The Prescott daily news., 1908-04-23

oHldn l nave written a check"
 Then l went away, and began to un- derstand that my suspicion that the bank people were going to be busy was being justified. In the next week l overheard conversation relating to checks for various amounts. Once 1t was for 63 cents for vinegar. Again it was Is cents for tomatoes. Once again it was II cents for a bag of salt. As walked upon the streets of our town l began to notice respectful grins upon the faces of the various tradespeople. l smiled back at them quite cheerfully, for I, too, began to have an appreciation of the joke At the bank, however, there seemed a lack of cOrdiality for some reason. The paying teller no longer welcomed me with cheering smile; my old friend the bookkeeper seemed to be pos sessed of a secret trouble. and there was an air of unrest about the insti tuition. I smiled inwardly, but trifie uneasily.
 One day the Little Woman came home quite late. l had been at the window watching for her, and I saw her turn in at the gate with quite wearied step. l opened the door for her and as 1 gathered her In my arms 1 commented on her tired look. She rested her head against my shoulder and confided to me that she had been compelled to walk home
 in quired. horror-struck
 You know, dear" she replied, wearily, lever since you gave me the check book, I never have ready money. just take enough for car fare, and then l pay for things with the checks" This last was said with an air of conscious pride. for she was proud of her idea in this respect. No bold marauder should catch her nap ping with hoarded gold.
 But why walk?" l demanded
 You see, Phil, if I want money when l am down town l always get it at the bank"
 l thought respectfully that I had neglected to explain to her about mak ing checks out to Cash and here she had found 1t out for herself The Little Woman was certainly clever.
 You know you didn't explain to me, but l found out how to do it." she went on When l go out 1 always call for Mrs. Wilson. and We go to- gether Then, you see, if I should want little money, say a dollar or SO" here I inwardly groaned as thought of that bank-'I just step into the bank with her, write out a check to her, and, as they know her there at. the place. she gets 1t cashed and she gives me the money. There, wasn't l clever to think that out for myself?' and she positively beamed from the tired gray eyes. I hugged her just little closer and she went on:
 To-day I couldn't find her, and so l went down town by myself 1 thought l should surely meet her. bought few little things, pins and so on you know. and then when wanted to come home, 1 didn't have the nickel. l walked to the bank and looked in. thinking perhaps Mrs Wilson might have gone there, but she hadn't, and so l had to walk home, Phil, dear, and I'm so tired"
 l held out my arms to her again in sudden pity. carried her into the library. and placed her in the big leather chair and brought her a glass Of wine, and then cursed myself for an idiot. would explain 1t to her at once. l would show her all about drawing a check for her personal use and then l thought, wouldn't 1t hurt her pride? She was so pleased about her way, and it would hurt her ter ribly if she found there was another simpler way that she hadn't thought of. l decided to wait.
 Nearly three weeks went by without further complication, and in time l began to get quite hardened to the appealing looks cast at me by the bookkeeper and the cashier It was then that Nemesis overlook me. had gone home to luncheon and had been quite jolly and free from care. At the table the Little Woman said to me:
 Phil, dear"
 l answered her by look of in- Quiry.
 My check book is quite gone"
 l felt guilty consciousness of re- lief for the moment.
 Il used the last check yesterday to | pay the gas"
 "Yes?" l ventured
 Yes. this morning the iceman came | and l didn't have single check | left"