flat clock
against the wall, the scratching of Wentz's pen, the steps of passersby
on the sidewalk--as she waited for what seemed an unconscionable time
for the cashier to speak. Panic was in his eyes when he finally raised
them from the check. He stood uncertainly for a moment, then turned and
walked quickly to the president's desk.

Wentz read it without lifting his head as it lay before him. He
continued to stare at it as though he had been stunned, while Kate with
her eyes fixed upon his face thrummed lightly on the counter with her
finger tips. He had pictured something like this a thousand times, yet
now that it actually had come he seemed as little prepared to meet it as
if it were a crushing and complete surprise.

He lifted his head as though with an effort.

"Will you step here, please?" His voice sounded thick.

The cashier quickly withdrew while Wentz arose slowly and opened the
gate.

As Kate sank slowly into the depths of a leather covered chair, the
much-discussed coat, a fitting garment for a princess, with its ample
cut and voluminous unstinted hem, swirled gracefully about her feet. Her
gloves, her close-fitting hat with its well-adjusted veil drawn over her
carefully-dressed hair--everything, to the smallest detail of the
subdued elegance of her toilette--suggested not only discriminating
taste but unlimited means with which to indulge it.

The Sheep Queen toyed idly with a gold mesh-bag suspended by a chain
about her neck, and her face was sphinx-like as she waited for Wentz to
speak.

The check fluttered as the banker picked it up at last and held it
between his two trembling hands.

"Is it necessary, Miss Prentice, that you have this money at once?"

Kate replied evenly:

"No--I can't say that. Why?"

He hesitated and the color swept hotly over his face.

"It will be an accommodation to us if you will wait a few days."

"In what way?"

Her calmness reassured him and he replied with a little less constraint:

"This is a large sum for a small bank, and I don't mind telling you
confidentially that the payment of this check will leave us a
little--er--short."

Kate raised her beautifully arched eyebrows and questioned:

"Yes?"

Wentz drew a deep breath of relief.

"You see, I inferred that you would be leaving this with us for a
considerable length of time and, anyway, I was sure that you would be
considerate if it was not quite--not quite convenient to pay the full
amount at