Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-11-25
The Protested
Note
By CALVIN HENDRICKS.

| one OF the MOST ueuShIul evenings
of his life?
Then, too, up to the hour of the
opening of the bank, Max had felt
something more than cheerful and
happy.
And then the reaction: the formal
call to the Office of the stern and dig
nified president, who tossed a note
across the table with the single word ::
protested" Max turned a little pale
as he scanned the bit of paper. 1t was
a note ninety days old, signed by ST.
mon Marsh and Endorsed by himself,
to the amount of $1,000. He was con-
siderahly perturbed, but looked up
steadily with the question:
SIT could not be renewedT'
Scarcely" sententiously remarked
the president, his declaration fixed
and somber as the utterance of fate
81 will pay it, Them" said Max quiz
city, drew out his check book, calcu-
lated the gross and passed over the
earnings and savings of two years.
Hence Blue Monday" hence at the
noon hour Max disregarded lunch and
visited the dingy room where the man
he had befriended lived He found
Simon Marsh bending over a worn
satchel trying to close its top over
bulk beyond its capacity
Sorry you came" he observed,
Strengthening up, but looking embar-
raised and guilty. Il was just going
after that thousand dollars l owe the
bank"
''You owe it TO me now" advised
Max, with a nervous laugh.
"Eh--how's that?"
swell, 1 deceived you. l submitted
your application to the directors, to-
gether with your security--a deed for
that ten acres of mining land out in
the Black Hills. They laughed at it.
FL knew you, and besides"
"YOu needn't tell it," almost shout
ed the old man. You did that for me?
And it's leaked out. And my niece
knew it first"
"Your niece-Leila?" repeated Max,
stupefied.
"Just that. She was here an hour
ago, crying. She twitted me for TAX
ing your last dollar"
Don't go worrying" said Max,
greatly moved at the old mans genu-
Inc misery. You meant well. AS to
Leila, l am very, very sorry that she
has learned of this"
"That is the hardest part of it."
mourned Marsh. ''Now, then, I'm GO
ing to leave here"
Max shook his head obviously as he
left the old man. So he went to see
Leila.
She was formal, chilling.
"There is something ] must say"
he spoke in strained, tremulous tone
as he stood at the door in parting. ut
Is on my heart and will not allow me
to rest. Miss Marsh, Leila, l love-"
The solemn dignity of her uplifted
hand checked him.
''Not-now," she said simply. "There
is debt to pay, Mr.. WILDER. Good
evening"
And about a week later Max knew
that Leila had done two things
opened a savings bank account and in
sured her life.
There came into the bank one day
a bronZed, bearded man, with a rag
ged canvas satchel bearing traces of
long and difficult travel He placed it
across the counter, opened it and took
out small wooden box.
"From the mint" he said in curl
Gus, hoarse voice.
The clerks watched him with some
interest. They had never before seen
those little oblong yellow bricks,
stamped, ~. S. NJ, $110." ~. S. NJ,
$112," ~. S. NJ, STA"
The stranger placed ten Of them to
one side with a single question:
where is Mr.. Max Wilber?"
And this is what Max saw when he
came out from the directors room.
II promised yoI," said Simon Marsh,
extending hand hard as piece of
gristle. Just pan of water and a
dip into the old chute tailings. It's a
sure ten dollars a day and I'm going
back to the Hills TO repeat the opera
ton as soon as see my niece"
Max WILDER saw his uncouth visitor
as far as the door. He whispered into
his ear:
speak one word for me-"
And this was the line he received
from the grim old prospector a few
hours later:
"Debt cancelled. Claim your own.
Leila sees the light. Bless You both"
"Only little Borrowing, little pa
tience," spoke Max that evening, Leila
by his side, once again amid the lure
of the white moonlight, "and this
glad ending"
"But how much love, too, through
all the cruel ordeal" whispered his
pronised bride. tenderlv.