The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1902-04-03
A Business


tunliet, and never once, in all that
time, could there have been found one sin
gle, solitary error on any of his books. His
balance sheets We're marVelS of unSpotted
correctness. He could run down three COL
umnS Of figures at the same time, and at eX-
press speed and add them with absolute
precision. He could locate the errors and
transpostlOnS of the other EMPLOYEES in no
time at all, while the most intricate prob
lens OF compound discount or interest were
to him as if they were not. And, in all his
ways, he was rs precise and methodical as
chronOmeter and as prlm and neat as
new silver dollar.
He was tall, lank man, with a smooth
lip and jOWl, the complexion of weather.
beaten wood, and small, narrow eyes of
faded hazel. He invariably wore straight,
hgh-croWned stovepipe hat with a very
narrow brlm; Seedy black broadcloth suit,
made with a long frock coat; low pcca-
dilly collar and black ShoeString tie. He
was always ScrupulouSlv brushed and but
toned. and when he walked he carried him
self very erect and progressed deliberately,
like a man who thinks well of himself.
Altogether, although not StatueSque, he was
imposing, and because of his peculiar men
tai, moral and physical endOwmentS, his
SkittiSh young fellOw-employeeS, and other
frivolous persons, nicknamed him "Old
Plumb'bo and T-square"; but this, never
having heard, he did not heed.
His recreation was very simple. but, to
him, never mOnOtOnOuS. His entire leisure
time was occupied in perusing The Financial
Rfc,esp and like publications, which to the
tyro might seem somewhat arid, but whose
Stock-lStS and other information afforded
Mr.. Jopling the utmost intellectual SatSfac-
ton and stimulated his arithmetical magma
ton to bliSstul, if somewhat eIephantne
sportiveneSS with solid facts and ponder
Gus figures.
Now, on a day, Miss Mehetabel Bascom,
extracting from a rather lean old black
stocking, which had been darned with white
thread, IS, 90, in bills and coin, depos
tied it in the First National Bank of Squaw-
tunket. The new account, of course, came
under the notice of Mr. Abijah Joplng, and
from that day he marked her where she went.
Pondcring upon these facts and figures in
the qualities and fortunes of Miss Meheta-
bel BaScom and his own, Mr.. Abijah Jop-
ling, 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 ewes at 4 man vet not
seek him, he determined to seize the aus
picous moment and to deal with her.
"MSS Mehetabe," he said to himself,
IS Il woman OF business. VIII waste no
words, but talk straight business and come
to the point without needless circumocu-
ton"
That very evening, having carefully
smoothed the nap of his respectable stove
pipe and looked we'll to the general neatness
of his attire, he betooll himself, with DELHI
crate and digned footsteps, to the shop of
Miss Mehetabel.
He found that lady behind her counter,
having waited upon her last customer, and
being about to close for the night.
Without beating about the bush, and in
cool and measured but most respectful
tones, after he had exchanged greetings
with Miss BasCom, Mr.. Abijah Jopling be-
gan to state his business.
Miss Mehetabel," he said, 81 have
known you for several years, and a part of
that time have been acquainted personally
with you. What have heard of YOU has
been most highly to your credit, and my own
personal observation has only confirmed the
common report of your industry, your econ
OmV and your talents for business" Abb
jan paused a moment to let his words sink
i'm before he continued. Z" am, myself, not
wholly unknown to YOU, he went on, with
a Slight drawing up OF the figure and a little
swelling out of the chest. "FOr many wears
have been connected with the First Ma
tional Bank of SlulWtunket, and | have