Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-26

service to the
house Of Wey-
mouth as chattel, seryltor and friend.
or the color OF the mahogany bank
furniture was Uncle Bushrod-thus
dark was he externally; white as the
uninked pages Of the bank ledgers was
his soul. Emlnently pleasing to Uncle
Bushrod would the comparison have
been, for to him the only institution
ia existence worth considering was the
Weymouth bank, OF which he was
something between porter and general
isslmo in charge.
Weymouth lay, dreamy and um
bfageous, among the low foothills
along the brow OF southern valley.
Three banks there were In Weymouth
vile. Two were hopeless, misguided
enterprises, lacking the presence and
prestige of a Weymouth to give them
glory. The third was the bank, man.
aged by the Weymouths and Uncle
BushrOd.
IN the old Weymouth homestead
the red brick white portlcoed mansion,
tue first to your right as you crossed
Elder creek coming into tOwn-llyed
Mr. Robert Weymouth, the president
OF the bank; his widowed daughter
Mrs. Vesey, called "AIss Lefty" by ev-
cry one, and her two children, Nan
aud Guy, There also, In cottage ON
the grounds, resided Uncle Bushrod
ana Aunt Malindy, his wife. MIR. Will
liam Weymouth, the cashler Of the
bank, lived In a modern, fine house on
tue principal avenue.
Mr. Robert was Il large, stout man.
siSty-tw0 years of age, with smooth,
plump face, long iron gray hair and
fiery blue eyes He was high temper
ed, kind and generous, with youth.
ful smile and a formidable, stern voice
that did not always mean what It
sounded like. Mr. William was mild
er man, correct In department and abb
sorbed Ia business. The Weymouths
formed the family Of Weymouthyille
and were looked up to, as was their
right Of heritage.
Uncle Bushrod was the banks trust.
ed porter, messenger yassal and guar
dian. He carried a key to the vault,
Just as Mr. Robert aud Mr. william
did. Sometimes there was ten, fifteen
or twenty thousand dollars In sacked
silver stacked on the vault door II
was safe with Uncle Bushrod, He
was a Weymouth In heart, honesty
aud pride
OF late Uncle Bushrod had not been
without worry 1t was on account Of
Aiarse Robert. For nearly year Mr..
Robert had been known TO Indulge In
too much drink. Not enough, under
stand 70 become tlpsy but the habit
was getting a hold upon him, and ey.
cry one was beginning to notice It.
Half a dozen times day he would
leave the bank and step around to the
Merchants and Planters hotel to take
drink. Mr. Roberts unusual keen
judgment and business capacity be.
come little impaired Mr. William, a
Weymouth, but not so rich In expert.
ence, tried TO dam the inevitable back
dow Of the tide, but with incomplete
success The deposits IN the Wey.
mouth bank dropped from six figures
TO ave Past due paper began to ac.
chmulate, owing TO lnJudclous loans.
No one cared TO address Mr. Robert on
the subject Of temperance. Many OF
his friends said that the cause Of IL had
been the death OF his wife some two
years before Others hesltated on ac-
count OF Mr.. Roberts quick temper,
which was extremely apt to resent per
eona interference OF such nature
Miss Lefty and the children noticed
tue change and grieved about It. I'm
cle Bushrod also worried, but he was
one Of those who would not have dared
% remonstrate though he and Marsc
Robert had been raised almost rs com
ppnions. But there was a heavier
shock coming TO Uncle Bushrod than
thar caused by the bank president.
toddies ana iuleps,
Mr. Robert had q passion Tor fishing
which he usually indulged whenever
the season and business permitted
one dayY when reports had been com
lng m relating 70 the bass and perch
he announced his intention OF making
two or three days visit to TIE likes
He was going down. be said, to Reedy
lake With Judge Arehlnard, an olt
friend.