14 HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION ; .
i m , -
The Greater Friendship
By Kensett Eossiter.
Cf I 'M SOKRY I can't do it," said
I Morrison.
"It's only $500," returned
Billr. "I can pay it back in sixty
days."
Morrison slammed down the cover
of his suitcase, and regarded his room
mate with a curious glance. He scrib
bled an address on the back of an
envelope and handed it to Billy.
"Will you forward my mailt" he
asked.
"Sure," said Billy. "I hate to see
you dig out, though. They didn't give
you much notice, did tlicyl
"Tlancr it. no." returned Morrison
"That's one of the joys of being a
civil engineer. You got sent north in
the winter and south in the summer.
And here I am starting for a West
ern state on eight hours' notice, Sun
day, and tho banks closed. Are you
B-oiii? to the train!"
"Yes." said Billv. He picked up
Morrison's suitcase. Together they en
tered the elevator, -jalked through the
nluh office and iumDed into a taxi.
On the way to the station they
scarcely spoke. Morrison knew that
Billv would bite his tongue off before
he would ask aeain for the loan. Billy
owed him several hundred now. The
man was desperate; he had to have
the money, but ho would not asu
Morrison a second time.
"I am sorry, Billy," Morrison spoke
of his own volition. "But I can't lend
you the money. I got my balance yes
terday. I've only $620 in the bank
at this moment, and I'll need every
cent of it. Times are pretty shaky."
"That's all right, old man I know.
How long will you be gone!" he add
ed. ; "Three weeks, at least; perhaps a
inonth."
Five minutes later they stood to
gether at the ticket gate. Billy hand
ed over his friend's suitcase.
"Good luck, old man."
Morrison took bath the outstretched
hand and the suitcase. "Billy," said
he, "thanks .or coming down. You're
a good frieud, anyway; I can depend
upon you."
Billy smiled as he waved goodby.
The conditions on the street were
fruitful. Monev had never been so
t.iaht. Several of the big bond houses
had failed. Banks were demanding
payment on all call loans ana were
refusing an extension of time. It was
ti.ia unoxnpcteil flurrv that had caught
Billy as it had caught hundreds of
Hmt hn couldn't bor
row a dollar, except through the chan
nel of some personal friend, and Mor
rison had refused liim." lie would sees
T,n further. The money market con
timing pven more critical. Three days
later Billy was passing the Citizen's
Trust Company where Morrison nau
his account. "I'll be gone three weeks
at least, and possibly a month." Billy
kept repeating his friend's words. He
thought hard; he hesitated. Why not?
Ho entered the bank boldly, secured
several of the Citizen's Trust Com
pany's blank checks and hurried out.
Lato that night he bent over the desk
in his own room, forging his friend's
name. ,
In the little Western mining town,
later. Morrison had a check
returned to him markod "No funds."
Ho telegraphed the cashier of the
bank and received the following reply,
sent collect:
"Your account overdrawn on the
3rd inst.
"CITIZEN'S TRUST CO."
Mnrrisnn sat down and thought. The
harder he thought the more perplexed
he became. Several days later he saw
appniint in the paper that the
Citizen's Trust Company had failed.
He wound up his business earlier than
1.0 hnrl expected and returned. His
train got in at 2 o'clock, he went
directly to the Citizen's Trust Com
pany, which was still doing business
under the supervision of state offi
cials. As he approached the cashier's
window that gentleman smiled at him.
"I don't understand about my .3
eount," began Morrison. "You wired
that it was overdrawn! "
"Yes." returned the other unhesi
tatingly," you drew two chocks on
"Tjt mn see them." demanded Mor
rison, "they have been returned by
now, of course."
"They have," said the casnier,
vnnr account balanced and the
j
checks returned to you, as you re
quested. "
"As I reouested.
"Certainly." replied the other, open
ing a drawer and referring to an in
dex. "As I said, you drew two checks
on the 1st and 2nd for $310 each.
On the 4th you wrote in to have your
nppnntit balanced. This was done, and
these two checks which had passed
through the clearinghouse were re
turned to you."
"But I didn't write the checks," in
aisted Morrison. "I didn't ask you
to balance my account. I've been ab-
from the city for the last month.
I've been in Wyoming. My train got
in only an hour ago.
"Mr. Morrison," said tho cashier,
'there is something I don't under
stand about this."
"There's a lot more that I don't
understand." retorted Morrison.
The cashier rang for his assistant,
excused himself and made his way
tn the president's office. A few nun
utes later Morrison was sent for. He
didn't know that in those few min
utes they had referred to his banking
record of several years, had communi
cated with his company's ottice and
ascertained the truth of his statement
that he had been absent from the city
for a month.
"Tr Morrison." besan the presi
dent, "I am going to be very frank
with you. Wheu your checks were re
ceived we thought you had some in
side knowledge of the standing oi tne
hank. Now. however, we must con
sider them to bo forgeries. If they are
forgeries, the person wno iorgea ineui
was very clever. On the 4th, to give
them time to get through the clear
inghouse, a request, evidently anotner
forgery, was received, asKing tnat tne
account be balanced, mis as uuuu.
We have nothing, ab-olutely nothing,
to go by. The checks were returned
supposedly to you, aud have, of
course, been destroyed.
The nresident eot up and paced the
room. "Someone," said he, "some
... wlin knows vou well, who knew
your plans, who know your balance
here, has accomplished tnis.
Mnrriann remained silent.
"Think hard," went on the banker,
"do you know any friend, anyone who
knew' your movements, who was hard
up, who might have done this!"
A lump filled Morrison's throat.
"n " ho ffulned.
"Then I don't see what we can
j " rotiirnpd the other.
"Nor I," said Morrison, lie was
. i. I , .: tun lriTJ'T
suddenly anxious iu tvo
A little later. Morrison made his
t.n his company's office, then
...,.'f m.tnwn to his club and to his
" , . l-j
own room. He sat on nis oeu m.
his hands pressed across his eye.
Rillv!" he muttered. Mor
rison was stunned. He knew he could
never bring himself to prosecute a
p-;a TTn cnnld better afford to
lose the $000 than endure the nights
of agony which would follow n ne
K,,ht the law down on Billy's head.
His friend was probably this moment
suffering the torments oi tne uumneu,
n from the bottom of his heart
Morrison felt sorry for him. There
came a knock on the outer ooor
HPnntn in "'
There entered Freddie Myer, one of
the old crowd.
"Heard you were back," he greeted.
"Have a good tript Fine! Say, we've
got a box at Shantan's tonight,
You'll join ust"
Morrison Bhook his head.
Wmlriii 'Mvkt litrhted a cigarette.
"What's become of Billy 1" Mor
rison asked at length. "They told me
at the office that he has left the
Myer shrugged his shoulders. No
one knows," he returned. "His name
u -nosted the day after you left.
We haven't seen him since. That
fAllnw's in bad shape." went on Myer.
"He'll do something desperate if we
don't watch him."
"He will do HI" .
"You don't mean he'i done it al
ready?" said Myer.
"No," lied Morrison.
"Wnll. never mind about Billy,"
returned Myer. "Join us at supper,
anyway; you've got to eat sometime."
Again Morrison shook ma neaa.
Tt irrew dark outside and Morrison
sat in the room without turning on
the lights. Eight, nine o'cloek passed.
Thore came a second Knocn at me
door. Billy entered.
"Hello, old man." he called out.
Morrison shook hands with him as
though nothing had happened.
"What's the matter!" asuoa amy.
"Nnthinp."
"Come off! Say, you haven't been
near the Citizen's, have youT"
"Yes."
"What did they say?" 1
"What have they to say?"
"Gad! I'm glad to see you," went
oa Billy. "I've been on pins and
aeodles ever since you lett. uope
you'H forgive me, old man."
Morrison was silent.
"I forged two checks on yon for
310 anieee. I knew the Citizen's was
in bad shape they failed a week
later." Billy fumbled in ms wauet
and finally tossed a piece of paper on
the table. "I hated awfully to do it,
old man, but I knew you'd do as much
for me."
Morrison picked up the slip of paper
wit We the imprint of the First
National Bank, the one unquestionably
sound institution of the town. It was
a certificate of deposit in Morrison's
name for foUU.
What do you think
OF THIS?
3,000,000 Acres
Fine FREE HOMESTEADS
and Montana Deeded Land
(8 to $40 an Acre
Ready for the plow.
Yields 30 to 60 bu. wheat.
Oats, barley, flax, hay, etc., in
proportion.
Finest Inland Climate,
Land Sold on Crop Payment
Flan.
Low fare Homeseekers' Ex
cursions on first and thirl
Tuesdays of each month.
Western Immigration Agent,
0. M. ft ST. P. BY.
2nd and Cherry, Seattle. Wash.
Ttaa
Barthold-Barg Co.
inc.
127 Fourth Street, Portland, Or
HUM
Instrument ani Steel Tip Repairing
High-Clan Blue mming
Exeluilra Dealer la
DRAWING MATERIALS
Surreying and Drafting
Inrtrnmenti, Archltecta" and Englnaeri
Supplies.
READ EVERY WORD!!
Mr. Rancher!
Mr. Merchant!
Mr.Cattleman!
Mr. Hopgrower!
Mr.Fnritgrower!
Do you protect the amount of Dollars on your Bank
Checks against the CHECK RAISER1
Do you know that American Bank records show losses
through bad check men of $500,000 in 1900, 5,000,000 1906
$15,000,000 in 1911 and the awful total of $23,000,000 in 19131
WHO! will be called on to stand this enormous yearly
loss? The Farmer! Yes, because most city business men now
use Check Protection. WHY do you,' at a yearly Pen?e
protect your farm buildings, crops and stock against loss ty
fire, storm and disease, YET I neglect to protect the total
cash receipts of all your hard work, your Bank account.
RIGHT NOW buy this $10.00 New Era Machine, it will
stamp in Red Indelible Ink the exact amount of your check
in Dollars, show it to your Banker, use it 30 days, then H
not satisfied your money will be returned without question.
Sign and Mail This Order.
COMMERCE-UTILITY CORPORATION,
411-12-13-14-15 Panama Building,
Portland, Oregon.
Ship me one Robert H. Ingersoll New Era guaranteed Check Pro
tector C. O. D. 10.00 by Parcels PoBt, prepaid.
I, Name.
. Addreu.
I KING OF THE WOODS" DRAG SAW
With or Without Bum Saw Attachment
Will mw 20 to 40 cord of wood per day at a eo of
$1.00. PULLS ITSELF up the tteepert HILL and
over the rouithest mound. Coitt leu than other make.
One man write he lawed 56 neb m lOhowa,
Another tawed 40 cordj in 9 hour. There
u i. Lnnu Wnta for FREE eat.
more you ouum w ; . .
.log containing full CT-txav
frnm enthunastic useri. w nm. ir...
from CTMnmiPMn. uaci. "
r
r
m
the 1st and 2nd for fJlU cacti."