The record-union., 1895-05-25
I held my $50 clutched in crumpled
ball in my pocket.
Are you the manager? ?" said.

Are you the manager?" said.
YES" he replied.
"Can see you ?" l asked, ''alone T I
didn't want to say "alone" again, but
without it the thing seemed self-evidenr.
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 private room. He turned the
key in the lock.
1--WE are safe from interruption here"
he said, "sit down."
We both sat down and looked at one
another. I found no voice to speak.
1ou are one of Plnkerton's men, l
presume" he said.
He had gathered from my mysterious
manner that l was a detective. | knew
what he was thinking, and it made me
worse.
mo, not from Pinkerton's," / said,
seemingly to imply that / came from "a
rival agency.
ITO tell the truth" went on, as If
had been prompted to tell a lie about 1t.
1 am not detective at all. l have 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
son of Baron Rothschild or a young
Gould.
"a large account, suppose" he said.
Fairly large" / whispered. "I pro-
pose to deposit S56 now and $50 month
regularly"
The manager got up and opened the
door. he called 10 the accountant:
Mr.. Montgomery" he said. unkindly
Ioud, thls gentleman is opening an ac-
count; he will deposit 500. Good morn
ing."
l rose.
A big iron door stood open at the side
of the room.
Good morning." I said, and stepped
into the safe.
Come out" said the manager, coldly,
ana showed me the other way.
went up to the accountants wicket
ana poked the ball of money at him with
quick, convulsive movement, as if /
were doing conjuring trick.
My lace was CHASTITY pale.
Here," L said. deposit it." The tone
OF the words seemed to mean ''let us
DO this painful thing while the fit ia on
u.s."
lie took the money and gave it to an
other clerk. He made me write the sum
on slip and sign my name in book.
no longer knew what was doing. The
bank swan before my eyes.
is 1t deposited?n l asked, in q hollow.
vibrating voice.
II ls," said the accountant.
lnen want to draw check"
MY loea was to draw out six dollars OF
1t 1or present use. Someone gave me a
check- book through wicket, and some
one else began telling me how to write it
out. Ihe people in the bank had the i'm
preston that l was an invalid million
alre. L wrote something on the check
ana thrust 1t In at the clerk. He looked
at it.
What! are you drawing it all out
again ?" he asked, in surprise. Then [
realized that l had written fitty-six in
stead OF six. l was too far gone to reason
now: L had feeling that it was inn
possible TO explain the thing. All the
clerks had stopped writing to look at
me.
reckless with misery, made plunge.
"Yes, the whole thing"
You withdraw your money from the
bank ?"
Every cent of it.'
Are you not going to deposit any
more?' said the clerk, astonished.
''Never"
An idiot hope struck me that thew
mignt thlnk something had insulted me
while was writing the check and that I
hao changed my mind. L made a
wretched attempt to look like q man
with fearfusly quick temper.
Ihe clerk prepared to pay the money.
how viii you have r" be said.
"What?"
"How will you have it ?"
Oh" caught his meaning and an
sWered without even trying TO think:
'In fifties"
He gave me fifty dollar bill.
ana the six 2" he asked dryly.
In sixties," I said.
lie gave 1t to me and l rushed out.
AS the big doors swung behind me /
caugn NJ Inc echo OF q roar Of laughter that
went up 10 the ceiling of the bank. Since
then | bank no more. [ Keen NV monev
IN cash IN my trousers pocket and my
savings In silver dollars in a sock
Stephen Leacock, in Life.