Thus accosted Mr. Montgomery looked upon his niece with exaggerated surprise.
"A bank, little girl? What on earth do you want with a bank?"
"I thought I might separate it from some of its cash; or if the terms are satisfactory I might leave some money. If the venerable old party I address holds a job inside we might withdraw from the public gaze and commune within the portals. The day is raw and that ice-cream suit invites pneumonia."
Passers-by viewed the pair with an amused smile. Captain Wilson, stumping along at the moment, asked without pausing:—
"Stranger in town, Amzi?"
"Yes, Cap; she's just bought the town and wants the key to the bank vault."
Phil followed her uncle into the bank and waited for him to walk round behind the cages. The dingy old room with its walnut counter and desks seemed at once a brighter place. The four clerks made it convenient to expose themselves to Phil's smile. She planted herself at the paying teller's cage and waited for Amzi's benevolent countenance to appear at the wicket. She held up her cardcase that he might have the full benefit of her splendor, extracted a small bit of paper, and passed it in to him. Seeing that it was not one of the familiar checks of the Montgomery Bank, he scrutinized it closely. It was a check of the "Journey's End" Magazine Company for fifty dollars, drawn upon a New York bank and payable to Phyllis Kirkwood.
Amzi's face expressed no surprise. He threw it back and waved her away.
"It's no good. Worthless!"