The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-12-12
WHEN THE STEN0GRAPHER
SAVED THE CASHIER
az harry q. Arsnstrona.

(Copyright. 1902. by W. II. Hearst.)
Guarded by plate glass door eat tho
cashier OF the bank IN q small western
town, and by his side--some OF her lime
sat the s~tenographer. busy with the dicta-
ltions OF her chief. rGertrude Moffat
transcribed the shorthand notes TO letters
IN her typewrittng machine. When the
day was far spent 1t was her duty to
tidy the private Office. and that II how she
happened to be in the vault when the
editor OF the evening paper came in. The
massive iron door was partly shut and
no one seemed to see the girl. and the
editor evidently thought Harold Conway
the sole occupant OF the room.
Hoy much is 1t worth to you 70 have
this item suppressed ~ asked Mr.. Quigley,
the editor. The item referred to was on =
proofsheet and there were matters Of
news before and after the one pointed to,
The banker read aloud:
There was a run on tho private bank
Of Higgins & Co. this afternoon. and the
Institution was forced to close Its doors
In the face of a big crowd. Mr.. Conway
looked up with a@smiie. That Is easy to
: answer" said he. ut Is not worth that I,
and tho cashier snapped his fingers.
But It has been modified. the editor
explained. Now 1t reads that tho bark,
OF this town is a part of Higgins & Co.
company. in fact. ] Know 1t is worth
something to you to have hat kind OF an
item suppressed-and It will cost you q
thousand dollars.'
you cannot get a cent here. r."
There will be q run on this bank to-
morrow morning or you will pay"
TT
rs the suppression Of this item nothing
to you, then?'
If you print such a libel"
You must not make threats, I don't.
i simply came to ask you IL the act was
worth anything to you. OF course there
will be a run on this bank the first thing
In the morning. But o can probably
stand that. Good day" The editor was
gone. slamming the office door behind
him.
Gertrude came from the vault and
found the cashier with his head bowed
above his desk.
You here2"
IT could not help hearing explained
Gertrude. with q trace of tears in hen
voice. 1T is a mean act. and I know he
has no right to add a thing to the item
as read by you. Is there nc way to stop
the press?'
NO, and no way to get enough money
here to meet the demands of the people ii
they ever get to coming this way, and
come they will IL that Item Is printed"
But the cashier was talking to a woman
less room. for Gertrude had put on her
nat ana was on Inc way IOHLl0 printing
office. Mr.. Conway leaned back in his
chair thinking. Since closing time all
things had changed. In his minds eye he
could see the long line OF people against
the teller's window, and devised ways to
cause q delay. The bookkeeper brought in
the balance sheets and the assistant cash
fer came in with the money deposited
since noon. How could he. Harold Con-
way, prove that this bank was solvent "a
hours before its doors should be closed for
good. He knew there was not money
enough in the cash box to pay all the
claims, and he saw Jail and trial and
states prison before him. His secretary.
the only ono who knew his secrets, had
left him. The bookkeeper and the assist
ant cashier went away.
You shall not print another paper IL
you publish that item" Gertrude was say
ing to the editor.
THAT is a thing to be decided in the
future. But why, may / ask, do you make
that threat?" Editor Quigley turned his
chair toward the girl. idle words like
that are useless"
lottery advertisement. That is ALL" And
Gertrude whipped out of the newspaper
office as she had come in. In the far
room she heard the presses running and
newsboys hurried back and forth through
the front office as she went out.
The girl has got me-" sighed Mr..
Quigley as he sent word to the foreman
that he wanted the bank and lottery items
taken out. That night the papers were
later than usual. But there was nothing
ubout the bank failure.
How did 1t Gomez" repeated Gertrude.
ut was the result of my visit there last
night. You see there is nothing about the
lottery"
And Mr.. Conway could not help It.
Neither could Gertrude. When the we'd
ding was held Mr.. Quigley was there, and
the evening following a half column was
yiyen in the paper to the marriage OF
Gertrude Moffat and Harold Conway.
1t was afterward that Mr.. Conway sold
his interest in the bank and with his
wife came to Chicago.