The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-23
BY n QUAD.

For seven years old John Fosdlek had
been paying teller OF the First National
Bank % a Western town. Previous 20 his
taking the place he had been a private
banker and merchant and had played in
hard luck. He had secured the place
| through having the friendship Of the
president, but there had been a ring
! against him in the hank The place had
been promised 10 a relative of the cash
ier's, and old John was looked upon as
an intruder. Without the president behind
him. even after he had held the place
Tor three or four years. he would have
| been fired By those T. authority. He was
a man who said but little and rendered
| faithful service. As ne grew old they tried
10 make his age point against him. and,
not succeeding In that. ii was hoped that
ne might get caught up on forged check
or some other act OF csrelessness. He went
his way without fighting back. II he lost
his place IL meant poverty 10 himself and
wife In their old age. He was prompt,
| careful, and systematic, and the plans Of
his enemies we're defeated.
The seventh year was drawing TO a
close when old John was caught up. A
stranger presented check which ne hest
tated 10 pay and about which he con-
| suited the cashier. Later on the cashier
stated that he had ordered Il to be held
pending examination. Old John said that
he had been ordered to pay Il at once
The check was paid, and. being spurious,
| the bank vas $500 out OF pocket. II was
| a question Of veracity between cashier
| and teller, and It was decided within the
bank that the cashier had the better Of II.
Just then. too. old Fosdick slipped in a
wrong figure in making up his days ac-
count. and, though IL made only a differ
ence of cents in the total, IL seemed to
| prove that old age and carelessness had
unified him for his position. The presi-
| dent being In Europe. the board took the
| case under Amusement, and by order
| the old man was fired out into the world
to begin life anew. There were resolu-
tons, OF course, and one of them was to
the effect that the bank presented him
with the sum OF 500 for long and faithful
services. He put on his hat without pro-
| test, and he left the bank without taking
| the money. AT his humble home an old
| and anxious wife met him and, wifelike
gave him sympathy and encouragement
first of all.
Never mind, John; never mind" she
! kept saying. I'VE have a few dollars
| ahead, and you are only fifty-five years
old. and something good is sure to turn up
You have fought too long to give up now"
But the weeks went by. and nothing
| turned up. The business world has very
| little use for an old man who has no cap
| ital. John Fosdick's savings were grad
uaIly used up. the generosity of his few
| friends exhausted, and there came a day
| when the question of food and fuel be-
| came serious one. He was not one 10
| sponge or turn beggar. II the world would
not let him earn his food, at least he
would go out Of it ard hope that his GO
ing would open the hearts of men toward
his widow.
After bordering for an hour he started
out with the firm intention of drowning
| himself in the river. II was a clustering
November day. and as he passed the bank
with bowed head, bent shoulders and we'll
worn garments, even those who had de-
prived him OF his place felt touch of
sympathy. He was making for the sub
urbs and highway bridge and wondering
| how long 1t would take TO drown and
what men would say OF him when dead,
| when he caught sight Of men and horses
| skulking behind an abandoned factory.
1t was singular, bound on such a mis-
| sion as he was, that he should have seen
or wondered and specialized on why those
men and horses were there, but he had
scarcely passed the old factory when ne
suddenly turned about and ran for the