pretty shoulders.
well. I'll be on my way. and b
> sure you tuck it safely away In its hid
Ing place. I'll promise not to loo
= back" He laughed and turned o
- down the street.
Lillian hurriedly slipped the bills
the bosom Of her gown and nervousl
started in the opposite direction t.
ward her little home. Her mother mt
her Mt the door. and after some he
luncheon the girl was equal to relatin
her troubles.
But, mother. we have the none.
and that old Shylock a be paid. I
take it around to him myself In tt
morning and just tell him what
think Of him." said Lillian, with SON
! satisfaction and a threatening inton;
ton of her voice.
The next morning about 10 o'cloc
she started for the landlords ofic
and as she passed the long line wal
ing at the bank she thought how fort
nate she had been. Extras" were OF
saying that no more depositors woul
be paid.
Arriving at the Offices of Payne
Payne on Main street. she entered IL
snug little reception o and aske
for Mr. pavno