The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-07-17
THE AFFAIR OF BUNKER,
 THE BOOKKEEPER

Bunker was forty. and "thc boys" were twonty-onc or thereabouts An sorts of jokcs were played on old Bunker, but Re rever showed the slightest sign of fcseutmcut. If any of the shafts Of weak witticisms which were hurled at hlm day in and day out prlcked. there was no wlnclng. The cubs finally came Go the conclusion that Bunker was dense physically and mentally. How this may have been nobody perhaps but Bunker himself knew definitely but ho was a good bookkeeper, and that was as far as tho real old man of the o0icc cared Co inquire.
 The office was on the twelfth hoor' and its windows looked out over the roof of a low building and stared iuto the twelfth story windows Of a blg building just beyond Teddy Long the oflce masher. had a desk at one win dow. Teddy frequently was more oe cupied with the office behind the win- dows i'm the twelfth story of the build Ing beyond than he was with the busi' ness ln hls own office. It was a law firm that held the premises opposite and the lawyers were known Co the boys In the brokers office for the ire ouency with which they changed thelT typewrltlng stnd. About once a month a new face and always a pretty one' would appear In front ot the machine back of the legal windows. One morn Ing Teddy Long cast his oyes across tho way. and there he saw a new face behind the big window pane. As be told the other boys a few minutes aft CT. this new fuce had an the, others that had gone before "beat Co death
 She's a daisy. fellows" said Teddy When you get a chance, go Co the window and shy a look over there She's got black hair snapping eyes red cheeks and a daisy figure
 All at once the charmer looked up and smiled. showing a set of even white teeth ln a framework of scarlet Teddy smiled back and nodded almost Impcrceptlbly There was Q very de cldsd bow ln return and Teddy went snlring. Instantly. however, the young woman turned again to her machine and her white fingers went flying nim- bly over the keys Though she might be a bit given Co flirting the young wo- man apparently dld not mean that tho uttle weakness should divert her mind too long from her work
 Teddy half wheeled his chalr around, the pleasuruhle little excitement still glowing within him There at the next window stood old Bunker, thc book Keeper. with a face as red as a pcony and standing first on one foot and then on the other.
 Great Scottw said Teddy Co himself. 'aThe old man had his eyes on the charmcr and thought she meant that smile for him. He looks as though be were going Co faint. That smile for him. Why. the poor old gcczer, he's addle patcd! I'u put the boys next"
 So Teddy told the boys Of how the girl had smiled on hlm and how the old man thought Che smile was intended Cor him and had hlushCd like a girl and addlcd with his fingers. "Wcu have somr fun with tlc old guy, fellows, rm going Co get an introduction Co the girl over Che way. and l'l tcll her all about Bunker and how if woman speaks Co b.m hc has Gt, and she can just lead him on a bit. and we'll have sll sorts ot fun here with Che dolngs.'
 The next duy there was another sweet smile from The typewriter and Tedly responded in kind Curiously enough. old Bunker wns at the other window agn.u. and when that smile came across tbc arcaway ho blushed Ike drc and cost a furtive glance at Teddy Teddy saw lt. We've got him going" he said Co himself "The old fellows hit sure. hope he doesn't die or apoplcxy before he makes out the pay roll. He looks as though he were going Co choke"
 So it went on for weeks Teddy met the charmer occasionally and sent her Into ccstasles Of laughter over the ac- counts of the fun they were having with old Bunker.
 "why. when you smlle." be 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 a show"
 One morning Bunker showed up with rcd carnatlon In his buttonhole. When Teddy looked through the win dow. he saw that there was a bunch of the same kind of flowers pinned lo the waist of the nelghbor over the way. After Bunker had received his morn Ing smile Teddy spread the news of the flowers 'srhe old mans got 'em bad" he sald.
 Bunker went on hls vacation. and the smiling face was also missing from the window In the lawyers office. The Wednesday morning following Bun kcr's departure every man 10 the office found a square envelope on his desk which when opened contained an an- nouncement reading like this:
 Mr. and Mra Joel Halbert announce ths mar. rige of their daughter Mary to Mr Henry Bunker Monday Oct. % u SC. Chrysosiom'' church.