The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-15

SHORT DRY
Her First Case.
I. a. N. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

G ~ NJ. MeCULLoCFt-VlyL L'AM = 4
Nora frowned. The long line be-
fore the cashiers window was the
d last and worst Of her morning be-
de7ilm ents. She had hoped to be al
\ most first in such line, but wait
4 ing for the necessary check had
consumed a precious half hour,
I. then she had been buttonholed in
\ the office by woman with mis-
sfou, exc a grievance from whom
she had escaped by the skin OF her
temper-the same being pretty bad
4 " fray Jed. To find SO many folk
ahead was distinctly aggravating.
It was nearly noon-her breakfast
! had been meager.> Having cash as
Il sets OF less than two dollars beside
til epErecnious check she had riel to
content herself with oatmeal and
n black coffee. Now healthy ap-
petite was strongly rebellious.
The line moving 1erkily, balting
nov and then, at last brought her
q to the wind w. She thrust in her
1%check, and almost Immediately
there was filter OF green paper
son the glass shelf. With asreliev-
4 ed Isl gh she slipped out OF rank.
& and$ran over the bills with family
q tremulous fingers AT the last gill
sEthe fingers actually shook-it was
Ndonbl Of one ten she held
skEWos Impulsively she crushed back
to the window saying: There is
L q mistake. Before she could say
more the superior being inside the
cage flung at her frowing: Mad
this bank never makes mistalS-
sses-it wishes you women could or
u would learn to count money"
U.s. Pardon me! We SO lack prac-
Il Il ce; n ora retorted, turning toward
4sthe street entrance, then suddenly
kWheeling about to see down the
ssSlong vista sign at the end read
ling President"
Half minute later she faced the
sspresid ent, grim, gray and reputed
X atartar-but that she did not
II know. She flung at him: Please,
II sir,iIs it true this bank never max
@es mistakes? 2" he voice steady
enough though her knees shook a
bit.
80 am not rash enough 10 say
yes nor foolish enough to say
N no." the president answered, ris
ing from his chair But why the
question?
This -- these. rather Nora re
torteds laying the two bills in front
ssof him. Just now 1 presented at
$Syour second window a check for
#S25, drawn by Cross & Leroy to
order OF Elinor Maxwell. It was
#overpafd, as You see; when I told
theSman there was a mistake he
waved me away insolently.''
z HIN, Not like Weston. He's a
Scareful fellow. commented the
sbanker- .tSure YOU don't bear him
"a srud ~
No more than, as a cad, he in
Il back. her head going up. The
banker smiled grinly. asking:
sssttE:NNell, then. why didn't YOU peck
%et the money and go along rejoic-
Not enough 5of it. I hate cheap
mess, though my hat does shout
8 .Ss cents, marked down from
dollar, Nora coun,ered. her eyes
to dance. ''Now if it had
been million. or even half one
AS..What would you have done?''
the gray man asked. A younger
man at window beyond Nora's
Sspuryiew was smiling outright, evil
Il dently restraining laughter
& Beat it for home and my poor
sniggers,''' Nora cried joyously, "as
SfastEas could go
where is home2'' from the in
4 qu1sitor-
sHss.Alabama. from Nora. Grand
Npa's land had had no other owners
Ethan Maxwells since the Indian
Il times. He just managed to keep a
little ahead of the factors mort
gage till scent cotton came-in
va 914, you know. 1t ruined hlm-and
worse.
sss Half the land went to settle
with the factors; the other-shalf
barely kept us and our people
from starving. You see. the nlggers
had been in the family since there
was family. It was hard, hard to
see them go hungry and ragged
81 but we didn't let them quite die.
When I read OF all that was done
for folk on the other side it made
me sick to think plain American
uffering went unheeded-''
'Suffering ?" the banker broke in
She a odded- IF you call Chris
mas dinner OF plain ashcake with
ut.even a scrap Of meat or molas-
seES good food, perhaps there was
u notfanys but, take my word for it.
that fall and winter persim-
nSSu bread was our greatest lux
nfy..
The younger man stirred and
started to speak. His elders eye
Compelled silence. $50 you would
take your loot and squander it
a in charity he said a
Nora faced him dauntlessly.
answering: M
II the bank stands to its cash
8ier that it makes no mistakes
where would the loot come in, es-
pecia11y after it had been warn
ed sof a mistaken 5
t...1t wouldn't come in. I'm a
lawyer-Is . know the young
tys41an said, coming forward
a&.Sora. smiled at hi mroguishly