Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-12-02
A Rival With
q Past
BY CLAIRE SMITH.

don't know which was the more
unpopular in our town, Anthony Bar
rett, the banker, or Charlie Meadows,
his secretary. think on the whole
that it was Charlie,
Long Corners has always prlded IT.
self on being exclusive. But we aren't
dudes. SO when this fellow Barrett,
Of whom nothing was known, opened
his bank and took Charlie to lie his
confidential secretary, and they put
on the airs Of miIlionalres, and
wouldn't mix with the rest of us fel-
lows, it naturally set Long Corners
against them,
The first time me+ Barrett was at
the house of LuelIa. Luela and | had
always understood that we were TO
be married when / could support her.
| couldn't keep her in much style on
fifteen week, which was all that Bar
rett allowed me as one of his book
Keepers. But | hadn't reckoned on
Barrett butting into the game-a man
Of forty with nothing known about his
past, except that it was reported he
had been jallbird.
Luella grew pretty cold to me when
| taxed her about him.
| thought for sure she would tell
Barrett and he would fire me, but APP
parcntly She had too much sense, and
things went on in their usual way.
None Of us fellows in the bank had
any sort of respect for Barrett. ] was
feeling pretty bad when | happened
to oycrhear conversation between
Barrett and Charlie.
heard Charlie strike him for raise
in salary.
"You're getting $50 now, Mr.. Mead
ows,' said Barrett, in his cold,
hearlless way, "and that is SO more
than YOU could get anywhere else
"Mr. Barrett" answered Charlie
quietly, 81 happen to know that you
have served a five years sentence in
states prison for the mlsappropriation
of bank funds"
had just time to hurry away be-
fore Charlie came out. He had been
discharged. Barrett thought he could
bluff Long Corners. But he couldn't
bluff me. | laid hold Of Charlie.
81 guess you are feeling pretty sore"
| said. Il happened to oyerhear what
Barrett was saying to you. Are you
going to make it publlc?'
"You bet | am" he answered, and
his rage made him quite friendly.
I'D give hundred dollars to know
Just where to hit him first" said Char
lie. 81 got the whole story from some
of his private papers. Confound him
Perhaps he'll try to buy me off. ! felt
sure | was good for that extra SD"
"I1l tell you where to hit him first"
said. Hes stolen my girl-Miss
Lucia Mason. Isn't that enough? I'm
going right round 10 tell her"
'Wat till tomorrow" he urged. "He
may think better Of it and offer me a
thousand 10 keep quiet. If he does I'll
give you ten per cent"
| couldn't neglect my duties, and
was supposed not to know what had
happened. | didn't mean to lose my
position; l was not going to Luella out
of revenge but rs friend.
was at her house at eight o'clock,
and by good luck she was alone. When
she saw me she looked unpleasant
the scoundrel had completely ousted
me in her esteem.
swell, Mr.. COOLIDGE" she began.
"Well, Miss Mason | retorted
mockingly "That friend Of yours, Bar.
rett, is thief and a scoundrel."
"Rather hard words to say about q
friend Of NINE" she said.
She refused to hear me, but | was
determined that she should. SO | told
her everything that Charlie had told
me that morning.
"When did this interesting episode
occurY she asked, when | had ended
in 1917" I answered.
"Four years ago. But | thought you
said he had served fiye-year sen
tencc"
"Wen | suppose they let him on
early for good behavior | answered
Then Barrett walked into the room
Luclla turned from me to him.
"ThlS gentleman" she said, meaning
me, has been SO Kind rs to tell mt
that old story about the County anC
National, Anthony Isn't it disgust
ing nnmc--Anthony!
"You seem to have a host of friends
Iuclla,' he answered. "This is tn
tenth, isn't it,
"The twelfth" she answered, an,
then She turned to me. you are yer,
slow. Mr. Coolidge. Mr.. Barrett toll
me all about that weeks ago, and St
have many Of his well-wlshers. Onl.
you left out the fact that he was par
doncl before the first six months wer
out because the real thief confessed
Good evening, Mr.. Coolidge
Wen, | walked out. | wouldn't de
mean myself by arguing with that sor
Of man. And I'm still in his bank
That is his COMPOUNDED hypocritica
cunning; he won't discharge me an
he won't raise my salary. And Luell
and he were married yesterday.
Front PAGE Celehrities-