“Very thoughtful of you,” commented the Justice ironically. “Fifty dollars, please.”
“Dash it all! I haven’t that amount with me,” pulling out his wallet he counted the bank notes in it. “Here’s eighteen dollars,” he laid the money on the desk, and searched his pockets carefully, finally producing some small change. “This makes twenty-one fifty,” stacking the silver in a neat pile on top of the bank notes. “You’ll have to take that, and let me bring back the rest tomorrow.”
“Fifty dollars or jail!” and the Justice sat back and regarded the raging officer with provoking calmness.
“Will you take a check for the balance?” demanded Tom, as soon as he could control his speech.
“Depends on your bank.”
Without replying, Tom went slowly through his pockets, but he had left his check-book on his desk at his quarters, and his search was a waste of time. “Let me have a blank check on the American Security and Trust Company?” he pleaded.
“Haven’t one,” answered the Justice curtly, and forestalled further requests by adding, “Haven’t a check on any bank but a Baltimore trust company; guess you can’t draw on that, young man.”
Tom bit his lip savagely. “Can I use that telephone?” he asked, nodding toward the instrument.
“Sure, if you’ll pay the tolls.”
Tom seized the desk instrument and put in a call for Fort Myer, but it was some minutes before he got his connection, only to learn that the officers he wished to speak to were absent from their quarters. With a smothered oath he hung up the receiver and scowled at the Justice.