It had to be You

sorted checks into order by state.“
    “Okay, so you didn’t learn much there. But what happened to your money while it was sitting in the bank earning a little interest?“
    “I haven’t the faintest idea.“
    “If the bank was keeping your money and paying you a little bit,“ Robert went on, slowly creeping up on the point he was about to make, “how did the bank pay the clerks? How did they pay for the gas or electricity or repairs? How did the owner of the bank always manage to live well?”
    Lily frowned. “I never gave it a thought. Not even when we had lots of money in the old days. And all the pitiful money we’ve made since we came here is in Mr. Prinney’ s safe, not earning anything. So, how do banks make their money?“
    “Pass that sugar over, would you?”
    As he stirred in a heaping teaspoon of sugar, he went on, “If you’d listened to President Roosevelt last night, you’d know. The bank doesn’t put your quarters, dimes, and dollar bills into a safe. They use that money. They loan it out to people at a greater interest than they pay you for your savings. They invest it in stocks and bonds and companies, and also get dividends in excess of what they pay you.”
    Lily’s eyes lit up. “I should have realized that. The stock market collapsed. The mortgages couldn’t be paid. Which is why we’re letting most of Uncle Horatio’s farmers not pay right now. There aren’t any dividends. That’s why Voorburg’s bank closed before we ever came here.“
    “It wasn’t only Voorburg’s bank,“ Robert said. “Thousands of banks all over the country lost money. Banks usually keep enough cash on hand to let a reasonable number of people take their money out. But as the economy got worse and worse, everybody took their money out. And the banks couldn’t pay their own bills. That’s why they had to close. That’s how so many people lost their life savings.“
    “Is that what President Roosevelt was talking about last night?“
    “Yes. And I admit I’d never understood it before either.“
    “So what does he propose to do about it?“
    “Lots of things. More stringent banking laws about how much they have to keep in reserve, how much they can invest, and what they can invest in. And the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is producing a lot more money to be distributed through the twelve Federal Reserve Banks to help the few banks that still exist to survive, and as soon as possible reopen banks that weren’t as irresponsible as some of the others. But only through something that’s been set up called the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which will be under the control of each individual state.“
    “Is it legal to just print more money?“ Lily asked.
    “It is now. Because Roosevelt says so. He even hinted that some bankers were criminally responsible for their investments, or even just stupid. They can only reopen under strict supervision, if at all.”
    Robert added in a self-satisfied tone, “Didn’t I tell you Roosevelt would try anything that might help? He demanded the same powers a president would have in a real war to fight the financial war.”

    When they arrived at the nursing home, the dumbwaiter installation was going exceedingly well. The Harbinger boys were working in the bathroom below the storeroom and were almost through to the basement. There were coils of sturdy ropes and a platform on the ground floor, waiting to be installed. A large trash container of what Miss Twibell had purged from the extra hospital room was sitting by the front door, waiting to be taken away by Mr. Farleigh and burned.
    “We might be here long enough to make use of that dumbwaiter,“ Robert said. “I can’t wait to try it out.”
    Lily started the morning by mopping the pharmacy floor, while Betty brought Mattie out to sit on the sofa while her bedding was being changed. A little pot of bright green foliage with yellow flowers was sitting on the big table in front of the sofa. Mr. Farleigh must have grown it in the small glass house adjoining his workshop.
    Robert was taking down the laundry when the peace and quiet was suddenly broken by Mrs. Connor coming up the stairs and shouting for Miss Twibell.
    Miss Twibell emerged from her suite. “What are you doing here, Mrs. Connor?“ she asked in a fairly reasonable voice.
    “How could you and that nurse Betty have done this to me?“ Mrs. Connor shouted.
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Come sit down in the