Arizona republican., 1911-04-14
By p. C. Maefarlane.


 was at the keyhole.
 Say, Dan," he called. "get out quick. Millie Harper's here and wants to see you. Guess she can put you right alright. no?"
 Tank arose, threw bathrobe around his shoulders and slipped into the parlor, seldom used but always available, and shot the bolt back on the door.
 Bring ner in here. Murphy" he called, and immediately retired to make nasty toilet.
 Millie Harper was a prepossessing young lady, not yet come to thirty but somewhat experienced in life and somewhat advanced in the business world, being assistant cashier of a trust company, where she was in charge of the woman's department and Ezra Vining was vice-president of this trust company.
 By George! thought Tank Strange he had not recalled it be- fore. Sure, The old man had reached Harper through that daughter in some way"
 When Tank entered the little parlor he found Millie there with Murphy She was heavily yelled, and when the veil was raised a look of keen distress was apparent on her beautiful blonde face.
 "I met Miss Harper down by the office lookin' for you" explained Mur- phy. She said her business was urgent, so I brought her along knowin' you would be glad to do any thing you could for her"
 "So kind of you. MT. Murphy" mur- mured Millie in a low. refined voice and of you, Mir. Tank"
 "'S all right" said Tank, with a gracious wave of his hand. "'S all right. Go ahead. What can we do for you?"
 speak. looked at Murphy, hesitated, and said:
 "It seems unkind. NIT. Murphy. after your goodness, but"
 "Oh," said Tank, with another wave of his hand: "'S all right about Mur- phy; he knows everything I 1o. l don't have no secrets from him"
 Tank was not for being left alone with a bewitching young lady in his bachelor apartments.
 "Oh. Mir. Tank" she began. with a half sob that made her entrancingly beautiful as her fair cheeks flushed a deeper pink and her blue eyes filled, "I do not know why 1 come to you. but I do-o-o-" She had finished the speech crying.
 "'S all right. Miss Harper, s all right" declared Tank cmphatically. with mcre gracious wavings of his generous and gracious hands. "'S all right, Miss Harper, nearly everybody comes to me, SooSer or later"
 Well. then" continued the lady philosophically drying her eyes and rubbing a very red nose most vigor- ously with a very much sopped little bit of linen wad that c7ce had been handkerchief, "I suppose 1t is. Any way. my father knows you. and he al ways said. Dan Tanks got a heart as big as a house Nobody ever went to Dan Tank in trouble and put it to him straight that did not get help And I'm in trouble. Mr. Tank, dee-ee- eep trouble" Another half sob and more yelling tears.
 NIT. Tank nodded sympathetically, but without words.
 "Yos. I'm an eGhezzler-twenty- two hundred dollars a full sob, after which she cried quietly. adding through quivering lips. from the Realty Company"
 Has the shortage been discov- sred?" asked Tank. his keenly prac- tical mind seeing the first point first.
 "Yes."
 By whom?"
 By MT. vining himself" Miss liar per's tone here was tinged with in tense vexation.
 "The old devil!" calculated Tank. ' When?"
 Yesterday forenoon"
 Whats he say about ltE
 Says he'll have to make an exam pie of me That there's been too much of this sort of thing going on, and that his duty to the stockholders compels him-"
 But you can make that small amount good"
 "Yes. if he'll give me time, but he won't-only till tomorrow morning. I can't get 1t by that time.'
 What'd you do. going short twenty two hundred dollars?" asked Tank in a mildly chiding tone.
 Miss Harper b.ushed.
 Just little TOW and then" she confessed shamefully. going out with some friends--with friend most of ,he time-joy rides and the like" Then another bright light broke on the mind of Tank.
 By links, didn't I see you running round with young Vining?" he asked abruptly.
 Miss Harper blushed again. and furi- Ously.
 Wasn't you with him the night he run over the Lane boy in his automo- pile? Didn't I see your face in the ,ar?"
 Perhaps so," she murmured, still 1unishing her poor red nose