The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-02-23
MISS
MAVERICK
BY ALAN r. TEWKESBURY

When gold was discovered in the Elk
horn region l went to Spotswood,
which was situated in the center Of the
mines. and opened a bank. The coun-
try round about was pretty lawless.
but Spotswood was. for mining town,
very respectable place. There was
a church, a real court Of law, and but
few citizens went armed. l found 1t
difficult to get clerks, for the young
men who came there from civilized To-
calities preferred to engage in mining
to working on a salary.
One day cOmely young woman
about twenty-seven years old came
into the bank and asked for a position.
She said that she had graduated at a
business college in the east, where she
had got few ideas about the banking
business. ] engaged her at once and
was glad to get her. She took right
hold and seemed to learn the methods
by intuition. Very soon she was valu-
able on the books and as a paying or
receiving teller. though it was difficult
to get her to occupy the windows.
Why l never could tell.
My wife used to come into the bank
occasionally, and the first time she saw
Miss Maverick. my woman of all work,
she took a great dislike to her Wom-
en- are apt to be jealous Of any other
woman, especially If good looking. that
their husbands are thrown into close
relations with. Therefore paid no at
tentton to my wife's dislike l have
made 1t rule Of my business life to
keep personal control Of the funds COM
m1tted to my care. There was no ne
cessity for making any new ones per-
tanning to my clerk, for my system did
not admit Of her ever getting away
with a cent. From the moment the
vaults were opened and the cash
brought out till it was locked up again
l was in the bank and where l could
oversee every part of 1t.
l asked my wife why she distrusted
Miss Maverick. and she said that ev-
cry time the two came near each other
my wife felt repulsion that was al
most painful. Without better reason
than this refused to harbor any sus-
ptcion against my clerk.
"Send her away" said my wife.
Are you jealous Of her? If you are
you must subdue your jealousy, for
Miss Maverick Of ali my employees is
the most valuable"
Every well; you'll see."
"See what?
THAT I'm right"
Nothing more was said about the
matter, and bore myself so discreetly
that believed my wife had concluded
after all there was no danger of nv
running away with her rival. Bust
ness was increasing all the while, for
the mines were taking out great deal
Of gold. and was engaged all day
and often at night
One day at noon. when all the clerks
except myself and Miss Maverick had
gone to dinner. | was sitting on my
perch in the bank. resting and scan
ming newspaper. Miss Maverick was
at her desk working. Suddenly the
stiffness was broken by a click. To
persons living on the frontier click
means great deal 1t certainly did
to me, sitting as was in a bank with
no protection except woman. With
a start l looked up. and through the
receiving teller's window l saw a man
covering me with revolver.
"Just sit quietly where you are and
you won't get hurt" he said. Nan.
proceed"
The last two words were spoken to
Miss Maverick. who arose from her
seat and, taking a satchel from the
drawer Of her desk went into the pay
ing teller's cage and scraped the funds
there into the bag: then. going to the
receivers cage. she did the same thing.
/ wondered why was not ordered
to put up my hands, but it was plain
that Miss Maverick had taken care of
any weapons l had been used to keep
ing handy. Indeed. from the first It
was plain to me that she had applied
for work In order to advise a pal as
to the easiest way to rob the bank.
When she had filed her satchel. turn
ing to me. she said: 1.-THE next time
woman tells you anything she is
sure Of without a reason believe her.
If she gives reason you may know
that she is wrong Good morning"
She walked out Of the Enclosure and
disappeared. The man said to me:
"Stay where you are for ten minutes.
A confederate Of mine has a bead on
you and will kill you if you move or
give an alarm" Then he turned and
went out.
l didn't believe the story about the
confederate watching me-. so the mo-
ment he was out of sight l sprang
from my seat At the moment | heard
shot outside. Running out. there
was the man who had robbed me ly-
ing on the sidewalk with a bullet In
him. Miss Maverick was bending
over him. weeping A posse came
from different points. where they had
been watching. and gathered about
the robber