Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-02-17

pealingly from the other girl, "please
do not try to make me do this thing.
God knows appreciate Edna's motives,
and | love her all the more for her
kindly intentions. But | cannot take
this money from her.
Edna" he said very tenderly, you
are d very kind. dear girl. and | am
proud to know you. But you do not
understand, my dear. L am truly very
sorry for both Of YOU
Johnson would gladly have paid the
five thousand himself, but was afraid
of that man Curtis. After twelve years
of patient work to make a real bust
ness man out of his young confiden-
tial man Johnson did not dare to make
so sentimental ii proposition.
So he had carefully planned it all,
had presented Edna with the check
and an admOnition to invest it as she
saw fit. and then deXterously apprised
her of Mardens indebtedness to him
and the inevitable consequences Of a
failure to meet the note the next day
Johnson only heard of the miscar-
riage of his plan at about o'clock
that afternoon. Returning to his pri-
yate Office from luncheon at that hour
he found his daughter on the verge of
tears. with the check in her hand
"Oh. papa. Grace won't take the
check, won't let me help her-me. her
best friend
He turned to his daughter. smiling
grimly. The girl placed the piece of
paper she had been holding in his
hands.
Come along with me, dearie. You
do not have to ask Grace Marden or
any one else to pay that note. All you
peed do is to go over to the bank and
pay it. But as my check is not certi-
fed and. besides, you have never been
inside of real commercial bank III go
with you if you will let me-"
Edna rewarded her father with
grateful hug and kiss. and they
traversed the outer Offices. Glen John
son. accompanied by his daughter.
walked authoritatively up to the note
sel!er's window of one Of New York's
largest banking institutions.
How do you do, Mr. Johnson?"
greeted the man behind the bars re-
specially.
"All right" responded the other cor
aially. you have a note here for col
lection, $4,000, John Marden, maker, to
my order. This lady wishes to pay it.
Want me to certify it?'
The note teller scrutinized the check.
"Oh," remarked Smith, still smiling
amusedly, the check is all right, of
course. but l can't take it. The note
has been paid, Mr.. Johnson"
''Paid?"
Most unusual thing about this col
lection" resumed the teller 1T seems
everybody wants to pay it. You are
the third party to attempt to do so. II
wasn't more than ten minutes ago that
Miss Grace Marden came in to pay it.
She presented a certified check signed
by Charles Thran"-
ooh. Mr.. Thranr' interposed Edna
gleefully. $50 he paid it himself. Isn't
that noble of ,him?'
"Mr. Thran's intentions were good
proceeded the teller, but he was toe
late by at least half an hour; but, OF
course" and here the teller risked a
sly wink at Edna's father. you know
who really paid it, Mr.. Johnson."a
Il. l" exploded the latter do you
think came over here with my daugh
ter to make Il fool of myself?'
I-I-really, beg your pardon
stammered Smith. But naturally
thought you knew when your own Mr.
Curtis paid the note"
Its all right. Mr.. Smith, mutteret
johnson, stroking his brow Come
Edna. let us 60"
Johnson was still nervously clutchins
his daughters hand as they passed
through the outer Offices of the Acme
Johnson Grocery company
Just before he ushered the girl into
the private Office be ordered the office
boy to send in Mr. Curtis at once The
culprit entered with his usual placid
air.