The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-01
THE AFFAIR OFBUNKER,
 THE BOOKKEEPER

Bunker was the bookkeepcr. taciturn and rather solemn looking at all times. The boys called him the old man. Bunker was forty. and ''the boys were ,wenty-one or thereabouts. An sorts of Jokes were played on old Bunker. but he never showed the slightest sign of resentment. If any of the shafts of weak wltticlsms which were hurled at him day in and day out pricked. there was no winclng. The cubs finally came to the conclusion that Bunker was dense physically and mentally. How this may have been nobody perhaps but Bunker himself knew definitely. but be was good bookkecper. nnd that was as far as the real old man of the office cared to Inquire.
 The office was on the twelfth floor. and its windows looked out over the roof of low building and stared into the twelfth story windows of a big building just beyond. Teddy Long. the office masher. had desk at one win dow. Teddy frequently was more oc- cupied with the office behind the win. dows in the twelfth story of the bulld- Ing beyond than he was with the busl- ness In his own office. It was law firm that held the premises opposite. and the lawyers were known to the boys In the brokers office for the ire quency with which they changed thelri typewriting stan. About once a month a new face. and always a pretty one. would appear fin front of the machine back of the legal windows. One morn ing Teddy Long cast his eyes across the way. and there he saw a new face behind the big window pane. As he told the other boys few minutes aft CT. this new face had all the others that had gone before "beat to death
 She's q daisy. fellows" said Teddy. "when you get chance. go to the window and shy look over there. She's got black hair. snapplng eyes. red cheeks and daisy figure"
 All at once the charmer looked up and smiled. showing set of even white teeth ina framework of scarlet. Teddy smiled back and nodded almost impcrceptlbly. There was very de- cided bow In return. and Teddy went soaring. Instantly. however. the young woman turned again to her machine. and her white fingers went flying nlm' bly, over the keys. Though she might be bit given to flirting, the young wo- man apparently did not mean that the little weakness should divert her mind too long from her work. tts
 Teddy half wheeled his chair around, the pleasurable little excitement. still glowing within him. There at the next window stood old Bunker. the book keeper. with face as red as peony and standing first on one foot and then on the other.
 Great Scottw said Teddy to himself. "The old man had his eyes on the charmer and thought she meant that smile for him! He looks as though he were going to faint That smile for him. Why. the poor old geezer. he's addle pated! Tn put the boys next"
 So Teddy told the boys of how the girl had smiled on him and how the old man thought the smile was intended for him and had blushed like girl and fddlcd with hls fingers. Well have some fun with the old guy, fellows. I'm going to get an introduction 10 the girl over the way. and I'll tell her all about Bunker and how if woman speaks to him he has fit. and she can just lead him on bit. and we'll have all sorts of fun here with the doings."
 The next day there was another sweet smile from the typewriter. and Teddy responded in kind. Curiously enough. old Bunker was at the other window again. and when that smile came across the areaway he blushed like Are and cast furuve glance at Teddy. Teddy saw 1t. We've got him going" he said to himself. ''The old fellows hit sure. hope be doesn't die of npoplexy before he makes out the pay roll. He looks as though he were going to choke"
 So it went on for weeks. Teddy met the charmer occasionally and sent her Into ccstasies of laughter over the ac- counts of the fun they were having with old Bunker.
 Why. when you smile," he said to her. "the old man goes up into the nineteenth heaven. I'm glad you smil- cd over at me that morning. for office work now Is as good as show"
 One morning Bunker showed up with q red carnation in his buttonhole. When Teddy looked through the win dow. he saw that there was bunch of the same kind of flowers pinned to the waist of the neighbor over the way. After Bunker had received his morn ing smile Teddy spread the news of the flowers "The old mans got 'em bad" he said. .....
 Bunker went on his vacation. and the smiling face was also missing from the window in the lawyers office. The Wednesday morning following Bun kers departure every man in the office found a square envelope on his desk which when opened contained an an nouncement reading like this:
 Mir and Mrs Joel Hslbert announce the mar. riage of their daughter Mary to Mr. neury Bunker Monday. Oct. :. at st Chrysos,oms church