Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-03-15

~ VI ~
op on a forged check or some other
act OF carelessness. He went his way
without Fighting back. If be lost his
place. It meant poverty to himself and
wife In their old age. He was prompt,
careful and systematic. and the plans
Of his enemies were defeated.
The seventh year was drawing to q
close when old John a caught up.
A stranger presented n check which
he hesitated to pay md about which
he consulted the cashier. Later on the
cashier stated that he had ordered 1t
to be held pending examination. Old
John said that he had been ordered 10
pay it at once. The check wns paid.
and. being spurious. the bank was $500
out Of pocket. 1t was 4 question of
~veracity between cashier and teller,
and II vas decided within the bank
that the cashier had the better Of it.
Just then, too. old Fosdick slipped in a
wrong figure In making up his days
account. and, though it made only n
difference OF Z cents in the total, it
seemed to prove that old age and care
lessness had untitled him for bis posi-
ton. The president being in Europe.
the board took the case under advise
ment. and by order the old man was
fred out into the world TO begin life
anew. There were resolutions, 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 protest, and he left the bank
without taking the money. At his
humble home an old and anxious wife
met him and, wlfelike. gave him sym
patty and encouragement first Of all.
Never mind, John; never mind" she
kept saying. I'VE have a few dollars
ahead. and you are only IS years old,
and something good is sure to turn mp.
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 capital. John FosdicR's savings
were gradually used up, the generosity
OF his few friends exhausted. and there
came a day when the question OF food
and fuel became a serious one. He
was not One TO sponge or turn beggar
II the world would not let him carr
his food. at least he would go out Of II
and hope that his going would oper
the hearts OF men toward his widow
After pondering for an hour he started
out with the firm intention OF drown
ing himself IN the river. II was a blus
tering November day. and as he passed
the bank with bowed head. bent shoul
ders and well worn garments eve
those who had deprived him OF hi
place felt a touch OF sympathy. III
was making for the suburbs and
highway bridge and wondering how
long 1t would take 20 drown and wha
men would say OF him when dead wheI
he caught sight Of men and horse
skulking behind an abandoned factory
u was singular. bound on such a mis-
sion as be was. that be should hav
seen or wondered and speculated o
why those men and horses were Their
but be bad scarcely passed the old fa'
tory when be suddenly turned aboT
aud ran for the business part of th
town with speed that astonlshed hin
self.
To the vaults Of the First NatiOni
bank was D sum close upon $4,000
deposited there temporarily by a raj
road company Outside the vault wa
big safe containing $4,000 more.
sas q quiet afternoon, with few poop