Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/322

 " In the Grit — haven't you seen it? A great boost 1 Butefish really writes vurry, vurry well when he puts his mind to it."

This explained the warmer temperature, she thought sardonically, but said merely :

" I haven't seen the paper." Then changing the sub- ject: " I've decided to increase the size of my account with you, Mr. Wentz. I'll leave this draft on open de- posit, though it may be considerable time before I need it." She passed it to him carelessly.

Since leaving the laundry, where he had been as tem- peramental as he liked, and taken it out on the wringer, Mr. Wentz had endeavored to train himself to conceal his feelings, and imagined he had succeeded. But now the wild impulse he felt to crawl through the aperture and embrace Kate told him otherwise.

Kate watched the play of emotions over his face in deep satisfaction. There was no need of words to express his gratitude — which was mostly relief.

" I appreciate this. Miss Prentice, I do indeed. I am glad that you do not hold it against us because upon a time we were not able to accommodate you."

" A bank must abide by its rules, I presume," she re- plied nonconunittally.

" Exactly ! A bank must protect its customers at all hazards."

" And the directors."

Mr. Wentz colored. Did she mean anything in par- ticular? He wondered. He continued to speculate after her departure. It was a random shot, he decided. If it had been otherwise she scarcely would be giving him her business now, especially to the extent of this deposit — which he was needing — well, nobody but Mr. Wentz knew exactly how much.