登陆注册
4619100000084

第84章 The Day of Jubilee(2)

"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.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 抛弃性格缺陷

    抛弃性格缺陷

    青少年不得不看的励志书。每个人都是性格的美容师,抛弃性格缺陷,展现完美自我。2011最潮性格说明书,洞察你想知道的一切。让自卑、怯懦、孤僻、狂傲……见鬼去吧。
  • 末世掌天劫

    末世掌天劫

    道生一,一生二,二生三,三生万物,自盘古开天,女娲造人后,伏羲八卦,文王周易,人自命万物之长,从此,脚踏大地,耳听八方,广宇之内,无所不至。然,万物凋零,阴阳失衡,天道无情,降下灭世大难,人若自救,唯有掌天劫!!!
  • 复仇皇后

    复仇皇后

    那年的腥风血雨浸染了她幼小的心灵,从此坠入狱海。那天借着他的名义嫁入皇室,从此开始了她腥风血雨的复仇。情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 妃常嚣张之妖孽邪王狠绝色

    妃常嚣张之妖孽邪王狠绝色

    “王爷~”云沫雪拉着某王的衣袖摇啊摇,“你不会这么小气的对吧?”墨辰辞淡定的换了只手拿书,对云沫雪的讨好无动于衷,“会”于是沫雪炸了,“墨辰辞!你到底给不给我?不给信不信我去找辰钰要?”“真想要?”墨辰辞合上手中的书,眼底划过一丝邪气。“废话……”沫雪话没说完就被某王扛在肩上向内室走去,心底有一种不祥的预感,“你放我下来。”
  • 日子的味道

    日子的味道

    村子宁静极了,月色染在塬畔上,远近的树木、花草以及稼禾,显得清亮又柔美,透着原始朴素的风韵,散发出淡淡的清香。院中的几棵果树,经日头一昼的照晒,此时,也纹丝不动地入眠了;只有草丛间的虫呓,伴着柳婶和山菊的低泣,颤漾在夜色中。
  • 杂家学派与《吕氏春秋》

    杂家学派与《吕氏春秋》

    杂家是战国末至汉初兼采各家之学的综合学派。杂家虽只是集合众说, 兼收并蓄,然而通过采集各家言论,贯彻其政治意图和学术主张,所以也可 称为一家。
  • 总裁真正坏

    总裁真正坏

    这是一个都市小白领被腹黑大老板吭蒙拐骗欺负泪花后终于修成正果滴有爱、有船、有巴掌滴办公室纯蠢爱情故事。……小白领——太骄傲。“阎立煌,我不喜欢你,我很讨厌你。”这个男人到底是怎么回事儿?她明白拒绝了他五根手指头那么多了,他竟然还假借职位便利,对她实施各种腹黑无耻的*骚扰——抓小手,揽小腰,偷偷亲。还故意掉进粪坑,让她美女求救英雄,好趁机*诱。更甚者在屡战屡败之后,恼羞成怒,对她威副利诱,霸王强攻!!!“阎立煌,我告诉你,我绝对不会跟人谈办公室恋情。”“事实上,我工作的一大原则也是绝不与女同事发生任何爱昧关系。”谁知道这斯文痞子没几天就把办公室的隔墙给凿穿了。“莹莹,咱哲人说得好:近水楼台先得月!”那晚,他竟真为她飞越2千公里,仿佛屠龙勇士,救她出痛苦魔掌,还帮她灭掉了那对渣男贱女。……大总裁——真正黑!!!“丁小姐,你比我想像的,更可爱。”“阎先生,现实总比想像残酷。”“莹莹,还有什么,比被缠棉一掖的眷侣天亮就抛弃,更残酷?”这个小女子面若冰霜,却分明内心如火,一次勾挑引诱,二次欲擒故纵,三次煽风点火,他已经乐在其中。“阎立煌,我已经有喜欢的人了。”偏偏胆小的莹火虫就喜欢没事儿找抽,一个前度不够,竟然还弄来一堆相亲。在他悔不当初的一场伤筋恸骨的“大战”后,他再也忍无可忍。“丁莹,你再敢给我红杏出墙,信不信我,立马移栽!!!”移回自家后院,百亩田园,我看你还怎么花枝招展,呼蜂引蝶,所有风景,通通咱爷们儿独享!……被时光掩埋的秘密,终是被谁撕开真相?那天,他当着所有人的面,折身,落膝,说:【男人这辈子最大的战役,不是征服世界,而是征服他自己——用整颗心去爱一个女人一辈子。这是一场持久战,不少男人半路就丢盔弃甲另觅他欢。】可是莹莹,我不想再半路丢盔弃甲,你愿意陪我打赢这场,终生战役吗?“阎立煌,这场仗我早就输得一无所有尸骨无存。”在他前跟小蜜爱昧,后跟大明星绯闻,最后还搂着未婚妻跟她说“再见”的那天开始!!!奢侈的钻石婚戒,被狠狠砸落在地。转身的一刹她已泪如雨下。这个世界,可以让我笑的人那么多,可是,能让我哭的男人,却只有你一个。……最美好的爱情,便是历经千帆之后,终于成就我与你【最美的时光】。……这是一个草根女子自爱、自强,自立的故事。也是一个腹黑男从金字塔顶端坠入泥坑落地生花的故事。
  • 王不弃殿

    王不弃殿

    南江春水暖,枝头鸟争暄。我打北境来,共飞不知许。听此总牵系,日日上城楼。楼高见远乡,无人自北来。世人愚昧,所以忘乎所以。世人疯狂,所以朝代更迭。
  • 春雨细无声

    春雨细无声

    2015年7月11日,正逢周六,台风“灿鸿”肆虐。街上几乎没有了车辆和行人,人们都躲在家里安安稳稳等待台风登陆。但有一个人,一大早就推着她的自行车出门了。她对阻拦自己的丈夫说,她不放心病房里她的患儿们,其中有一个小婴儿因为肺炎、呼吸衰竭还上着呼吸机呢,她得去陪着他们,守着他们,和他们在一起;还有前一天预约的几个小病人,可能也在病区候着她了,她可不愿意失信于他们。丈夫深知她的脾性,便没再作过多的阻拦,只好叮嘱了她一句“路上多加小心,骑不动时就推着走”,松手放行。
  • 临高启明

    临高启明

    穿越到乱世不是被雷劈,是他们自己的选择。有人想称王制霸,有人想解民于倒悬,有人想以己之力,阻止最后一次野蛮对文明的征服,从而改写中华民族的历史。当然也有人想得只是三妻四妾,过现世过不上的极度腐败的生活。这群三心二意,各怀抱负的普通人,没有虎躯、没有王八之气更没有弱智光环道具。乱哄哄的挤在一艘旧船上,有的只是现代机器、科技还有各式各样的理论。穿越者们怀着现世无法达成的野心、梦想和理想,向着明末的乱世进发。目标:海南。