Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-12-15
The Protested
Note
By CALVIN HENDRICKS.

1t was BLUE Monday" for Max Will
Der, with vengeance! 1t was after
bright, blissful Sunday, for had he not
seen Leila Marsh and passed with her
one of the most delightful 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
nifed 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
note ninety days old, signed by ST.
mon Marsh and Endorsed by himself,
to the amount of $1,000. He was con-
siderablys perturbed, but looked up
steadily with the question:
at could not be renewed?"
Scarcely" sententiouSly remarked
the president, his declaration fixed
and somber as the utterance Of fate.
81 will pay it, them" said Max qui-
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 it's top over q
bulk beyond it's capacity.
"Sorry you came" he observed,
| Strengthening up, but looking embar-
rassed and guilty. 81 was just going
| after that thousand dollars l owe the
bank"
"You owe it to me now" advised
Max, with nervous laugh.
"Eh-how's that?"
"Well, l 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 1t.
II 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,
stupefed.
"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, I 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 q 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 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 savings bank account and in@
sured her life.
There came into the bank one day
bronzed, bearded man, with O raga
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 a curl
Gus, hoarse voice.
The clerks watched him with some
interest. They had never before seen
those little oblong yellow bricks,
stamped, "U. s. NJ, $11O," "U. 8. NJ,
| $112," ~. S. NJ, $114."
The stranger placed ten Of them to
one side with a single question:
| "Where Is Mr.. Max WiIberr'
And this is what Max saw when he
came out from the directors room.
II promised YOU" said Simon Marsh,
extending hand hard as piece. of
| gristle., "Just pan Of water and
| dip into the old chute taiIings It's a
sure ten dollars a day and Pm 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 p
"Only little sorrowing, 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