the matter of lending, we are already quite careful.”
“Maybe so, but there’s always the opportunity for greater care. I think it should be brought to Mr. Grandborough’s attention.”
Jonah was appalled. “All the changes you’ve made… you plan to ask final approval of them at the meeting this afternoon?”
“I do.”
“Then I hope you will not think it uncooperative of me to present all the reasons why some of your proposals are risky or simply of no benefit to the bank.”
Reid snorted softly, as if he’d expected that response. “Present away. In fact, I think I’m about to add to your list—if you will accompany me to the lobby.”
“Why? What are you doing?”
Reid’s smug smile came to the fore at that question. He walked ahead, leaving Jonah no recourse but to hurry after. Reid greeted the customers in line at Matthew’s window, then leaned forward for a word with Matthew. “Where is Mr. Campbell?”
Matthew’s smile was more grimace. “Mr. Fisher brought in his gold. Simon’s gone back to weigh it.”
“Never a favorite chore of mine, either. All right.” Reid went through the gate and laid a sheet of paper on Margaret’s desk. “I’ve taken the liberty of redesigning the deposit ticket to accommodate a greater number of checks. I would value your opinion of it, Margaret, if you have a moment to look it over.”
Jonah could not believe his ears. “You never mentioned this to me.”
“I have no doubt as to your opinion, Mr. Woolner.” Reid took a second sheet of paper from his coat pocket and turned to the row of clerks at their desks. “Ladies and gentlemen, a minute of your time in regard to the collection of passbooks at the end of the month. Beginning today, we will be writing up the checks as they’re received,” he continued, holding aloft a ruled sheet, “and placing only the totals in the passbooks. This is a time-saving measure you will all come to appreciate.”
Robbed of speech and nearly of breath, Jonah turned to gauge Margaret’s reaction and discovered her admiring the vandalized deposit ticket. She caught his glance and held out the ticket for his perusal. “It is an improvement.”
“Yes. A rather expected result when the man can do no wrong.”
Amused reproach shone in her eyes. “Are you really being fair?”
“He’s been here three days, Margaret.” Jonah looked around to see Reid back in conversation with Matthew. “Three days and he’s already pushed more changes on us than Mr. Crowe did in ten years. That doesn’t speak of a certain heedlessness to you?”
“You don’t believe his innovations are sound? I rather like the new ticket.”
“And just what was the matter with the old one?”
Margaret laughed. “All institutions must move ahead with the times. Even banks.”
“Not at this breakneck pace.” The only way to rein in Reid was to detail his tactics to the board. Once they knew, they would take steps. And if Reid thought to coerce his cooperation by leaving him to learn of changes along with the staff, he was much mistaken.
Simon appeared around the corner with Mr. Fisher’s gold tucked under his arm and Mr. Fisher in tow. Jonah slipped through the gate to meet them. “Mr. Fisher, good morning. I trust Mr. Campbell’s examination met with your expectations.”
Mr. Fisher might have been an unassuming figure if not for his tendency to mix stripes with checks. Jonah had always attributed it to too much time spent in the wilds of California and away from his wife. It did not add stature to his short, bow-legged shape, but it was undeniably attention-drawing. “Mr. Woolner, I am quite pleased. Quite pleased. My own count was twenty-five hundred, and Mr. Campbell makes it at just eleven pounds. And might I say I was so sorry to hear about Mr. Crowe. So sorry, indeed. You have assumed the post of cashier?”
Jonah caught Simon’s
“Maybe so, but there’s always the opportunity for greater care. I think it should be brought to Mr. Grandborough’s attention.”
Jonah was appalled. “All the changes you’ve made… you plan to ask final approval of them at the meeting this afternoon?”
“I do.”
“Then I hope you will not think it uncooperative of me to present all the reasons why some of your proposals are risky or simply of no benefit to the bank.”
Reid snorted softly, as if he’d expected that response. “Present away. In fact, I think I’m about to add to your list—if you will accompany me to the lobby.”
“Why? What are you doing?”
Reid’s smug smile came to the fore at that question. He walked ahead, leaving Jonah no recourse but to hurry after. Reid greeted the customers in line at Matthew’s window, then leaned forward for a word with Matthew. “Where is Mr. Campbell?”
Matthew’s smile was more grimace. “Mr. Fisher brought in his gold. Simon’s gone back to weigh it.”
“Never a favorite chore of mine, either. All right.” Reid went through the gate and laid a sheet of paper on Margaret’s desk. “I’ve taken the liberty of redesigning the deposit ticket to accommodate a greater number of checks. I would value your opinion of it, Margaret, if you have a moment to look it over.”
Jonah could not believe his ears. “You never mentioned this to me.”
“I have no doubt as to your opinion, Mr. Woolner.” Reid took a second sheet of paper from his coat pocket and turned to the row of clerks at their desks. “Ladies and gentlemen, a minute of your time in regard to the collection of passbooks at the end of the month. Beginning today, we will be writing up the checks as they’re received,” he continued, holding aloft a ruled sheet, “and placing only the totals in the passbooks. This is a time-saving measure you will all come to appreciate.”
Robbed of speech and nearly of breath, Jonah turned to gauge Margaret’s reaction and discovered her admiring the vandalized deposit ticket. She caught his glance and held out the ticket for his perusal. “It is an improvement.”
“Yes. A rather expected result when the man can do no wrong.”
Amused reproach shone in her eyes. “Are you really being fair?”
“He’s been here three days, Margaret.” Jonah looked around to see Reid back in conversation with Matthew. “Three days and he’s already pushed more changes on us than Mr. Crowe did in ten years. That doesn’t speak of a certain heedlessness to you?”
“You don’t believe his innovations are sound? I rather like the new ticket.”
“And just what was the matter with the old one?”
Margaret laughed. “All institutions must move ahead with the times. Even banks.”
“Not at this breakneck pace.” The only way to rein in Reid was to detail his tactics to the board. Once they knew, they would take steps. And if Reid thought to coerce his cooperation by leaving him to learn of changes along with the staff, he was much mistaken.
Simon appeared around the corner with Mr. Fisher’s gold tucked under his arm and Mr. Fisher in tow. Jonah slipped through the gate to meet them. “Mr. Fisher, good morning. I trust Mr. Campbell’s examination met with your expectations.”
Mr. Fisher might have been an unassuming figure if not for his tendency to mix stripes with checks. Jonah had always attributed it to too much time spent in the wilds of California and away from his wife. It did not add stature to his short, bow-legged shape, but it was undeniably attention-drawing. “Mr. Woolner, I am quite pleased. Quite pleased. My own count was twenty-five hundred, and Mr. Campbell makes it at just eleven pounds. And might I say I was so sorry to hear about Mr. Crowe. So sorry, indeed. You have assumed the post of cashier?”
Jonah caught Simon’s
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