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

eartne0.
man; perhaps he would be ordered
10 close the bank on account OF the
loss of the securities. II was not
the first crime the examiner had
unearthed. once or twice the ter
rible upheaVal of human emotions
that his Investigations had loosed
had almost caused a ripple in his
official calm. lie had seen bank
men kneel and plead and cry like
women for a Cnance-an hours
time-the overlooking of a single
error. One cashier had shot himself
at his desk before him. None of
them had taken it with the dignity
and GOODNESS OF this stern old west
erner. Nettlewick felt that he
owed II to him at least to listen II
he wished TO talk. With his elbow
on his arm Of his chair, and his
square chin resting upon the fin
gers of his right hand, the bank ex-
aminer waited TO hear the confess
sion Of the president OF the First
National bank or San Rosario.
When q mans your friend" be-
gan Major Tom. somewhat didacti-
cally, for 40 years, and tried by
water, fire, earth. and cyclones,
when you can do him a little favor
you feel like doing it."
('Tmbezzle for him $4,000
worth of securities" thought the
examiner.)
I'VE were cowboys together, Bob
and T. continued the major. speak
ing slowly, and deliberately, and
musingly, as If his thoughts were
rather with the past than the criti-
cal present, and we prospered to-
gether for gold and silver over Ari-
IONA, New Mexico and a good part
of California, We were both in the
war OF 'sixty-one, but in different
commands We've fought Indians
and horse thieves side by side; we've
starved for weeks in a cabin In the
Arizona mountains, buried 20 feet
in snow; we've ridden herd together
when the wind blew so hard the
lightning couldn't strike-well, Bob
and 1 have been through some
rough spells since the first time we
met in the branding camp of the
old Anchor-Bar ranch. And during
that time we've found II necessary
more than once TO help each other
out OF tight places In those days
II was expected of a man 10 stick
TO his friend, and ne didn't ask any
credit for il. Probably next day
you'd need him TO get at your back
and help stand of band OF
Apaches, or put a tourniquet on
your leg above a rattlesnake bite
and ride for whisky. So, after all,
IL was give and take, and 4 you
didn't stand square with your part
ner, why. you might be shy one
when you needed him. Bat BoD
was a man who was willing TO 90
further than that He never played
a limit
Twenty years ago I was sheriff
OF this county. and ! made Rob my
chief deputy. That was before the
| boom in cattle when we both made
our stake. / was sheriff and col
| lector, and IL was big thing for
me then. l was married, ana we
| had a boy and girl-a four and a
six-year- There was a COM
Portable house next to the court
| house, furnished by the county, rent
| free, and 1 was saving some money.
| Fob did most OF the office work
Both OF US had seen rough times and
plenty OF rustiing and danger, and I
| tell you II was great 10 hear the
rain and sleet dashing against the
windows OF nights. and be warm
and safe and comfortable, and know
| you could get up In the morning
and be shaved and have folks call
you mister And then, I had the
/ hnest wife and Kids that ever struck
the range, and my old friend with
me enjoying the first fruits OF pros
perity and white shirts, and 1 guess
I was happy. yes, I was happy about
| that time"
The major sighed and glanced
! casually out Of the window. The
| bank examiner changed his pos.
| ton and leaned hts chin upon his
/ other hand.
"One winter" continued the ma
I jor, the money for the county tax
| es came pouring I'm so fast that I
/ didn't have time TO take the 81 ufr TO
/ the bank for a week. I lust showed
/ the checks into a cigar box and the
money IN the big safe that belonged
in the sherift's Office.
| 4 had been over-worked that
| week, and was about sick, anyway
/ Ny nerves were out Of order. and
my sleep at night didn't seem 10 rest
| me. The doctor had some scientific
/ name for II, and ] was taking medi
| cine. And so, added 10 the rest, ]
went 70 bed al night with that
/ money on my mind. Not that there
I was much need OF being worried
I for the safe was a good one, and no
body but Bob and I knew the com
F., bination. on Friday night there was
! about Sc. 500 IN cash IN the bag. on
! Saturday morning I went 10 the OF