"Perhaps the father confessor takes precedence, otherwise Ibelieve people are quite as much interested in their financial secrets as in anything else in all this world. Have you a financial secret?""Yes," said Linda, "I have what is to me a big secret, and Idon't in the least know how to handle it, so right away I thought about you and that you would be the one to tell me what I could do.""Go ahead," said Mr. Worthington kindly. "I'll give you my word of honor to keep any secret you confide to me."Linda produced her letter. She opened it and without any preliminaries handed it and the cheque to the banker. He looked at the cheque speculatively, and then laid it aside and read the letter. He gave every evidence of having read parts of it two or three times, then he examined the cheque again, and glanced at Linda.
"And just how did you come into possession of this, young lady?"he inquired. "And what is it that you want of me?""Why, don't you see?" said Linda. "It's my letter and my cheque;I'm 'Jane Meredith.' Now how am I going to get my money.
For one dazed moment Mr. Worthington studied Linda; then he threw back his head and laughed unrestrainedly. He came around the table and took both Linda's hands.
"Bully for you !" he cried exultantly. "How I wish your father could see the seed he has sown bearing its fruit. Isn't that fine? And do you want to go on with this anonymously?""I think I must," said Linda. "I have said in my heart that no Jap, male or female, young or old, shall take first honors in a class from which I graduate; and you can see that if people generally knew this, it would make it awfully hard for me to go on with my studies, and I don't know that the editor who is accepting this work would take it if he knew it were sent him by a high-school Junior. You see the dignified way in which he ad dresses me as 'madam'?""I see," said Mr. Worthington reflectively.
"I'm sure," said Linda with demure lips, though the eyes above them were blazing and dancing at high tension, "I'm sure that the editor is attaching a husband, and a house having a well-ordered kitchen, and rather wide culinary experience to that 'dear madam.'""And what about this book proposition?" asked the banker gravely.
"That would be a big thing for a girl of your age. Can you do it, and continue your school work?""With the background I have, with the unused material I have, and with vacation coming before long, I can do it easily," said Linda. "My school work is not difficult for me. It only requires concentration for about two hours in the preparation that each day brings. The remainder of the time I could give to amplifying and producing new recipes.""I see," said the banker. "So you have resolved, Linda, that you don't want your editor to know your real name.""Could scarcely be done," said Linda.
"But have you stopped to think," said the banker, "that you will be asked for personal history and about your residence, and no doubt a photograph of yourself. If you continue this work anonymously you're going to have trouble with more matters than cashing a cheque.""But I am not going to have any trouble cashing a cheque," she said, "because I have come straight to the man whose business is cheques.""True enough," he said; "I SHALL have to arrange the cheque;there's not a doubt about that; and as for your other bugbears ""I refuse to be frightened by them," interposed Linda.
"Have you ever done any business at the bank?""No," said Linda.
"None of the clerks know you?"
"Not that I remember," said Linda. "I might possibly be acquainted with some of them. I have merely passed through the bank on my way to your room twice.""Then," said the banker, "we'll have to risk it. After this estate business is settled you will want to open an account in your name.""Quite true," said Linda.
"Then I would advise you," said Mr. Worthington, "to open this account in your own name. Endorse this cheque 'Jane Meredith'
and make it payable to me personally. Whenever oneof these comes, bring it to me and I'll take care of it for you.
One minute."
He left Linda sitting quietly reading and rereading her letter, and presently returned and laid a sheaf of paper money before her.
"Take it to the paying teller. Tell him that you wish to deposit it, and ask him to give you a bank book and a cheque book," he said. "Thank you very much for coming to me and for confiding in me."Linda gathered up the money, and said good-bye to the banker.
Just as she started forward she recognized Eileen at the window of the paying teller. It was an Eileen she never before had seen. Her face was strained to a ghastly gray. Her hat was not straight and her hands were shaking. Without realizing that she was doing it, Linda stepped behind one of the huge marble pillars supporting the ceiling and stood there breathlessly, watching Eileen. She could gather that she was discussing the bank ledger which lay before the teller and that he was refusing something that Eileen was imploring him to do. Linda thought she understood what it was. Then very clearly Eileen's voice, sharp and strained, reached her ears.
"You mean that you are refusing to pay me my deposits on my private account?" she cried; and Linda could also hear the response.
"I am very sorry if it annoys or inconveniences you, Miss Strong, but since the settlement of the estate takes place tomorrow, our orders are to pay out no funds in any way connected with the estate until after that settlement has been arranged.""But this is my money, my own private affair," begged Eileen.
"The estate has nothing to do with it."
"I am sorry," repeated the teller. "If that is the case, you will have no difficulty in establishing the fact in a few minutes' time."Eileen turned and left the bank, and it seemed that she was almost swaying. Linda stood a second with narrowed eyes, in deep thought.
