Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-11

NOR had arisen, merely because the
bank had employed a manager who
was a stranger Honest and capable
as he was, that manager had been dis
missed. Above all things, he told them
that their money was thereI He want
ed them to draw 1t and be ashamed Of
themselves and bring 1t back next day.
1t was fine speech, and they believed
him, but they went on drawing their
money just the same.
The paying teller spoke to him as he
started back to the office.
"The currency is running rather low
sir" he urged.
at will begin coming in at the back
door In half an hour promised Prime,
looking at his watch. at will come in
all day faster than you can pay it out
and I'll stay right here to show my.
| self"
Four very cheerful parties sat in the
parIor Of the hotel. and three Of them
peered over Wallingford's shoulder
while he scratched from a little book
the fourth name in the list of those
who had assisted in robbing the War
den orphans of their fathers fortune
The fourth name was that of President
Prime.
Just even, ladies'" chuckled ]. Ru-
fus, mighty proud of himself; "$150000
to the penny"
"Oh, we forgotr suddenly exclaimed
Violet. 1--WE didn't collect anything
for the expense fund, We always
"Great Jehosophatl' Blackie Daw had
jumped from his chair as the door
opened, and. with a pale drawn face,
had thrown up a window. Get out
of here" he yelled, while Wallingford
and the girls rushed to the other win
dow and poked out their heads.
"Where'll go?" asked Toad Jessup
calmly, closing the door and leaning
against 1t. "They put me off the street
car and had to walk clear back from
the country. There's a man out there
has skunk farm
"Get upstairs into the bathroom" or
dered Wallingford. gasping for breath.
PUT your clothes in suit case and
have 1t sunk in the canal. Blackie, get
a machine. Well all go for a ride"
The girls were still giggling when,
as they drove swiftly through the cool
evening mir, ]. Rufus began to chuckle.
"That expense fund.- he explained.
We'll drive straight back to town.
want to find that real estate fellow"
The town awoke unusually early next
morning, gasping for breath. There
was in the air pungent something
which spurred into instant activity ev-
cry revulsion possible to the human
system. The town moaned and uttered
one ag0nlzed word
"Skunkw
Never in all the history of civilization
had there been such an overwhelming
persistent, devastating odor as that
which permeated and saturated the
sweet breeze of the morning. There
was no escape from 1t. There was no
hiding. There was no relief. The
town might as well have been one
armed that morning, for every citizen,
irrespective Of age, sex or color, was
compelled to use one hand to close his
or her olfactory organ. For a time the
disaster was so bewildering that it's
source could only be conjectured, but
at 9;15 Wallingford's telephone bell
rang.
Hello" responded the faint nasal
voice Of ]. Rufus.
SIS that you, Walllngford? was the
nasal reply. "Wel this is Prime.
What do you mean by filling that
shanty next to my store with those
skunks?"
"They're necessary to my business"
twanged Wallingford. I'm collecting
them as fast as l can. The Keebo