The Washington times., 1937-09-07

"TOIlRs n 1ldSLA o"NHS Wv
cheek. why do you say that?"
well, Mr.. Merritt seemed dis
turbed this morning before he
went off to look at that mortgage
property, and I just thought, with
YOU wanting this-maybe some
body in your family might be i'll,
or Something" He broke of,
embarrassed. "I'l see about this
right away, Mrs. Merritt"
Here you are" He returned
with the money. Three thousand
and nine dollars and eighty-nine
cents. We don't usually hand out
that much on such short notice
I'd put it in a safe place If I were
YOU"
Thanks, Johnnie-1 will"
Pat stuffed the bills in her
handbag, bumped into Tom Jen-
infer, the drugstore proprietor,
who was standing behind her. AS
she went out, she was again aware
of Mrs. Davis eyes on her, curious,
critical, from a bench where the
older woman had sat down.
Well, let them think and say
what they pleased-Mrs. Davis
and Tom Jennifer.
RUN ON BANK
Della had gone to market when
Pat came downstairs with the
bags she'd packed hurriedly. She
slowed them in the back Of the
car, got behind the wheel, and
backed down the driveway into
the street.
AS Pat approached the center
of town again, there seemed to
be an unusually large crowd OF
cars and people in front of the
bank. Men and women were talk
ing excitedly, and more were ar
irving, running across the street
without looking. Pat had to toot
the horn and drive carefully, not
to run them down
What had happened at the
bank? Pats face suddenly went
white. Maybe something had
happened to Don
She shut off the motor, left the
car in the middle of the street,
and fought her way through the
crowd. A town policeman was
guarding the panelled white door.
whats happened?" she painted.
Happened? It's a run on the
bank"
Somebody spoke up from the
crowd:
"A woman-the wife of bank
official-took out a lot of money
and said she was going to put it
in a safe place. We're getting ours
out-and you'd better get yours,
lady"
It don't know what the rush is
=" The policeman turned a law
enforcing face towards the towns
people. "Your moneys all in
sured by the Government"
Eyes, but what'll We do If it's
held up? That's good. hard
earned money, and I'm going to
get mine now"
SHE'S TO BLAME
Pat heard the voices from far
off. This would all be traced to
her. She was to blame.
Listen" Pat said, in a voice
loud enough to be heard by every
body near by. II drew out that
money-I'm Mrs. Merritt, the wife
of the vice president.
"There-there was illness in the
family" she recalled Johnnie
Martins assumption, thankfully
land thought I'd need several
thousand dollars cash-but I find
don't need it after all, and I
came to deposit it again. Will
you take me inside, so that can
put it back?"
"This way, Mrs. Merit" The
policeman also spoke loudly.
Maybe now these people see YOU
depoSiting your money they'll
change their minds about wanting
theirs"
Pat was waiting at the front
door when Don came home. His
face was strained. He smiled
wanly. but he didn't hold out his
arms as he usually did.
"They told me about the run on
the bank, when I got in this after
noon" He walked past her into
the living room. "It was good of
you to deposit the money again
and stop the run. AS pointed
out to Harmon Tate. you didn't
have to do that"
HAD TO DO IT
ooh, but l did ;" Pat followed
Don anxiously. 1T was the only
thing could do"
Don stood with his back to her.
BY the way" Don said after a
moment. "I'll get your money
for you tomorrow.
Il don't want it," Pats voice
was a wall. Wasn't he ever going
to look at her again? Listen.
Darling. know everything that
happened this afternoon was my
fault-but I've learned my lesson,
you were right a bankers
wife daren't be silly and impul.
sive." Her eyes were enormous
and pleading. I'll start no more
runs, Don. -"
g.. And no more run-outs
either. Pat. e." he asked, as II
the whole world depended on hel
answer.
She shook her head violently
Tears flowed down her cheeks
:, sailing her smile. And no more
! runouts, Darling" she promised
His arms reached out for her
THE END.