Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1919-05-30
By ALvAH JORDAN GARTH

previous, stating that he was en- route
for home and would reach there the
morning Of the seventh. It was now
the seventh, and it was now eleven
o'clock, and Nellie began to worry
with good reason!
And this was the reason: The uncle
Of Ransom had died and had left him
what estate he possessed. It included
bonds, mortgages and some scattered
claims. There was no cash, and to
defray the expenses current with his
deaf. and cover the necessary western
Journey, Ransom had borrowed one
thousand dollars from q grasping
money loaner named Jasper Thrall.
The loan was for sixty days, due by
noon on the seventh. High interest
rates had been charged and the COL
lateral security had been placed in
trust with Mr.. Drake. Nellie was
we'll aware of the fact that Jasper
Thrall was just the man to take snap
judgment on the loan, were opportun-:
ity offered, which meant that he would
be able to fasten his mercenary
clutches upon securities worth ten
times the amount of the loan. Sud-
denly the telephone rang. Nellie near
ly dropped the receiver and her heart
began to beat unanimously.
"This Mr.. brakes Officer" came the
challenge from the other end of the
line. "Yes? All right-this is Ran
som Drury. Say, train stalled at Bor-
den, I've got to take the trolley. It
won't bring me to Hopedale before
half past twelve. I have the money
to meet the Thrall note. At all haz-
ards, protect it."
Protect it! How willingly would
Nellie have discounted her salary for
the rest of her life to do that! She
paled at her helplessness. Twenty-Five
minutes of twelve! Oh! If Jasper
Thrall should come to demand his
pound Of flesh! Alas! Nellie turned
pale and shuddered. A glance into the
hall outside showed the money shark
approaching.
sand dollars been in the'money drawer
she would have unhesitatingly employ
ed it to defeat this bird of evil omen.
Forty minutes required by Drury to
reach Hopedale, and within twenty
Thrall would make his demand! An
inspiration came to Nellie.
'Have you seen the new safety de-
post compartment, Mr.. Thrall?" she
asked with elusive sweetness.
''Why, no." came the reply, with
another glance at the clock.
LET me show It to you" and Nellie
led her. prospective victim through a
little passageway and stood aside as
she reached door made of iron bars.
swell! well! this is quite an i'm
provement."
"Oh, dearr' cried Nellie, as the door
Changed shut, locking itself. 1.-THE keyl
Mr.. Drake has one."'
II say, let me outy" ordered Thrall.
II must serve this legal notice."
But Nellie fled. She closed the cor
ridor door, she sank into chair we'll
night to the point Of collapse.
ooh, what dreadful thing have I
done!" she gasped. Then she counted
the minutes. There came to her
shrinking hearing the dull echoes of
shouts and the shaking of the metal
barrier. The town bell doomed out
twelve hoarse strokes. Five, ten, f1f-
teen, twenty minutes after twelve! A
step she recognized, and, brisk, smil-
ing, tanned with travel, but bright
eyed as ever, Ransom Drury crossed
the threshold.
He shook hands with Nellie with a
more than brotherly ardor. He was
all business. Then! "Am I in time?"
At his first question Nellie, excited,
trembling, told him Of the situation.
Leave the money" she fluttered.
"Oh, you jewell" exulted Ransom,
and his eyes snapped with apprecia.
tive admiration, and as he departed
Nellie went to the vault compartment
and unlocked its door.
"F1ne work, this!" growled the old
money grabber. "Long time in finding
the key, it appears to me. Here, accept
this paper and hand me the Drury COL
lateral" but Nellie, instead, rendered
a package of bank bills.
"What's this!" fairly yelled Thrall.
"Oh, Mr.. Drury has paid in the note
money" said Nellie, without a culver
or further explanation, and the dis
comfited Thra1l went his way, never
suspecting the trick that had been
played upon him.
Il need just such a clever little bust.
ness woman to guard and bless my
Hfe'!" Ransom Drury declared, when
he saw Nellie home that same after.
noon, and she was glad and proud be-
cause he said 1t,