South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-08

AUTHORITY
After walking a distance OF three
squares he came 90 the center of
the towns business area Here an
other street OF importance crossed
the main one, forming the hub of
San ROsariO's life and commerce.
Upon one corner stood the post
office. Upon another Rubensky's
clothing emporium. The other
diagonally opposing corners were
occupied by the town two banhs.
the First National and .El -st..a
mems National. Into the First Ma
tional bank OF san Rosario he lew
conner walked, never slowing his
brisk step until ha stood al The cash
ier's window The bank opened for
business at nine. and the working
force was already assembled, each
member preparing his depar tment
for the days business. The cashier
was examining the mail when he
noticed the stranger standing at his
window.
Bank doesn't open til nine" lac
remarked. CURLY. nut without feel
ing. he had had 20 make that
statement so often 10 early birds
since Rosario adopted city banking
hours.
Il am we'll aware Of that" said
the other man, an cool. brittle tones.
will you kindly receive my card 90
The cashier drew the small, spot
less parallel ogranl inside the bars OF
his wicket, and read:
J. r. c. NETTLEXV1CK,
National Bank Examiner.
"Oh-er-wil you walk around
inside. Mr-er Nettlewick Your
first visit-didn't know your bust
ness, Of course. Walk right around,
please"
The examiner was quickly inside
the sacred precincts OF the bank,
where he vas pOnderOusly intro
duced TO each employe in turn by
Mr.. EdlinGer, the cashier mid
die-aged gentleman of elaboration,
discretion and method.
Il was kind OF expecting Sam
Turner round again, pretty soon"
said Mr. Ednnger. Sans been es-
aiming US now. for about four
years. / guess you'll md us all
right. though, considering the tight
ness in business. Not overly much
money on hand, but able 10 stand
the storms. sir. stand the storms"
Mr.. Turner and 1 have been or
dered by the comptroller to ex-
change districts" said the examiner,
in mis- decisive. formal tones. He
Is covering my old territory In
southern Illinois and Indiana I will
take the cash first. please"
Perry Dorsey, the teller, was al
ready arranging his cash on the
counter Tor the examiners inspec-
ton. lie knew II was right TO a
cent. and he had nothing TO fear, but
he was nervous and husterad. so
was every man in the bank. There
was something 50 icy and swift. so
impersCnal and UncomprOmising
about this man that his very pres
ence seemed an accusation. He
looked 10 be a man who would never
make nor overlook an error.
Mr.. Nettleviok first seized the
currency, and with a rapid, almost
juggling motion. counted 10 by pack
ages Then he spun the sponge cup
toward him and verified the count
by bills Ills thin. white fingers
few like some expert musicians up
on the keys of a piano He dumped
the gold upon the counter with a
crash, and the coins whined and
sang as they skinned across the
marble slab from the tips of his
nimble digits The air was full OF
fractional currency when he came
20 the halves and quarters. He
counted the last nickel and dime
lie had the scales brought. and he
weighed every sack of silver in the
vault He questioned Dorsey con-
corning each of the cash memoranda
certain checks. charge slips, ETC.
carried over from the previous
days WOrk-With UnimpeaChable
courtesy. vet with something sd
mysteriously momentOus i'm his
1rigid manner, that the teller was
reduced 20 pink cheeks and a STAN
mering tongue.
This newly examiner
frrr ~
IT had been Sans way 10 enter the
bank with a shout. pass the cigars
and tell the latest stories ne had
picked mp on his rounds. His Gus
tOmary greeting 10 Dorsey had been
Hello. Perry Haven't skipped
out with the Doodle yet, ] see" Tur-
ners way Of counting the cash had
been different. TOO. lie would m
ser the packages Of bills in q tired
vault and kick over a few sacks o.
silver. and the thing was done
Halves and quarters and dimes
Not for Sam Turner. mo chicken
feed for me-" he would cay wher
they were set before him I'm MOI
IN the agricultural department
But. then, Turner was a Texan ar
old friend OF the banks president
and had known Dorsey since h,
was a A4Ag
While the examiner was Countiul
the cash, Major Thomas T. King
man-known 10 every one as Ma
5Or Tom the president OF the Firs
\ationol, drove up 20 the side door
with his old dun horse and buggy
and, going into the little pony cor
raj" as he called a.. IN which ht
desk va, rallied or. he began Z,
look over his letters
Earlier. a little incident had oc
CURED that even the sharp eyes o
the examiner had failed To notice
When ne had begun his work at IN,
cash counter. Mr.. EdlingCr hal
winked significantly az Roy Wilson
the youthful bank messenger. an,
nodded his head slightly toward tn,
front door Roy understood 20
his hat and walked leisurely out
with his collectors book under hU
arm once outside, he made a bee
line for the Stockwen's National
That bank was also getting ready {,
open. No customers had as set
presented themselves
Say. you people," cried Roy
with the familiarity OF youth an,
long acquaintance, you want 20 &c
q move on you. There's a new baul
examiner over at the First, and he
& stem winder. He's couuun,