The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-05-09
Mr.. MethuSelah
-. By.
prcHARD BARKER SHELTON
,onvricht, 1902, by r. ID. Shelton


q, 40 was an air of subdued excite
IN tbe Twentieth National. For
= ,Z+bird time Billy Reynolds, lounging
q window as he pored over the
l--.-.t,ro mage of the morning paper,
Ia nm Mt the clock and then at the
1,tt1a group perched on nearby table
.oid "Where in time is Mr.. Me-
shrseIah?" For the third time the wag-
-. beods Of the group announced
S-S IGNORANCE, It was twenty min
'.--- of O and. according to all prece-
,s.,,f the having teller was already
hsr hour late. Ed Frost slipped down
{rorn his perch on the table.
mont suppose old Methuselah's get
4.1 dissipated, do your he asked,
l>I1h grave anxiety.
i faperhaps he bought a ticket to the
III came Yesterday and hasn't recov-
5..4 from the shock" Sam Paine ven
furod.
more likely he heard a joke and sat
M lin night trying to figure it out"
outin George Hardy.
4 eMaybe SICK suggested Billy from
hehind the paper.
.1lJ4 led come to work in anything but
i hearse." said Paine grimly.
,rillv rose from the window. ITS
tdd minutes of o." said he. "Where in
creation is Methuselah?" He folded
Fhe paper and put it in his pocket. go
gv.o, three to one, George, he comes in
late"
hardly was considering this PROPOSE
Non when Mr.. Greer, the cashier, came
.aclark." he said briskly, you'll have
10 take the paying tellers window for
hac8lple of weeks or so. Mr.-er-Mr.
CMethuselah"-the word came
rrudgingly-'is to be away for
awhile." He went into the back room,
md the group about the table looked
1t one another in amazement.
Must be SICK" Billy Reynolds as
serted.
hid you hear the old man, though"
Maid Frost. Called him Mr.. Methuse-
lad. by George!'
Don't believe he remembers his
uaIne." said Paine. Generally gets
nvor il with q 'Mr.-er-er' something
HE that"
WHAT is his real name anyway"
ss|d Hardy.
Zones e;;.i isn't iii" sSid Billy Reynolds
Zones or something similar" Hardy
ot0hpted.
u guess Methuselah's surer one"
66Id Frost.
II that morning, through the routine
'work of the Twentieth National, there
.Vns q feeling, shared alike by every
man in the bank, that something was
Iacking. 1t must be admitted that the
pt{ing teller was not popular man.
Be never went to the ball games; he
never joked; he never bought chances
ID the rafiles. Yet, for all that, he was
c0nsdered a fixture at the Twentieth
N0fional, as much Of fixture as the
thermometers or the brass screens.
Uue would have as soon expected the
Nils to take vacation as Mr.. Me-
Ebuselah. AS to where that name orig
inoted it would be difficult to deter
mine, but the name was more or less
of fit, for the paying teller was little
md stoop shouldered and baldheaded.
HB face was wizened and wrinkled,
1ud, although 1t is probable he was not
11r beyond forty, his beard was very
ny.
Il closing time that afternoon Paine
mi over to Frost's desk. "Going to
t1s game" said he.
wait minute or two, will your
Brost answered. "See'f 1 can find this
portage. Somehow Pm ratified with
PIT old Methuselah around"
what do you suppose has got into
me old codger" Frost asked as they
Doarded car half hour later. "When
ne begins to take vacation, 1 feel all
oxen up myself"
Paine laughed. "Say," said he, "im-
INC old Methuselah trying to enjoy
1mself. 1t would take about three fu-
nFals day to keep him in his normal
addition"
We'll probe him when he gets back"
a ID Frost. "If he tells us anything,
~ be the truth"
Yes If he tells US anything" Paine
19sented
The wonder occasioned by Mr.. Me-
[pselah's departure had not subsidized
Xhen at the expiration of the two
#eeks he returned, the same stoop
snouldered, baldheaded Methuselah,
{et with an air of sprightliness and de-
sion about him which was at once
uew and perplexing. AS Ed Frost put
y I'm hanged if | know what it is,
mi something has happened"
Several days went past, and other
cnanges were noted in the paying tell
81 His reserve had disappeared. Once
zen he essayed ponderous witticism.
men came the most startling develop
uent of all.
lhe boys were washing up one after
noon when they heard an apologize
<2ugh behind them and, turning, saw
"a. Methuselah twirling his hat and
lQpking decidedly i'll at ease. 1t took
4eVeral moments of preliminary hem
i'lng and having before he found the
eQurage to address them.
~ Boys, II want to make a bargain
Hlth YOU" he began nervously. 81
PFC 1t won't appear foolish, you know,
~ | want to ask you to drop that
Hethuselah. Never minded it before,
~ know, but now somehow l do. If
"a all the same to you, | wish you'd