Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-11-11

with a pang Of selfish regret, even
sharper than his first remorse. Love
land repented his wastefulness In
throwing away such friend. II he
had not slammed the door almost upon
| Cadwallader Hunters high. thin nose
he might now have summoned him by
telephone and have got him to trot
about introducing the Marquis Of
Loveland to the best tailors In New
York. The only thing for Val to do
was to wait until he had collected
other friends more solid. more valuable
than Cadwallader Hunter and as soon
as possible tell the tale Of his mis-
fortunes. OF course everybody would
be delighted to help Lord Loveland.
tnd. by the way, there was MIR. Coo
lidge. who could be approached II
worst came to worst
When he had been cheered by lunch
con and soOthed by cigar ettes he sent
for motor taxicab. The afternoon
was still young and so full of sparkle
and gayety that life seemed worth liv-
ing after all: therefore Lord Loveland
had begun TO value himself almost as
highly as ever by the time his smart
little automobile pulled up In front Of
the bank
1t was stately bank. well worthy
Of its London connection. and he hand
ed In his visiting card and letter of
credit with the air of one entitled to
receive unlimited sums. The cashier,
however. having looked at him. the
card and the letter. did not appear to
be impressed. Instead of replying In
words to LOveland's demand for EGO,
he walked away with the letter OF
credit in his hand and vanished be-
hind a swing door. After short delay
the cashier returned and. having stroll
ed back to his place behind the graf
ing, there stood silent for moment
"I'm ruther In hurry" said Love
land ~ suppose there'll be no red
tape about my getting EGO? | want 1t
this afternoon"
The cashier smiled dry smile, and
his voice sounded dry as he answered.
Il don't know about the red tape. but
I'm sorry to tell you we have no In
structions from London to pay"
"WhatY" cried Val. reddening with
annoyance. "You have no instruc-
tiOnST'
M instructions to pay" repeated
the cashier. putting on the last word
an emphasis which sounded offensive
to Loveland's ears, though he hastily
assured himself that II could not pos
Sibly have any such meaning.
This is very announcement" said
Val. to whom bridge and tips on ship
board had left exactly seventeen shil-
lings threepence halfpenny.
"I'm sorry for that" remarked the
cashier. still more formally. more un-
sympathetically and-One might al
most have said-mOre disrespectfully
than before.
Loveland. though inclined to storm,
reflected moment He had Intended
to sail on the Baltic. which was due to
leave English shores only yesterday
and might not arrive In New York for
seven or eight days. He had not given
any one notice-not even bis mother
that he had changed his Intention. and
} very likely the London papers had
paragraphed him US d passenger on the
Baltic's next trip. Nevertheless he
could not quite understand how that
fact excused his London banks delay
In instructing their New York CORE
spondents. They had had plenty OF
time to arrange his affairs before his
sudden departure on the Mauretania.
and by not doing 50 they were likely
to make him a great deal of unneces-
sary trouble.
well. don't see why ! should be
made to suffer because the London
and Southern bank puts of till tOmOr-
row what 1t ought to have done week
ago." said Loveland. beginning to be
arrogant. though looking boyish. with
his flushed face and his white scar
glimmering OIL its background Of clear.
ruddy brown Il must have some
money. you know"
The cashier did not reply to this
challenge, and his eyes expressed no
interested consideration Of the matter
"You had better see your manager
and explain the circumstances" pur
sued Val
ut would be useless. We could not
pay without Instructions"
II dare say | might manage with tlo
till you could gel an answer. II you
choose to be so ridiculously overcau-
tious." Loveland insisted lOftily But
In that case you must cable at once
"You will no doubt be willing TO pay
for the message In advance" suggest
ed the cashier.
Certainly not" said Val. no longer
trying to keep his temper under con-
troll. you've seen my card. Isn't that
enough for you"
/ Business is business" quoted the
bank employee. still unruffied. still
blind to Lord LoYeland's Importance
J cold to his necessities.
, "And decency's decency." stormed
}, Val, careless now who looked or lis
tened and in a mood to wreck all
!, American institutions.
"Yes, it's as well never to forget
|, that" the cashier limited significantly
Sorry we cannot accommodate you
at present"
"rm hanged If you ever get the
chance again." retorted Val, snatchlng
his letter of credit from the counter
II shall myself send cable to the
London and Southern which will make
!. | uor, rananf YOUR nigheadednesS." And