The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-06-07
A Clever
Friend
Copyright. 1919. BY Western Newspaper UniOn)
By ALvAH JORDAN GARTH

was expecting to see him again that
day, and Nellie flushed consciously as
she comprehended that she had taken
unusual pains to look her best. She
expected him any time after 10 o'clock,
and surely before noon, for it was vital
that he should appear between those
hours.
Nellie was in charge Of the office
OF John Drake, who conducted real
estate, loan and insurance Office. In
addition to this he did some private
banking, and had just put in a safety
deposit vault. Mr. Drake was absent
for the day, and Nellie was alone in
the office.
Ransom Drury had left Hopedale
two months previous to settle up
claim in the far West. Mr.. Drake had
received a letter from him the day
previous, stating that he was en- route
for home and would reach there the
morning Of the seventh. 1t was now
the seventh, and it was now eleven
O'Clock, and Nellie began to worry
with a good reason!
And this was the reason: The uncle
Of Ransom had died and had left him
what estate he possessed. 1t included
bonds, mortgages and some scattered
claims. There was no cash, and to
defray the expenses current with his
death and cover the necessary western
journey, Ransom had borrowed one
thousand dollars from a grasping
money loaner named Jasper Thral.
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 office" came the
challenge from the other end Of the
line. Eyes? All right-this is Ran
som Drury. Say, train stalled at BOr-
den, I've got to take the trolley. 1t
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.
Nellie thought hard. Had the thOV-
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 1t 10 you" and Nellie
led her prospective victim through a
little passageway and stood aside as
she reached a door made of iron bars.
well! well this Is quite an i'm
provement."
"Oh, dearI" cried Nellie, as the door
changed shut, locking itself. "The key!
Mr.. Drake has one"
81 say, let me outr ordered Thrall.
81 must serve this legal notice."
But Nellie fled. She closed the cor
ridor door, she sank into a chair well
night to the point of collapse.
"Oh. what a 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, if
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 in timer
At his first question Nellie, excited,
trembling, told him of the situation.
Leave the money" she fluttered.
"Oh, you jewel" exulted Ransom,
and his eyes snapped with apprecia-
tive admiration and as he departed
Nellie went to the vault compartment
and unlocked its door.
Fine work, this !" growled the old
money grabber. Long time in finding
the key, 1t appears to me. Here, accept
this paper and hand me the Drury col
lateral" but Nellie, instead, rendered
q package Of bank bills
whats thisl" fairly yelled Thrall.
"Oh, Mr.. Drury has paid in the note
ymopavn $aid NnllIa vuf&hOv,% N o,1IwAw