Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-04
HeR FIRST CASE.


A short story.
py n. MeCULL0Cu.wILLIAMs.
tcspyrtsht isas. by Mcclure Newspaper
HyndtcatAS
Nora frownsd The long line be-
tore the cashiers window was tho
,sst and wora. Of her morning be-
Hsvilments she had hoped to be
Almcat fsrst in such = line. but walt /
ing for tho necessary check had con-
su,ncd a precious half hour. then she
had been buttonholed In the oupe by
= woman with q mission. sks>R griev-
ancs, from whom she had escaped
BY the skin OF her 'cmrcr--,he same
being pretty badly fraycd To md
o. many folk ahead was distinctly
axsr~vating. X wac nearly noon
her breakfast had been meager.
Havinu cash asse,s OF less than two
dollars hesldee the precious check,
shs had tried TO content herself with
oatmeal and black coffee. Now o.
healthy appetite was strongly re.
bellicsn.
The line moving Jerk,ly. hating
nov and then, At hast brought her to
tho window. Shc thrust In her check,
and Almost immediately there was a
hitter OF green paper on the glass
shelf. With a relieved eigh she
slipped out OF rank. and ran over the
bills with family tremulous fingers.
Al tho last bill the fingers actually
shook-.t was double-ins,ead OF one
ten abe held two. lmpulslvely she
crushed back to the window. saying;
There IL a mistake" Before she
could sAy more the superior heing in
eide the case hung at her frownlns
Madam this hank never makes mis-
takes--it wishes YOU women could or
would learn 90 count money"
Pardon me! We 80 lack practice"
Nora r~torted. turning toward the
e,reet entrance. then suddenly wheel
ING about TO zee down the long vista
sign al the end reading President"
Half a minute later she faced the
president, Srim. gray and reputed
tArtar-bu, thu; she did not know.
She fung ~ him: Please. SIR. Ii II
true this hank never makes mistaken
her voice steady enough though her
Snses shook bit.
Il am not rash enough TO say zee
nor foolish enough to say no." the
president, answered. rising from his
chair. But why the question:"
"This--thess. rather" Nora re,orted.
laying the TWO bills in front of him.
Just now I presented at your second
window . check for Ss5. drawn by
Crcss 4 Leroy TO order OF Elinor Max
well. I, was overpaid. se YOU see
when told tho man there was a
mistake ne waved me away insoiently.
HIM Not liks Weston. He's a
careful fellow" commented the banker.
sure you don't bear him a Krudge?"
NO more than. a. . cad. he In
cutie me by exisung." Nora flashed
hack. her mead Goins up. The banker
smi,si Grim.y. asking: We'll. than.
Why didn't you poeks, the money and
~ along rs5o.cing?"
mot enough Of IL / hAtS cheap
nns. though my hat doss sbout 'es
cents, marked down from a douarl'
Nora counter~d. her eyes beginning 20
dance Now II IL had been . million.
90 even half one"
What would ysu have done7' the
a window beyond Nora's purv'ew was
sm.linx outright. evidently restraining
laughter.
Beat 4; for home and my poor
nlxgere." Nora cried 5oyouely, AS fse,
ne | could
where 10 homsg">from the In
ouisitor.
Alabama" from Nora Grand.
pas land has had no other owners
than Maxwelis since the Indian times
He just managed 10 keep a little ahead
OF tho factors mortgage TIL seen
cotton came--in 1914. you know. Il
ruined him-and worse.
Half the land went 70 settle with
the factors. the other half barely KEEP
w and our people from starving YoJ
see. the nigeers had been in the fsmil,
since there was a family. j, was hard
hard to zee them 60 hungry and rsg
ged; hu; we didn't let chem quite die
When j read OF a.. tha, wAs done fos
folk on the other side &; made me sici
TO think plain American suffering wen
unheeded---"
suffering" the banker broke IL
obviously
She nodded. Il. you call q Christ
mas dinner OF plaiu ashcaks. w1thou
even . scrap OF meat or moissses. goo,
food. perhaps there wasn't any: but
take my word for 81. al that fall an,
winter persimmon bread was on
creates, luxury"
The younSsr man stirred and start
81 to speAk. His elders eye compel
ed ei.ence. so you would take you
100, and sQuAndsr J; in charity" n,
sald
Nora faced him daunnessly. an
swer.ng:
III the bank stands 70 Ats cash
Lsr that II makes no mistakes wner
would the loot come In. eApeclall,
After Il had BEEN warned OF q mis-
tAks7"
IT wouldnt como In I'm q iawye
Il know." the young man said, com
Ing forward.
Nora amtlsd At him roguisnly. q
am not--only hoping 10 b. some day.
she ssid. That's how I'm here"
You've won your nrst case. Mis
MAXWELL" the banker said, bowina
But Id pay you a good fee 70
hadn't made the case. i hate Tx
everything to dismsss Weston. He
newly promoted; think IL must hay
Sone 10 his head"
Then don't nre him." Nora sal
compassionA tely. Job hunting Is S
dlsnsartening. l know.