Smyrna times., 1902-04-02
! Mr.. MethuSelah /
-. By.
RICHARD BARKER SHELTON
Copyright, 1902, by r. b. Shelton

ment IN the Twentieth National. For
the third time Billy Reynolds, lounging
in the window as he pored over the
sporting page of the morning paper,
looked up at the clock and then at the
little group perched on a nearby table
and said, "Where in time is Mr.. Me-
thuselah% For the third time the wag-
ging heads of the group announced
their ignorance. 1t was twenty min
utes of 8, and, according to all prece-
dent, the paying teller was already a
half hour late. Ed Frost slipped down
from his perch on the table.
Don't suppose old Methuselah's get
ting dissipated. do yOu?" he asked.
with grave anxiety.
perhaps he bought a ticket to the
ball game yesterday and hasn't recOv-
cred from the SHOCK" Sam Paine ven
tured.
More likely he heard joke and sat
up all night trying to figure it out"
put in George Hardy.
Maybe SICK" suggested Billy from
behind the paper.
He'd come to work in anything but
a hearse," said Paine grimly.
Billy rose from the window. ITS
ten minutes of o." said he. "Whcre'in
creation is Methuselah?' He folded
the paper and put it in his pocket. GO
you three to one, George. he comes in
| late"
Hardy was considering this propOsi-
ton when Mr.. Greer, the cashier, came
in.
CLARK" he said briskly, you'll have
to take the paying teller's window for
a couple of weeks or so. Mr.-er-Nlr
r-Methuselah"-the word came
grudgingly-"is to be away for
awhile" He went into the back room.
and the group about the table looked
at one another in amazement.
'Must be SICK" Billy Reynolds as
serted.
"Did you hear the old man. th0ugh?'
said Frost. Called him Mr.. Methuse-
lah, by GeOrger'
Don't believe he remembers his
name," said Paine. Generally gets
over it with 'AIr-er-er' something
like that"
"What is his real name anyway?
said Hardy.
'Jones. isn't it?" said Billy Reynolds
doubtfully.
Jones or something similar" Hardy
prompted.
II guess Methuselah's a surer one. -
said Frost
All that morning through the routine
work of the Twentieth National. there
was a feeling, shared alike by every
man in the bank, that something was
lacking. 1t must be admitted that the
paying teller was not a popular man
He never went to the ball games; he
never joked; he never bought chance.
in the raffles. Yet, for all that, he wa:
considered a fixture at the Twentieth
National, as much of a fixture as thu
arithmometers or the brass screens
One would have as soon expected thr
vaults to take a vacation as Mr.. Me
thuselah AS to where that name orig
mated it would be difficult to deter
mine, but the name was more or les
Of fit, for the paying teller was littl
= and stoOp shouldered and baldheaded
His face was wizened and wrinkled
and, although it is probable he was no
5 far beyond forty. his beard was yer
l gray.
e At closing time that afternoon Pain
: went over to FrOst's desk. Going t
c the game?' said he.
a "Wait a minute or two, will you?
u Frost answered. "See'f can find thi
d shortage. Somehow I'm ratified will
Il out old Methuselah around"
what do you suppose has got int
;. the old codger" Frost asked as the
a boarded a car a half hour later. "Whe
|" he begins to take a vacation, feel a
1t broken up myself"
)t Paine laughed. "Say," said he, sin
lie agine old Methuselah trying to enjo
r himself. 1t would take about three fl
n. neraIs a day to keep him in his normi
1t condition"
N "We'll probe him when he gets back
T. said Frost. ''If he tells US anythin
Of it'll be the truth"
a eyes, If he tells us anything" Pail
ut assented.
The wonder occasioned by Mr.. NJ
thuselah's departure had not subsid,
when at the expiration of the tv
er weeks he returned, the same sto,
ne shouldered, baldheaded Methusela
IN yet with an air of sprightliness and d
IN cision about him which was at on
:. new and perplexing. AS Ed Frost p
IL it, "I'm hanged if l know what it
ld but something has happened"
as Several days went past, and 9th
* changes were noted in the paying te
re er. His reserve had disappeared. On
OF even he essayed a ponderous witticis
Then came the most startling develC
ng ment of all.
ed The boys were washing up one aft
no noon when they heard an apologe
TN cough behind them and. turning, s;
A Mr.. Methuseiah twirling his hat q
De- looking decidedly ill at ease. 1t to
lt several moments of preliminary he
as ming and having before he found I
On. courage to address them.
me "Boys, IL want to make barg;
me with YOU" he began nervously.
'as hope it won't appear foolish. you knc
ro- but l want to ask you to drop Il
- MafhuSalah Navar nindad IL hafr