Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
FAMILY Skeletons
By David William Moore

at any moment isn't In ut condition to get
work done.
It was nearly noon when his telephone rang.
He took down the receiver like o man holding
forth his wrists for q sherins manacles. "An
right" ne snarled.
sweet tone didn't make Joe any more cheerful.
He waited for her to get finished with her silly
chatter.
I'm so sorry you're worried, joe" she con-
tinued. you know I love you, darling, and
I'll do everything can to help. I've been sit
ting here thinking Of you down there all alone,
trying to take care of things, and I've been so
ashamed. I will help, dear"
Which made Joe feel badly.
"Oh, you mustn't start worrying too Madge."
he said, and his spirits rose several notches as
he made his noble statement IN get along all
right"
"T knew you would, Joe. You are an old dear.
Now, I've got something to tell you. Comics
aunt, that Mrs Lanhurst. you know, who writes
novels, Is visiting BraggS, and oh, I'm so
thrilled Connie is going to have all Of us girls
to the Shubert this evening; the play was writ
ten from one Of her aunt's books. Wont that
be glorious?
And Tom is going to have you men over at
their house for poker game. You'll enjoy
that, Joe. And, Joe, I'm going to invite Tom and
Connie and the aunt over to our house for din
ner tomorrow"
[ IARDLY had Joe hung up the receiver
when the bell rang again. He sighed and
reached for the telephone again. It was Nc
Klintock at the bank.
We've beer unnecessarily patient with you,
Mr.. Milburn," the man said. you apparently
do not take your own promises seriously SO you
can hardly expect us to do so. If you do not
have payment here by o'clock"
Joe thought of Madge, of the dinner tomor-
row night, of Comics aunt "I1l be there"
he replied
Joe Milburn was again at his desk the next
morning trying to think things over The
crisis of the preceding day had been too close
for comfort but he had come through. How he
had obtained that $614 payment was nobody'S
business. One thing was certain, he still had
the amount to pay-but not to the bank. At
Least he still had it to pay-h-
He toyed with three slips Of paper in his
hand. Yes, Madge was right Joe did enjoy
playing poker. The game last night had been
especially enjoyable
One of these slips of paper was check for
$270, signed by Shorty Heminway. Another
was Bill Conrads check for $50. Not so bad.
The third, however, wasn't so good.
It was q check, all right, and it called for
the sum of SITS. 1t was signed by Tom Bragg.
But 1t was dated two days ahead. If it had
been dated today, then everything would have
been perfect. The three checks totaled $685.
And at 9:15 he got up from his desk and
put on his hat He was on his way to cash
the checks that he had received from Hemin-
way and Conrad. The money would be safer
In his pocket.
Joe handed in the checks, after writing his
name on them, and stood waiting for his
money. There was nothing in the business
world more delightful than cashing somebody
else's checks.
Then he saw the checks coming back toward
him, and he heard strange words from the
teller Neither one Of these checks Is good,
SIR" 8-@
"Huh7" aasped Joa