The Washington herald., 1920-08-16
FRIENDS IN SAN ROSARIO

-zip-check! All right. List of
over-drafts please, please. Thanks.
Hmm. Unsigned bills of the
bank next All right.
Then came the cashiers turn,
and easy-going Mr.. Edlinger
rubbed his nose and polished his
glasses neryously under the quick
hre of questions concerning the
circulation. undivided profits. bank
real estate, and stock ownership.
Presently NettIewick was aware
OF big man towering above him
at ms elbow-a man so years of
age. rugged and hale, with
rough. grizzled beard. a mass of
gray hair, and a pair of pene-
tratlng blue eyes that confronted
the formidable glasses of the ex-
aminer without a flicker.
'Er-Maj. Kingman, our presi-
dent-er-Mr. Nettlewick," said
the cashier
Two men of very different
types shook hands One was a
nnlshed product OF the world of
straight lines, conventional meth
ods, and formal affairs. The other
was something frecr. wider and
nearer to nature. Tom Kingman
had not been cut to any pattern.
He had been mule-driver, cow
boy, ranger, soldier, sheriff. pros
pector, and cattleman. Now, when
he was bank president, his old
comrades from the prairies, of the
saddle, tent. and trail found no
change in him. He had made his
fortune when Texas cattle were
at the high tide of value, and
had organized the First National
Bank of San Rosario. In spite of
his largeness of heart and some
times unWise generosity toward
his old friends, the bank had
prospered. for Mai. Tom Kingman
knew men as well as he knew
cattle. OF late years the cattle
business had known a depression
and the majors bank was one of
the few whose losses had not
been great
And now" said the examiner,
briskly pulling out his watch,
the last thing is the loans. We
Will take them up now, if you
please"
He had gone through the First
National at almost record-break-
ing speed-but thoroughly. as he
dld everything. The running or
der Of the bank was smooth and
clean, and that had facilitated his
work. There was but one other
bank in the town. He received
from the government a fee OF
S25 for each bank that he exam
ined. He should be able to go
over those loans and dis
counts in half an hour If so.
he could examine the other bank.
Immediately afterward, and catch
the 1l:45, the only other train
that day in the direction he was
working. Otherwise. he would
have to spend the night and Sum
day in this uninteresting West
ern town. That was why Mr..
Nettlewick was rushing matters.
Come with me, sir" said Mai.
Kingman, in his deep voice, that
united the Southern drawl with
the rhythmic twang of the West;
we will go over them together.
Nobody in the bank knows those
notes as 1 do. Some Of 'em are
little wobbly on their legs,
and some are mavericks without
extra many brands on their backs,
out they'll most all pay out at
the roundup"
The two sat down at the pres
ldents desk. First. the examiner
went through the notes at light
ming speed, and added up their
total. finding it to agree with the
of loans carried on the
book of daily balances. Next, he
took up the larger loans. inquiring
scrupulously into the condition OF
their indorsers or securities. The
new examiners mind seemed
to course and turn and make un-
expected dashes hither and thither
like a bloodhound seeking
trail. Finally he pushed aside all
the notes except a few, which he
arranged in a neat pile before him,
and began a drY, formal little
speech.
Il find, sir. the condition Of
your bank to be very good, con-
the poor crops and the
depression In the cattle interests
of your State. The clerical work
seems to be done accurately and