Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-09-21

1T WAS a hard task that the presl-
dent of one bank had given me.
standard financial institution Is
rarely DESTROYS Of doing business
with a woman, at least beyond the
mere depositOr basis. In the present
instance 1t was not only a woman, but
a young and pretty one. Add to this
the fact that the lady in question was
in deep distress, that her case pre-
scented angles suggesting evasion and
even mystery, and you will not won
der why every official Of the bank from
the president down to the assistant
cashier had SHE'D at the task which /
was now obliged to shoulder.
do the best you can to get our
money out of this muddle." the presi-
dent had told me tefsely. handing
me the folder which contained all
the papers In the case from the day.
four years back, where Royal Luding-
ton, 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-
ton 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 cleanly
attended to. There was not . mar or
h.aol, &c, Tho oAvntro hlo m vip0 avotop
Of Royal Ludington. When death
closed the account. however. we held
his note unsecured for 1880; and
we held 1t still, past due. uncollect-
able. to our bewilderment, In any
legal way.
familiarized myself with all the
details of the case through q hurried
glance over the contents of the folder.
tidied collar and coat with q twist of
my hand, and put on my best bank
ing face to enter the private oface OF
the directors room where l had been
advised Miss Grace Ludington was
awaiting attention.
Il came about this" she said In q
tone child-like. confiding, slightly re-
proachful. 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
to the fact that no attention had been
paid to previous notifications Of the
same fact. I turned 1t over and over
In my hand. seeking to tx upon the
manner I 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.
Il see," I observed, trying to gain
time, for I am not q ready diplomat:
but why did not Mrs. Royal Luding-
ton-your mother" the fair head
bowed come herself?"
A wave of singular intensity crossed
the face of the young girl. Her lips
parted to speak. Then she subdued
their expression. They Quivered. Her
eyes dropped. her cheeks grew the
paler.
"She would not come" was spoken
Surely" l observed. MRS. Royal
Ludington does not repudiate the OBJ
ligation?"
For the present-yes."
yet we have notations here that
show transfers of property within the
past month representing over $4,000.
Aside from that two notes have
passed through the bank for $4,000
which she has seen fit to pay prompt.
ly. Those notes were signed by your
father. not by your mother. Why
does she discriminate unfairly against
the bank in caring for your fathers
obligations? l refer to the notes
given by your father to one Abel
Vandamann."
my message, u.s." she said evenly
coldly, that there are circumstances
encouraging our fervent hopes. the
possible relief of the bank. that you
and ourselves must wait for-must.'
1t was her last word. With a mo
ton Of head and body that was all II
should be. with the air Of an empress
she went from the room, and stood
staring blankly after her, Analysing
every word she had said, weighing It,
dissecting 1t. seized with a sudden in
spiration and carrying 1t forthwith to
the president of the bank. He was
a man of few words and l lent my
self to his system.
1T Is simply-wait," l said.
He shrugged his shoulders. knowing
had done my full duty.
mo pressure possible. then, you
think"
None at the present time. There
is action possible. though" said.
You mean?"
"Resilius Marvel"
Get him.
When the bank-or any other banl
said get Resilius Marvel" 1t signi
fed the abandonment of direction OF
opinion. 1t meant unrestricted poweI
awarded Marvel, great man that h
was-he, the brains. mouthpiece aDt
active director Of the great Unitct
Bankers Protective association. Mar
vel was not a collector for the banKs
He was the last resource. the fina
court Of appeal in a case when thu
layman in investigatory science cam,
face to face with blank wall. threw
up his cards, and left the game to al
expert.
My friend listened patiently, Blu
rather bored / fancied. to my tam
story OF what had seemed quite sen