The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-08
MY FINANCIAL CAREER.


ally published ir "The Bookkeeper.' -
and Is written by E. A. Nash, whose
name is new to story readers.
When l go into bank l get ratified.
The clerks rattle me; the wickets rattle
me; the sight of the money rattles me;
everything rattles me. The moment
cross the threshold of bank l am a
hesitating jay. If l attempt to trans
act business there 1 become an ire
sponsible !d.ot. l knew this before
hand, out my salary had been raised
$50 a month, and I felt that the bank
was the only place for it. So shambled
in and looked timidly around at the
clerks. l had an idea that person
about to open an account must needs
consult the manager. l went up to a
wicket married Accountant" The ac-
countant w. a tall, cool devil. The
very sight of him ratified me. My
voice was sepulchral.
Can I see the manager" said, and
added solemnly, "alone?" don't know
why l said "alone." .- ...
"Ceptainly," said the accountant, and
fetched him. The manager was a grave,
calm man. / held my $56 clutched in
a crumpled ball in my pocket.
Are you the manager" / asked.
God knows l didn't doubt 1t.
YES" he said. .s
Can I see you," asked, "aione:'
didn't want to say "alone" again. but
without 1t the thing seemed self-evi-
dent. The manager looked at me in
some alarm. He felt that l had an
awful secret to reveal.
"Come in here" he said, and led the
way to a private room. He turned the
key in the lock.
I'VE are safe from interruption here"
he said. "Sit down." We both sat
down and looked at one another. !
found no voice to speak.
you are one Of Pinkerton's men,
presume" he said. He had gathered
from my mysterious manner that was
a detective. knew what he was
thinking, and 1t made me worse.
mo, not from Pinkerton's," / said,
seemingly to imply that ! came from
a rival agency. ITO tell the truth" I
went on, as II I had been prompted to
lie about 1t, "I'm not detective at all.
I've come to open an account. ] intend
to keep all my money in this bank"
The manager looked relieved, but still
serious; he concluded now that I was
a son of Baron Rothschild, or a young
Gould.
"A large amount. suppose" he said.
Fairly large" whispered. II pro-
DuSc utpOSlt HuW
and fifty dollars month regularly"
The manager got up and opened the
door. He called to the accountant.
"Mr. Montgomery" he said unkindly
loud. this gentleman is opening an ac-
count; he will deposit $50. Good morn
ing" I rose. A big iron door stood
open at the side of the room.
Good morning" said, and stepped
into the safe. --.
Come out" said the manager cold
ly, and showed me the other way. I
went up to the accountants wicket and
poked the ball Of money at him with
q quick. conclusive movement, as II I
were doing conjuring trick. My face
was CHASTITY pale. >.--.
Here" said, deposit IT," The tone
of the words seemed to mean, "let us
do this painful thing while the fit Is on
u.s. He took the money and gave It.
to another clerk. He made me write
the sum on slip Of paper and sign my
name in the book. no longer knew
what was doing. The bank swan be-
fore my eyes. =.
rs 1t deposited?" asked in a hollow,
vibrating voice. go.
1T is,'' said the accountant.
'Thel ] wan. to draw a check"
My idea was to draw out Sc for pres"
ent use. Some one gave me a ch.cl
book through wicpet. and some ,ne
e's. began telling ne how to write 1t
ont. The people In the bank had the
impression that I was an invalid mil
lionaire. wrote something on th'
check and thrust 1t in at the clerk. He
looked at 1t.
What! Are you drawing II all out
again?' he asked in surprise. Then I
realized that I had written $50 in
stead of So. had a feeling that 1t was
impossible to explain the thing. All
the clerks had stopped writing to look
at me. Reckless with misery, / made
a plunge
"You withdraw your money from the
bank?"
Every cent OF it,
Are you not going to deposit any
more?" asked the clerk, astOnished.
Never" An idiotic hope struck me
that they might think something had
inslllted me while I was writing the
check, and that I had changed my
mind. / made a wretched attempt to
look like a man with a fearfully quick
temper. The clerk prepared to pay the
money.
How will you have it,"
"What?"
How will you have it?"
"Oh." l caught his. meaning and an
swered without even trying to think,
"In fifties." He gave me q Afty-dollar
bill.
And the six ne asked, dryly.
In sixes," I said. He gave Il to me
and 1 rushed out. As the big doors
swung behind me caught the echo Of
q roar Of laughter that went up to the
ceiling Of the bank. Since then bank
no more. keep my money IN cash In
my trousers pocket and my savings
In silver dollars In q sock.