Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-07-13
A BUSINESS CASE

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AbiJah Jopling had been clerk In the
First National Bank of Squawtunket
and never once, in all that time
could there have been found one
single. solitary error on any Of his
books. His balance sheets were mar.
wells of unspotted correctness. He
could run down three columns Of
figures at tho same time and at OK.
press speed. and add them with abso-
Lutte precision. He could locate the
transpositions and errors Of the other
employees, in no time at all, while the
most intricate problems Of compound
discount or interest were to him IA
II they were not. And In all his ways
he was as precise and methodical as
ohroupmeter and as prlm and neat
as q new silver dollar,
In fact. he made too good clerk.
ever TO have become anything better,
aud. having neither friends nor sum
Client money to boost him up the
hnan DIAL ladder he had rested through
the golden time OF life on the lowest
round. He had entered the bank at
fourteen as petty clerk and at forty
eight had attained only the head book.
keepership. Neverth eless, he had by
economy and a shrewd turn or two,
thanks either to his disoernment or
good fortune. accumulated few
thousand dollars which he had In
vested In the Squawtunket and Squa-
woag Railroad company. very tidy
little property.
Now, on a day. Miss Mehetabel Bas-
com, extracting from a rather lean
old black stocking. which had been
darnOd with white thread. $8.b4306 in
bills and coin, deposited the amount
In the First National Bank of SquRw-
tunket. This came under his notice
and from that day he marked her.
Looking out through the white
saShed windows OF the bank, discreet
" yelled by dingy green wire screens,
whereon was displayed the title OF
that temple of finance In furnished
gilt letters shaded with rusty black,
Mr.. JoplinR had an unobstructed view
Of Miss Mehetabel Bascom's shop on
the othor side Of the street. This en-
bryo emporium was really nothing but
0 one.story addition which had been
built out onto the front Of Miss Bas-
CONS house. She had originally start
cd her shopkeeplng In the dwelling IT.
self, but az she pTOspered she found
need OF an enlarged establishment;
hence the addition. In the side win
dows of the little store one might see.
10 remarkably methodical arrange
mont, candy, tops, JackstOnes. dolls,
marbles. kites and other necessities
Of childhood besides some books and
periodicals, n small stock OF muslins,
oaIicoes. chintzes and other cheap
fabrics, as we'll as an interesting as.
sortment of that miscellany known to
tho trade as notions"
Miss Mehetabel had lived and con
Quoted her business here for more
years than II would be polite to say,
and had made glowing II not bril-
liant SUCCESS OF her humble little ven
ture into commerce. She was tall.
spare and rnwboned with steel.rim-
med spoctaclos and thinnlsh dark hair
In which were many silvery strands.
Her eyes were gray and piercing, her
mouth very firm and compressed
with an expression that never varied
except when the thin lips parted for
some ieconic utterance. for she was a
woman Of few words, and those OF tho
shortest At exactly $50 o'clock
every morning, summer or winter. a
light wisp OF bluishgray smoke would
curl upward from the square brick
chimney OF the dwelling. At exactly
6:16 Miss Mshetabsl would open the
door OF the shop, and attired In dark
brown dress, rather short about the
ankles. but very plain, very neat and
very businessllke. would sally forth
TO take down the green shutters OF
her shop windows, while her little
maid.ofall.work swept tho shop and
the sidewalk before II. You could
have set your watch by her. either in
the morning, or when, TO the flick OF
fys wing. she shut up shop at pre-.
oisely 0 p. m. Sho was Just as
mothodical and exact about all her
other affairs. She gave no credit n
she could possibly avoid II, and then
for not above week. She would
not accept Canadian dimes plugged
nickelB or postage stamps, and she
paid cash for all she bought, and OK.
acted the best discount for tho same
wherever possible. So doing she had
prospered, and now had her hand
some little account with The First Ma
tional Bank Of Squawtunket, just
across the way
PonderinR upon those facts and
figures In tho qualities and fortunes
of Miss Mshetabel Bascom and his
own, Abijah Jopling, with that acute
penetration with which heaven had
blessed him. saw opportunity flirting
with him out OF the tail Of her eye.
and. knowing that opportunity, like
woman, may make eyes at a man yet
not seek him. no determined 10 seize
the auspicious moment and to deal
with her.
Miss Mehetabel," no said 10 him.
self. "is woman Of business. I will
waste no words, but talk straight
business and como to the point with.
out needless decentralization"
That very evening. having carefully
smoothsd tho nap OF his respectable
stove.pipe and looked we'll TO tho
general nsatness Of his attire, he be,
took himself, With deliberate and dig
pined footsteps. TO the shop OF Miss
Mehetabel.
He found that lady bohind her
counter, having waited upon h6r last
customer, and being about to close fol-
tho niGht
Without beating about the bush
and Up cool and ueAsuTsd, but mos'
respectful tones, af1Sr he had ex
changed greetings with Miss Bascom
Mr.. Abijah Jopling began to state hii
| buBineBs.
Miss Mshetabol," he said, II hav'
known OF you for several years. an,
a part Of that time have beer
acquainted personally with you. Wha
! have heard Of you has been mos
highly TO your credit and my own per
sOnal observation has only confirm