The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-12-06

l turned rund to look at him, but at
the first glance covered my eyes with
my hands, almost blinded, for he flashed
like quicksilver in the sun; and, before
| recovered, he turned down some alley
or street, and had disappeared, and /
found myself more completely bewilder.
ed than ever before. Irelatel the Incl.
dent to George, but he could come no
solving the mystery-for mystery it Ger.
tainly now had become. Neither of us
could even suggest possible explana.
tion. 1t undoubtedly had not been an
optical illusion, for, when we met him
in the country, George had witnessed
the same luminous phenomenon, though
perhaps not quite so wildly.
But had made another discovery in
the glance that l caught of him this
time, for, quick as il was, l noticed a
popularity about him that had never
seen before. His finger nails were al.
most an inch in length, and trimmed to
a point, sharp as black talons. did not
tell George Of this-why, cannot say,
unless because the remembrance of their
claw-like look invariably made ME
shiver, and, hardly knowing what to
think of the old man, l did not mention
it; then, besides, it was really but a
trivial circumstance.
The following day business at the
bank proved remarkably heavy, at least
my particular share. Itsesmed to have
taken a sudden freak of remorse for the
easy time it had been allowing me, and
Immediately concluded to make full
atonement. worked steadily through
all the morning and half the afternoon,
allowing myself only few moments..fo for
dinner. About 8 o'clock, tired and
cramped in position, l leaned back in
my chair TO take good stretch, and
had just closed my mouth after q most
refreshing yawn, that came near imperil-
ing the desk, when l heard the teller
say to some one:
He thinks when he gets twenty-five
thousand that something grand will
happen to him, and he'll be amsng the
highest in the land. He works hard
enough for it, poor man! and is as
honest about it as if the whole world
was looking on. Of course, the very
fact of his trying to get twenty. 6ve
thousand shows that heis badly cracked,
utterly crazy. 1t is queer idea of his,
but nobody can reason with him about
the mstter."
/ had not heard who he was talking
about, nor did inquire, but thought
to myself as l trimmed my pen: "Well.
twenty five thousand is not much; you
have ten times that amount, and did
not come by it very easily either, but
nobody thinks you are cracked or
utterly crazy, and it is hardly queer
that person should want money in this
age of the world, and, if he is honest, it
is more than can be said Of"
Ny quill had most beautiful point
Indeed, l quite prided myself on the
art of pen-making, and highly pleased
with the satisfactory result of this deli
cate operation, fell to work again with
renewed energy, forgetting all about
twenty-five thousand, or fifty thousand,
or any other particular thousand in the
high pile of notes that still remained
waiting to be entered. / plodded
bravely ahead, but my good humor was
not destined to be of long duration, as,
before they were greatly diminished, |
discovered another job, for which | GER
tainly had made no calculation.
1t was a mistake, resulting entirely
through the carelessness of the indorser.
| Immediately saw seven-mile trip into
the country for some of the bank clerks,
and / suspected it would more than
likely fall to my lot. could not help
mentally matchmaking all people in
general, and this man in particular, for
being SO loose about business affaiIs,
and apparently caring little how much
trouble and inconvenience they gave to
others. After appealing to the Presi-
dent for his decision, it turned out just
as l had anticipated; first, that some
one must 60 ont and see the man per-
sonally: and, second, that l must be
that unlucky "some one" The job had
just single Iedeemipg feature, which
was, that day or two, or even three,
made no especial difference, otherwise
it really would have been beyond my
Christian forbearauce, as it was already
late, and was tired, and the afternoon
hot and disagreeable. -
Iwaited until Thursday, vainly hopin
that the heat might moderate, or that
it might rain, but the morning dawned
without any change in the temperature
Finding it impossible to delay the mat
ter still longer, l went over TO the liv
ery-stable, ordered the buggy, and, as
had previously gained Georges consent
to accompany me-for there is no socie
ty would quicker avoid than my own
Il drove TO his lodgings and picked
him up without wasting much time.
After all, did not know but it wal
better than being cooped up in the
bank, which, if it was not as bright, wa
considerably hotter, for the wind fell
very pleasant blowing softly against oul
faces, and the farms lying along the
road, spreading far out as the eye could
reach, were much more interesting than
the musty pages Of ledger. The cher
lies hung dead-ripe upon the trees; the
black birds chartered among then te
each other with redstaincd bills. and
the cats, stretched lszily in the sun
shine, watched the winged robbers with
no charitable feelings. The leaves, il
they were thirsty, complained but
| gently, snd in the fields the grasshop
| pers without tagging still held theil
Jubilee, and from the level pastures far
ther off came the sound of distant
bells, and sometimes close by the road
side the farmers whetted their scythes
Yes, it was certainly not 30 disagree
able as ] had imagined, and while VIC
rolled pleasantly along l experienced
| quite revolution of feeling toward the
author of this forced journey. Wher
we arrived at our destination and were
ushered into his presence, the bushes,
WIS speedily accomplished, and after
had satisfied what remained Of my irri
table feelings by showing, in gentle