reassurance, there
remained an inexplicable feeling of disquietude when she thought of the
woman to whom she had proved an ingrate and a cowardly friend.

While Mrs. Toomey's mind was thus engrossingly occupied, Jasper was
having his own troubles in the Security State Bank.

Stimulated by three cups of strong coffee, Toomey had left the house
full of hustle and hope--a state which was apt to continue until about
eleven o'clock when the effect wore off, and then he might be expected
home with another iridescent bubble punctured, and himself gloomy to the
point of suicide.

To-day Toomey's feet as a means of locomotion seemed all too slow as he
covered the distance intervening between his home and the bank. His
black eyes were brilliant with caffeine and the excitement attendant
upon a large and highly satisfactory idea which had come to him in the
night.

Having obtained a hearing, he rolled a cigarette with tremulous fingers
while he unfolded his plan to Mr. Wentz. The banker listened with
equanimity as he sat on the back of his neck with his fingers interlaced
across his smart bottle-green waistcoat. Wentz's lack of enthusiasm only
increased Toomey's eagerness. He leaned forward and declared with all
vehemence:

"Look at the territory I could cover, if I had an automobile! With a
sideline of fruit trees, I can get an order of some kind out of every
family in the northern part of the state. It's a cinch, Wentz. I'm
giving you a chance to make a good loan that you can't afford to let
pass."

Mr. Wentz yawned with marked weariness.

"What's a bank for if not to encourage legitimate enterprises in the
community upon which it depends for its business? There isn't a flaw in
this proposition, Wentz! Can you show me one?"

"It's perfect from your side," Wentz agreed, "but where would we get off
if every family in the northern part of the state didn't happen to need
fruit trees or a sewing machine? We'd have a worn automobile on our
hands and another of your familiar signatures on our already too large
collection of promissory notes. Can't see it, Jap."

Disappointment as well as Wentz's words stung Toomey more deeply than he
had been touched for a long time. A rush of blood dyed his sallow face
as he grabbed his hat and started for the door. Opening it partly, he
turned and flung a retort over his shoulder.

"I'll tell you what I think, Vermin!" Mr. Wentz winced. This perversion
of his name had darkened his child