The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

Author of “From Dusk to Dark,” “‘ Four Speeds for Forest Hill,’”’ etc. CHAPTER I. THE LOST KEY. HE rattle of steel-net gates and the sharp clack of heels on the tiled floor, all a little louder and swifter on Saturday noon than on other after- noons, had come to an end. The last cierk but one had made his hurried exit from the Ironclad Trust Company’s building for whatever sports and pleasures the first really warm half holiday of May might hold for them. Bruce Evans alone stood before his high desk with ledgers and pen and ink before him. ‘““ Aren’t you through yet?” The sharp voice startled him. He turned about to face Mr. Wheelock, the cashier of the Ironclad. The fact that Wheelock seemed to dis- like him had worried Evans for weeks. The cashier’s tone put him instantly on the defensive. “Why, I thought I’d better send a statement along with the notice to Jared Berg—he’s overdrawn a few cents. The check just came in ten minutes before closing time. He’s always kept a pretty good account here, and I thought we wouldn’t want to send him a notice with- 61 out a statement. He never brings in his book to balance, you know, since he never gets here.” | ‘““ Oh,” Wheelock uttered in a tone of relief. Somehow it seemed to Bruce the man had started a little at mention of Berg’s name. “Why, Berg’s account is all right,” Wheelock went on. ‘“ There are some notes due him to-day. I have them in my desk. You needn’t bother about them. Ill fix it up to-morrow. I’ve several things to do here to-morrow, anyhow. As you say, Berg’s too big a depositor to treat without consideration. It would have been bad if you’d sent him a notice.” “You have them in your desk?” Evans asked curiously. “Yes, they had to do with a private transaction in which I was a sort of third party when I was in Bergville a couple of months ago,” said Wheelock. ‘‘ You can run along now, if that’s all that’s keeping you.” Evans indicated a big pile of envelopes on the next desk. ‘“ Mercer told me to stamp those, seal them, and get them out,” he told the cashier. “Oh, all right. I’m going to get out and enjoy a little of this warm air myself. Gomichoo (C Ss (E@)