New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-19
THE PARTNER.

Mr.. Thomas Mathers was only ledger clerk in
the banking firm of Hodgson, Dunford. and Parr,
ST. Swithns Lane, Lombard Street 1t was neither
q very responsible nor very lucrative position,
and Tommy las all his friends called himl lOnged
As perhaps fifty thousand young men In similar
situation in London are longing at this moment
for of turning bis brains to better account
than adding up columns of figures anu copying
entries from big book into another. The chance
dm not como, but Tommy al not despair; and
there was this difference between him and the
great majority Of his fellow prisoners of the desk
he had the pluck t. work away manfully at what
ever he thought might possibly some day help hin
better bis position, though he could not see
exactly how il was to be done. With tnis end in
view he got mp French, German, and Italian; aud
be did everything he could to pick up Information
to the financial circumstances OF the customers
OF the bank He scraped acquaintance with every
clerk employed by those who had accounts at tue
bank, as far as he possibly conld and picked up in
time idea. more less accurate, as to the
commercial status of most of them.
Ono day no happened to be at lunch in his
favOrite restaurant, when an acquaintance named
Darling came in aud sat down beside him: After
little casual conversation. Darling asked him 10 let
hnn know Of any vacant clerkship he might hear
az will certainly, old fellow" returned Tommy !;
" but hope yOu haven't got into row with Apple
ton" Frederick Appleton was Darlings brother
in-law and he was also the secretary of the
milford and County Chemical Company, in whose
countng-house young Darling had subordinate
ooh no, nothing of the kind" returned Darling;
ana then he changed the subject.
On his way back to the bank after lunch,
Matbers asked himself why Darling should leave
his present situation. Re had a capita! prospect
therehs brother-in-law being tho secretary and
there was DO disagreement between him and his
Influential relative. Could it be that Dsr ling had
bad q hint from his brother-in-law that the
Chemical Company was getting into shallow water,
and that it beloved him to be looking out Tor
another situation IL seemed more than likely aui
young Mathers determined to act at once. lie
slipped Into the bank parlOr that afternoon, hoping
to find the junior partner, Mr. Parr good-natured
of. b. t1ya1tr NH i'm FIN
volunteering information. To his disappoint nent.
he found only Mr.. Hodgson. sour tempered old
man. who was struggling into his overcoat,
preparatory to leaving the Office for the day.
"Well," growled the banker. what do you
wantfn
Tommy was on the point of saving that he had
come to speak to Mr.. Parr but in moment he
ii heard something to-day SIR he replied " that
made me think that the Mudford Company are not
aWell, what of that what's that to moi"
Nothing, sir; only thought there was no harm
"Ar ythng of that kind you can say to Mr.. Park
inson" answered the old gentleman as he selzed his
umbrella and waddled down the passage.
Tommy felt snubLed but he did not mind that
much. He had done what he wanted brought
himself under the personal notice OF one OF the
partners. If he had given the hint to Parkinson,
the head cashier, Parkinson, no, he. would have
Lad all the credit of it, He retired to his place
among the other clerks little sore at the rebuff.
yet not entirely Dissatisfied.
the bank held some shares of the Mudford Chemical
Company security for tho balance of the account
of one of heir customers who was deemed rather
shaky. Next morning. accordingly, no called
Tommy into his room and questioned him as to the
nature of his information.
perhaps you will excuse my entering into that.
sir" said Tommy. with the utmost GOODNESS.
Mr.. Hodgs0n dismissed Mathers to his work with
Q dissatisfied grunt aud wave OF his hand and
imnediately set to work to have the shares OF the
Tommy, who managed TO know most Of what
happened at the bank. noted the fact and reoiced:
Within six weeks the shareholders OF the Mudford
Chemical Company met and resolved to go into
liquidation; and. though Mr.. Hodgson did not
think 1t worth while to thank the junior clerk Tor
the information he had given. Tommy was perfectly
satisfied. He knew that people do not forget
things which save their pockets.
1t happened that, some months after the incident
of the Mudford Chemical Company, Messrs.
Hodgson had important business to transact III
Turin, and it was thought advisable that the senior
partner should proceed to that city to look after it,
able. of starting branch h0nse there. Inc
question then arose, which of the clerks should
ACCOMPANY the head of the firm as bis secretary;
Matbers hal rendered him, consulted tho head
cashier the proprety of tho selection. Parkin-
Tommy would have lost his opportunity If he had
not remembered that at ono time, when he was
bent acquiring foreign tongues. he had spent his
evenin ~ for a few months Italian grammar
Hs contrved to let this fact be known. and in due
time Mr.. Parr informed his senior partner that" it
language"
This decided the point. Tommy received his
orders, and in three days more found himself on
board the Dover and Ca lais packet. in charge of
large dispatch-box ami Mr. HoGR,oD's bulky
pOrtmanteaus. The journey by means a
comfortable one tor the young man found that lie
was expected To travel second GLASS; and generally
act courier to bis employer When at last Turin
was reached, things were no better. Mathers found
that hi, Italian went but very little way and,
besides. be had to do the work of three clerks
Sometimes he was tempted to regret that he had
left mis- comfortable rooms IN TorriDgton Square.
Bloomsbury; but in his calmer moments he
reflected that at least he was occupying different
position from that of the rest of his fellOwcerks.
The 1hie5 man in Tnrn $" far as aod.Gn DIM
Marsoni. The Counts nobility did not prevent his
being the principal member Of large firm of
merchants and sh powncrs. To cultivate this man
was, indeed the chief reason of Mr. Hodgson's
journey to Turin; and, as the Oil BANKER knew
very well how to lay aside bis crusty aud pompous
manner when il suited bis book To do so. he soon
came to DO q not unfrequent guest at the Villa
Marsoni.
Mr.. Hodgson began to that there was a very
fair opening for an English bank at Turin, aud he
still engaged in pushing his way here and
there, when he received that his wife was
seriously ILL., This made him hurry oft to England,
leaving Mathers behind him to complete a trans
action vhich he had already practically arranged
Delighted at being left to represent the firm, for
ever so short time, aud ever go formal matter
Mathers WAS pacing one day down the principal
street of tho city with look of considerable
Importance on bis face when he met Count MarsOni.
The Count stopped and asked aft"r the old banker
when Tommy proudly informed him that ne had
returned to England, leaving him In charge of the
affairs of the firm.
"Ah, indeed Well, there's little matter I
wanted to speak of TO him."
"a shall be happy to serve you, Count said
Tommy his very best Italian.
q" Well. suppose you dine with tonight and
we can talk 1t over after dinner" returned the
Count, who thought he ought to show little at
tention to the lonely Englishman.
OF course the invitation was accepted. and
Tommy had no entered the drawing room
at the Villa Marsoni than he lost his heart at once
irrevOcably and forever. Maria Marsoni was
indeed beautiful and vivaciOus enough 20 have
turEed the head of wiser and collier blooded man
than Tommy Mathers; and 80 ready was he to
amuse her by his efforts to speak Language that
he partially knew. that ho more favor in the
maic!ens eyes than many a moro brilliant talker
would have done. Such I'm impression, indeed,
did the senorna's bright eyes mako upou Tomuiv's
hora