Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

498 found life, always full of interest, even more zestful. She had ideas for the development of more and bigger business for the Benson Bank which, one by one, she would attempt to carry out as time went on. Maybe old Joe, contentedly sunning himself on a broad deck somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, wouldn’t have been so complacent if he had realized that by the time his year’s holiday came to a close his lively daughter would have things speeded up at a pace not easy for a man sixty-seven years old to fall in with. Mike Flannery, bank porter, pushed open the directors’ room door, “*Scuse me, Miss Benson, but Mr. Gar- vin wants to know will you see a gintleman be the name iv Stokes f’r a momint.” “What about, Michael?” **Openin’ a new account, I b’lieve.” “ But Mr. Garvin knows all about our rules governing the acceptance of new ac- counts.” 3 “This is somethin’ spicial, I guiss.” “All right, Michael. Send Mr. Stokes in.” Mr. Stokes was a youngish middle aged man, tall, rather quietly dressed and mod- est in demeanor. He possesséd a well shaped head and an assortment of features sufficiently standard, except that his eyes were of a peculiar greenish gray, a color seen oftener in the eyes of cats than of per- sons. He was smooth shaven, rather well groomed, a man of sophistication and suavity. Beth was unable to say just why a little shudder of dislike flickered into her con- sciousness and out again as Mr. Stokes ad- vanced, his pale eyes lighted with friendly greeting. “So this is the—er—famous lady finan- cier,” he hazarded, advancing to the side of the big desk. ‘‘ Miss Benson, isn’t it? My name is’ Stokes, of Stokus & Blanchard, number 23A Wall Street, New York. May- be you’ve heard of us.” “How do you do, Mr. Stokes,” said Beth gravely. ‘‘ Won’t you sit down?” She did not inform Mr. Stokes that the name of his firm had as yet become a house- hold word in Templeton. “ How can we serve you?” she asked, as ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. the visitor eased his long form into a wide- armed, leather-tufted chair. “ Nice bank you’ve got here, Miss Ben- son,” said Stokes, glancing around with ap- preciation of a rather fine room. ‘‘ New building, I presume?” “It’s two years old. We all think it quite nice. What is your business, if I may ask?” “ Brokers. I’ve come to Templeton to establish a branch office. There seems to be a first rate opening here for the sale of high-grade investment securities.” ‘““ Meaning bonds, Mr. Stokes?” ‘““Why—er—yes, bonds and stocks—you know, standard listed and unlisted issues. We expect to furnish wire service between here and the exchanges and execute orders in all legitimate markets. I’ve engaged quarters in the Haynes Block, over Gilbert’s drug store, and the workmen are already busy making alterations.” “T see,” said Beth. “ And did you tell your story to Mr. Garvin?” “Yes, and lots beside what I’ve told you. 1 can furnish you with unquestionable ref- erences, of course.” ‘Of course,” echoed the bank president. She looked very directly into the greenish gray eyes, and it didn’t appear at that mo- ment that she was so very much too small for the big desk. “Tl tell you, Mr. Stokes,” she said cool- ly. “ Perhaps Mr. Garvin led you to think differently, but I honestly believe I shall have to decline your account.” Stokes arose hastily. “But, Miss Benson, isn’t that rather a hasty judgment? Don’t you think you’d better take a little time and look us up and decide a little later? I selected your bank because it is the leader here. I want to do business with the best. I presume your competitor would be glad to have our ac- count, but I came here first and I’m very desirous of making the right connection. You.understand our deposits may run into very large figures—perhaps as high as fifty or sixty thousand dollars; and we are pre- pared to carry a daily balance that won’t fall below three or four thousand. My in- _ itial deposit would be five thousand dollars. I hardly think you can afford to turn down Gomichbooks;com