Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 30: what you’re looking at

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500 -banker must be accessible. “ Nothing up our sleeves to deceive you”’ is the impres- sion to be conveyed, and the idea is psy- chologically sound. Mr. Stokes smiled at Mr. French, who instinctively smiled back. Mr. Stokes ap- proached the gate in the railing, pushed through, accosted the bank president. “Mr. French?” The official nodded. “ There is something—” “Yes,” said Stokes. “I am thinking of starting an account with your bank. My name is Stokes, of Stokes & Blanchard, number 23A Wall Street, New York.” “ Financial house?” “Bonds. Stocks. High grade securities. We’re opening an office here in Templeton.” “Any acquaintances here, Mr. Stokes— any references?” “Well, I can’t really say I have many acquaintances here who would vouch for -me; but I can give you plenty of New York references.” “That ‘ll be all right,” said French. Stokes took an important-looking seal- leather pocketbook from inside his coat and laid a cashier’s check for five thousand dol- lars on the desk. It was made payable to bearer and was drawn against a well-known New York bank. “T’d like to deposit this,” announced Stokes. “I suppose you allow interest on daily balance.” “Two per cent on amounts above five hundred; a trifle more on sustained bal- ances running into thousands, by special ‘arrangement. How much of a balance do you imagine you want to carry with us, Mr. Stokes?” “Anywhere from two thousand to fifty, Mr. French. I rather think it will run pretty high as time goes on.” “H-m!” remarked Ed French; raising his voice: “‘ Oh, Major!” A young man aroSe at a near-by desk and approached. “Mr. Stokes, this is Mr. Major, our as- sistant cashier. Mr. Stokes is opening an account with us, Major. Take care of him, will you? All right. Much obliged, Mr. ‘Stokes. Glad to be of service.” Stokes trailed off with the assistant, got DB] then, ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. his passbook, checks, and deposit slips and presently left the bank. Along toward noon French called Major to his side. ““ Get Stokes fixed up?” <c Ves.”’ “ Did he give you his references?” “Why, no, Mr. French. I thought he had satisfied you in that respect.”’ “ Oversight. Thought you’d attend to it. Say, what do you think of him?” “Don’t know—pretty smooth citizen, I guess. What’s his business?” ‘Broker. He’s opening an office here in town. I'll make some inquiries about his firm; this is a branch. But, Major, let me tip you off. Watch that account sharp. Don’t permit a cent of overdraft, don’t pay out a cent against uncollected funds, and let me know the moment his balance drops down to, say, five hundred.” Young Major raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. “Not quite sure of him?” ‘“ Don’t know but I am—too sure. Seems to me I've seen lots of chaps like him. You learn to recognize ’em in little old New York, my boy. They have to do business with the banks, and the banks know how to handle ’em. You hit it when you said smooth citizen. But don’t say anything; just keep your eyes open.” Major departed and French smiled to himself. A good account was a good ac- count. Ed didn’t doubt for a moment that Stokes’s deposits would at times run into big money; or that at others they would dwindle to sub-microscopic dimensions. That was all right; he was protecting his bank, taking no chances. He wondered who Stokes was, but really, it made very little difference. Later that day, when the bank had closed, French on his way to the club~glanced across the street at the Haynes Block and saw a sign painter at work lettering the name Stokes & Blanchard on a window above Gilbert’s drug store. Those were ‘good offices, in a first rate location. The Haynes Block was fairly new and rather commodious. The stairs leading to the second floor were broad and started to as- cend just inside a rather pleasing entrance. Yes, Stokes had picked a good location. com IGbooksneom