The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-07-06
s.. Old Joes
Lapse


nv AUSTIN FLEET

SA 1900 &~8&f EEI&1&&%E #%@&"g EE4T&S= So
Harvey Aekers. the president OF tht
County Farmers bank, sat late at hi
desk. Tt was common gossip In town
that the County Farmers was, in Z
bad way. There had been . U or thu
institution that day, and the next day
would find It straining all its resources
to- meet the rush of Withdrawals.
Ackers was puzzling, working des'
perately as he sat there alone that eve
ming. But his mind would wander.
He was thinking at the moment that,
OF all his acq%uaintallces in town, there
was not a single friend whom he could
summon to help him In his difficulty.
How many friends had he? He could
count them on his fingers. There was
hin brother Tom, whom he had not
seen in twenty years; there was q
woman in st. Louis, whom he intended
TO % very soon; and there was-why,
there was Old Joe, the Waterman.
Old Joe's devotion to Ackers was
one Of the jokes Of the bank. Since
the day, two years before, when
Ackers, on an impulse, had given Old
Joe fifty dollars to help pay for his
nick wife's operation, the old man had
watched him with the trustful eyes Of
q dog. When Harvey had grippe, Old
Joe had inquired about him at his door
three times a day.
Ackers smiled. 1t was peculiar, Old
J0e's devotion. 1t touched him In q
way, too. He always passed the time
Of day to Joe when he entered the
bank. Sometimes Old ice asked his
advice about his son at college. OLD
Joe was very proud Of the boy. And
Ackers wondered of what use their
syaendship was.
Suddenly he sttffened in his chair.
some sixth sense in him had given
him warning. He did not know what
che warning portended, but instipc-
lively he thought Of the safe in the
vsplt below.
It was all nonsense, Of course, but
Aekers hurriedly glanced at the tele-
syam he was writing to the girl in st.
LOUIS. Meet me at depot 4.25," it ran.
H3 was going to see her on the nor
FoM. He had not seen her for a whole
feas They would have a happy time
togssher.
Thea he made his way out of his Of
fee. went softly down the stairs, and,
with his key, unlocked the door Of the
vault. Instantly he stood stock still
In amazement at what he saw.
Old Joe was ON his knees before
the open vault, busily transferring
bundles Of bills into a leather bag.
At the sound of the click Of the key
Old Joe turned round, and remained,
crouching upon his knees, and looking
up at Ackers in CONSERVATION and hor-
ror.
Ackers was unarmed, but he felt
confident that, If Old Joe had a pistol,
he would not go to the length Of using
Il. He strobe forward.
'"Tm sorry to see this, Joe," he said,
In matter-of-fact tones that surprised
him as he uttered them.
"How did 1t happenT'
And Joe was equally succinct.
It's that boy Of mine, Mr.. Ackers,"
he said, almost whimpering. He's got
into trouble. He's going to be pinched
unless-it's a thousand dollars, Mr..
Ackers, and-and l went mad, I
guess"
$50 you've been in the business be-
fore?' asked Ackers sternly.
Old Joe gulped. Twenty years ago,
sir" he answered, "And-Im ready to
60 to the pen. l took a chance. You've
caught me with the goods"
Ackers appeared to hesitate; a
frown wrinkled his forehead.
sJoe," he said at last, "the best men
are tempted sometimes. It doesn't
pay, Joe. I'm not speaking on moral
principles, butt doesn't pay You
fool, don't you 9 discovery was GER
tainf"
Joe looked dumbly up at the presi-
dent, the faintest CLEAN of hope in his
eyes leaping into ecstasy at Ackers
next words.
"Joe, I'm not going to send you to
the pen. I know temptation comes to
all Of U.s."
"God bless you, sir" faltered Old
Joe. It was clear that the old man
was utterly abject- Ackers took the
bundles out OF the bag and counted
them.
"Forty-fve thousand, joe" he said
You certainly were going some
Herei" He peeled off a roll of yellow.
backs. Here's your thousand. Yor
can pay me back during the remainder
of your working days here. Now skip r
Joe fell at his feet. you mean 20,
won't have me arrested, Mr.. Ackers
and you'll lend me the money!" h.
babbIed. "Ged bless you-Oh, Hell
reward you, sirf" " =
Maybe" said ~Ackers caustically
shut this things strictly between Vi
two, and you understand. l dom
want to be shut UP lin a madhouse foi
the rest Of my days. Back to you
job; and when you get outside tina
door this is forgotten"
When Joe had gone, mumbling bless
ings on his head, Ackers looked a
the telegram which he still held in his
hand, and smiled.
tive certainly done my best fol
Joe he reflected.
j And, transferring the packages Of
bills to the large, Interior pockets o.
his coat, he closed the safe and
made his way ont Of the building ir
the direction OF the depot, to catcf
the night train for ST. Louis.
4Ss &Sg@ @@SS &&&%g %% 80
as Marines, scholarship Ccurss.
The Marine Gnrns institute. con.