The Washington times., 1912-05-23
CHAPTER v.
The Morning After.

nS dutnOT lS IOL dllOBellsT
IY certain what transmutation
means; but, anyway, that is
what happened to Banks, as nearly as
can be as2ertained.
lie came 10 his study next morning u
different man. His head ached slightly:
he was little weary and very much
puzzled because of the experiences Of
the evening before. Still, he was ready
for such business as might awai. him
office.
: But there was a queer sensation that
leeemed to wander through his anatomy
tickle: it couldn't be called IL pain. and
1t certainly had no connection with a
idryness in the throat; yet IT was there,
all the same.
And it came into evidence first when
Ethelinda danced into tho study and
Il want IS. dad: We're going to got
home"
Five dollars" Mr.. Banks all but
"MhyNyesr' The child stood back and
.'Gor candy?'' . -.
canSy Ehe haysa snapSed AMY ye sanSa nGars
turned to his desk. ":Ask your mother
The child left. weeping-if not piteous;
y.
pressed q button-!and Harris entered;
The millionaire looked up pleasantly
Harris lie said, I'm paying you
toe, damned much!
"I-er-what?"
TOO damned much"' repeated Mr..
Banks. Your salary will be reduced
hereafter, ten dollars a month. If you
don't like that, get out!''
Instead, Harris sat down weakly.
why, r.
Yes, your responded. Mr.. Banks. as
he turned to his writing table.
He remained turned. as 1t were, for
the merest fraction of second.
He swirled around then and faced
Harris with a smile so evil that the sec
retary cringed instinctiYely and shrunk
almost into his chair
What are these?" Banks demanded
violently. ''.''''
''why-er-bills, sir-er-it's the-the
second of the month, you know, and
well, don't want any bills on this
desk hereafter. on the second or the
thirty-second of the month"; thundered
the millionaire. Il don't tolerate bills
understand that? / won't have bills!
Harris arose in all the mighty dignity
l0t ms Ms nss ssnks!" les!; he said. you have
always insisted on paying every bill as
1t was rendered and discounting it
per cent. Therefore, laid all the bills
before you, as usual. and you will
Ifind''---
Banks also was on his feet. He trans
fixed Harris with another glare, and the
secretary began to fade away like dis
solving picture.
Harris" he said, hereafter, when l
want your advice as to the payment Of
bills I shall ask you about 1t. For the
consider that your salary is reduced
twenty dollars a month! CO."
Which was unnecessary, because Har-
IRIS was gone already.
tn
while he amused himself by cursing
in a fashion that would have made
a rolling mill worker blush in help
less shame: Then he turned to the
of accounts firmly with his left hand;
With his right he seized them and
ripped them in two-and In four-and
then into eights-and he threw the
Bnow-fake fragments into the waste
basket with a loud snarl,
He turned to the check book before
him. Harris. as usual. had written out
ell the checks. ready for his sigma.
hands trembled. Then they ceased to
tremble and he tore the whole mass
of checks, blank and written, from
the volume and sent them after the
bills-into the basket.
He paused then and panted-not be-
cause there was any particular rea-
son fer painting. but because he felt
and found II empty. He looked to-
ward the little white humidor and
perceived that that, also, was empty
He snarlcd aloud: and then he pressed
the button for Harris. Harris" he
said. as he extracted a nickel grudg-
hnRly from his pocket, "go around to
the Bargain Cigar store on Sixth ave-
inue and get me a scent paper of to-
ibacco. Tell them TO give you some
cigarette paper, too, and get back
here quick"
The private secretary gulped three
times in sheer amazement and popped
out of sight in his accommodating G
tway, He was back within ten min
'utes. ....
Banks thoughtfully rolled cigarette
from the combination OF hay, washed
tobacco, and dried vegetable matter II
the cotton bag and lighted IT, He tried
hard to reflect. He tried very hard, in
deed. TO ascertain Just what instinct oi
parsimOny had come over him.
Never really openhanded, this wal
the first time in fifteen years that HI
had attempted TO smoke anything bu
the best cigars. This was the first time
he had ever let his bills run. And ye
he was enjoying the cigarette because
Il was cheap, and he was enjoying thu
macerated bills because his none!
would earn at least per cent while
they ran.
u was queer. 1t was decidedly queer