The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-09-22

rarely OeSlrOuS or doing business
with woman, at least beyond the
mere depositor basis. In the present
Instance 1t was not only woman, but
a young and pretty enc. Add 10 this
shc fact that the lady in question was
n deep distress, that her case pre-
scented angles suggesting evasion and
even mystery, and you will not won
Ser why every official Of the bank from
The president down to the assistant
tashier had SHE'D at the task which l
was now obliged to shoulder.
Do the best you can to get our
money out OF this muddle," the presi-
dent had told me tersely, handing
ne the folder which contained all
the papers in the case from the day.
four years back, where Royal Luding-
ten, member OF the Board OF Trade,
had made his initial deposit with our
bank down to and beyond the recent
date Of his sudden death. The rec
ord Of his dealings with our institu-
-tion up to the time OF his demise was
clear as crystal. A child could have
read and understood. pretentious as to
magnitude. and Importance as had
been some OF his dealings. Direct
and margin accounts were Clearly
attended to. There was not 4 mar CT
break in the admirable paying system
Of Royal Ludington. When death
closed the account, however, we held
his note unsecured for $3.50; and
W. held it still, past de, uncollect-
able, to our beWildermCnt, in any
legal way.
! familiarized myself with all the
details Of the case through hurried
glance over the contents OF the folder
tidied collar and coat with twist OF
my hand, and put en- my best bank
ing face to enter the private office OF
the directors room where l had been
advised Miss Grace LudingtOn was
awaiting attention.
Il came about this" she said in
tone child-like, confiding, slightly re-
Iroachful, all at once. The letter she
handed me notified Mrs. Royal Lud-
ington that the overdue paper of her
dead husband required immediate
settlement, rather strictly referring
10 the fact that no attention had been
paid to previous notifications of the
same fact. | turned 1t over and over
in my hand, seeking to fix upon the
manner | should assume in serving
the best interests of the bank in
dealing with an emissary instead of
the chief person now in interest in
the case.
g! see" observed, trying to gain
.ine, for l am not ready diplomat;
but Why did not Mrs Royal Luding-
,on-your mother" the fair head
bowed come herself?"
A wave of singular intensity crossed
tie face of the young girl. Her lips
paIted to speak. Then she subdued
tuejr expression. They quivered. Her
ewes dropped, her cheeks grew the
raler
She would not come" was spoken
t;ral!y-"she will not come"
Surely" l observed, Mrs. Royal
Fudington does not repudiate the OBJ
ligation:'
For the present-yes.'
yet we have notations here that
show transfers Of property within the
fast month representing over S2o,ooo
Aside from that two notes nave
uassed through the bank for $4,000
(which she has seen fit to pay prompt
Nv Those notes were signed by your
father, not by your mother. why
does she discriminate unfairly against
the bank in caring for your father
obligations? l refer to the notes
given by your father to one Abel
Nandamann.
INV message, is,' she said evenly,
roldly that there are circumstances
Encouraging our fervent hopes' tne
,nossible relief of the bank. that you
hnd ourselves must wait for-must'
II was her last word. With a mo-
tion of head and body that was all II
should be, with the air of an empress
,she went from the room, and $1,000
staring blankly after her, anaiyzins
every word she had said, weighing IT,
hissecting it, seized with sudden IN
sniration and carrying 1T forthwith 10
yho president of the bank. He was
- man Of few words and | lent my
self to his system
1T is simply-wait," | SAID.
He shrugged his shoulders, knowing
had done my full duty.
No pressure possible, then, you
think" .o r,ere
as action possible, though" said
You mean?"
Marvel"
Get him."
when the bank-or any other oans
said "get Resilius Marvel" 1t signi
e. tho abandonment of direction OF
oninton. 1t meant unrestricted power
awarded Marvel, great man that nc
w.s-he. the brains. mouthpiece ano
act;va director of the great United
BANKERS Protective association. Mar
vol was not a collector for the banks
,ua was the last resource, the ma
oorrt of appeal in a case when the
1avman IN investigatory science came
faca TO face with a blank wall, .hre"
nn his cards, and left the game 10 al
expert. .:.,r bu,
NV friend listened patiently ou'
rather bored l fancied. to my tains
story of what had seemed quite sen