The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-05-14
Copyright iOOa. by R. n. shelton

the third time Billy Reynolds. lounginl in the window as he bored 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 MT. Me thuselahT For the third time the wag. ging heads of the group announced their ignorance. It was twenty min' utes of Q. and. according to an preee- dent. the paying teller was already a halt hour late. Ed Frost slipped down from his perch on the table.
 Don't suppose old Methuselah's get ting dlssipated. do youT 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 turcd.
 More likely he heard a Joke and sat up all night trying to figure 1t 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. "Where in creation is MethuselahT' 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 Mir Greer. the cashier, came in.
 "Clark." he said briskly. you'll have to take tho paying toller's window for couple of weeks or SO. Mr.-er-Mr -er-Mcthuselah"-t 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
 "Dld you hear the old man, thoughr said Frost. Called him Mir. Methuse- lah. by George!
 Don't believe he remembers his name" sald Paine. Generally gets over it with a 'Mr-er-er' something like that"
 "what is his real name anyway said Hardy.
 'JOnes, isn't lty' said Billy Reynolds doubtfuny.
 Jones or something similar" Hardy prompted.
 "I 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. It must be admitted that the paying teller was not a popular man. He never went to the ball games; he never joked: be never bought chances ln the rallies. Yet. for all that, he was considered a fixture at the Twentieth l National. as much of a fixture as the arithmOmeters or the brass screens. One would have as soon expected the vaults to take a vacation as Mir. Me thuselah. As to where that name orig hated lt would be difficult to deter mine, but the name was more or less of a at. for the paying teller was little and stoop shouldered and baldheaded. Ills face was wizened and wrlnkled, and, although 1t Is probable he was not far beyond forty. his beard was very gray.
 At closing time that afternoon Paine went over to Frost's desk. "Going to the gameY' said be.
 "Wait a minute or two, will youT Frost answered. "see'f can And this shortage. Somehow I'm rattled with out old Methuselah around"
 "what do you suppose has got Into the old codeerr Frost asked as they boarded a car a half hour later. "When he begins to take a vacation, l feel all broken up myself"
 Paine laughed. "Say," said he. "lm- agine old Methuselah trying to enjoy himself. It would take about three fu- nerals Q day to keep him in bis normal condition"
 "we'n probe him when be gets back said Frost. 'Tf be tells us anything, it'n be the truth"
 ''Yes. If be tells us anything" Paine assented.
 The wonder occasioned by Mir. Me thuselah's departure had not subsided when at the expiration of the two weeks he returned. the same stoop shouldered. baldheaded Methuselah, yet with an air of sprightllness and de clsion about him which was at once new and perplexing, As Ed Frost put it, 'Tm hanged if know what it Is. but something has happened"
 Several days went past, and other changes were noted in the paying tell CT. His reserve had disappeared. Once ever he essayed a ponderous wlttlcism. Then came the most startling develop ment of all
 The boys were washing up one after noon when they heard an apologetic cough behind them and. turning, saw Mir. Methuselah twlrling his hat and looking decidedly m at ease. It took several moments of preliminary hem ming and having before he found the courage to address them.
 Boys. IT want to make a bargain with you" he began nervously. "l hope 1t won't appear foolish, you know, but want to ask you to drop that Methuselah. Never minded it before you know, but now somehow do. If | sa q NrHNu