davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10

wore at their respective places Of business,
and Raridan, Wheaton and Wheelock in
black and white.
The humor of this division was not lost
on the travelling passenger agent, who
chaffed the glad rag faction, as he called
1t. until Raridan took up arms for his own
side Of the table.
'It may be true, sir, what you say about
division here between the working and
non-working classes; but wit and beauty
have from most ancient times bedecked
themselves in robes of purity. A man like
yourself, whose business Is to persuade
people to ride on the worst railroad on
earth, should properly array himself in
sackcloth and ashes, and not in purple and
fine linen, which belong to those who sew
orally give their thoughts to the-er-pro-
motion of peace"-indicating Wheeiock,
sound finances" indicating Wheaton, land
erin my own case
'Yes, do tell u.s." said the railroad man,
ironically.
ITO faith and good works said Warrick,
imperturbably.
"And mostly works. don't Think de-
clared WheelOck.
The relations between Porter and Wheat
on were strictly of a business character.
This was not by intention on Porter'S part.
He assumed that at some time he or Thomp-
son had known all about Wheaton's ante
cedents; and after SO many years OF salts
factory service, during the greater part
of which the bank had been protected
the employees. by bonding company, he
accepted the cashier without any question.
Before Evelyn's return he had one day
expressed to Wheaton his satisfaction that
he would soon have a home again, and
Wheaton remarked with civil sympathy
that Miss Porter must now be quite a
young lady"
"Oh yes; you must come up to the house
when we get going again. Porter an
swered.
Wheaton had seen the inside of few
houses in ClarksOn. He had a recollection
of having been sent to Porter's several
times, while he was still an errand boy in
the bank, to fetch Porter's bag on occa-
sions when the president had been called
away unexpectedly. He remembered Eve
lyn Porter as she used to come as a child
and sit in the carriage outside the bank to
wait for her father. The Porters stood to
him then, and now, for wealth and power
Raridan had contempt for Wheaton's
intellectual deficiencies. and praise of
Wheaton's steadiness and success vexed
him as having some sting for himself; but
his own amiable impulses got the better of
his prejudices, and he showed Wheaton
many kindnesses. When the others at The
Bachelors nagged Wheaton 1t was Raridan
who threw himself into the controversy to
take Wheaton's part. He took him to call
at some of the houses he knew best, and
though this was matter of propinquinty
he knew nevertheless that he preferred
Wheaton to the others in the house.
Wheaton was not noisy nor pretentious
and the others were sometimes both.
Wheaton soon found 1t easy to do things
that he had never thought OF doing before.
=
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10

ed MIN no longer with checks to be cashed,
put with little books in which they urged
him officially and personally to subscribe to
chaf1ues. Porter, who was naturally a
man OF generous impulses, knew his own
weakness and made the cashier the bank $
aimoner He was very sure that Wheaton
would be as careful of the banks money
as OF ms own; he had taken judicial knowl-
edge OF the fact that Wheatons balance on
the banks books had shown a marked and
steady growth through all the years of his
connection with 1t.
Wheaton's promotion to the cashiership
had come IN the spring. and shortly after
ward he had changed his way of living In
Few particulars. He had lodged for years
In a boarding house frequented by clerks;
place where his fellow boarders were,
among others, music teacher. milliner
and the chief operator of the telephone ex-
change. He had not felt above them
their dancing class and occasional thea
ter party had seemed fine to him. Por-
ter now suggested that Wheaton should
be member of the Clarkson Club and
Wheaton assented, the presidents rep
resentation that 'it would be good
thing for the bank" Vacant apartments
We're offered at this time in The
Bacheiors; as 1t was called, and he
awaited himself of the opportunity to
change his place of residence He had
considered the matter Of taking a room at
the club. but this. after reflection, he re-
jected as unwise. The club was a new in
that there were conservative people in
Clarkson who looked on it as a den of
iniquity-with what Justification he did not
know from personal experience. but he had
heard 1t referred to in this way at the
boarding house table. He knew Raridan
and the others at The Bachelors but his
acquaintance with them was of a per-
functory business character. When he
moved to The Bachelors Raridan who was
always punctilious in social matters for
mally called on him in his room, as did also
Captain Wheelock, the army officer than
stationed In Clarkson on recruiting service
The others in the house welcomed him less
formally as they CHANGED to meet him In
the hall or on the stairway They were
busy men who worked long hours and did
not bother themselves about the amenities
and graces of life.
His change to The Bachelors was of i'm
portance to Wheaton in many ways. He
saw here. in the intimacies Of their COM
mon table, men Of higher social standing
than he had known before. Their way OF
chatting one another seemed to him very
bright; they Knocked at the gods and were
not destroyed. Raridan was q new species
and spoke strange tongue. Raridan and
Wheelock appeared at the table In dinner
coats, and after a few weeks Wheaton fol-
lowed their example. Raridan he knew,
dressed whether he went out or not and
he established his own habit in this par
ticular with as little delay as possible. The
table then balanced. the smelter manager,
the secretary OF the terra Gotta manufae,-
turing company and the travelling passen-
ger agent Of the Transcontinental railroad
appearing in the habiliments which they
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
A Safe Man

James Wheaton was thirty years old
and was reckoned among the solid young
business men OF Clarkson. He had sue
eeeded far beyond his expectations and was
fairly content with the round of the ladder
that he had reached. He never talked
about himself, and as he had no intimate
friends II had never been necessary for
him TO give condolences. His father had
been harness maker In little Ohio town;
he and his older brother, were expected to
follow the same business: but the brother
grew restless under the threat of enforced
apprenticeship and prevailed on James to
run away with him. They became tramps
and enjoyed themselves roaming through
the country, until finally they were caught
stealing in a little Illinois village and both
were arrested 81.
James was discharged through the gen.
crosby OF his brother in taking all the
blame himself; the older boy was sent
to refornnatory alone. James then went
TO Chicago. where he sold papers and
biached boots for year until he found en-
bloyment as train boy. with a company
operating on various lines running out OF
Chicago. This gave him wide acquaint-
ance with western towns. and incidentally
( with railroads and railroad men. He grew
tired of the road and obtained at Clarkson
. y position in the office Of Timothy Mar
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10

He never speculated. He read In the news
papers every day Of men holding RESPONSE
BILE positions who embezzled and absconded,
but there was never any question in his
mind as between honesty and knavery.
1t irritated him when these occurrences
were commented on facetiously before
him; he did not relish jokes which car
ried an implcati ton that he too might be-
long to the dubious cashier class; and in
qulries as to whether he would spend his
vacation In Canada or, II 1t were winter,
in Guatemala. were not received in good
part, for he had much personal dignity and
little humor. He was counted among the
older men of the town rather than among
men of his own age, and he found himself
much more at ease among his seniors. The
young men appreciated his good qualities
and respected him; but he felt that he was
not one of them; socially he was voted
very slow, and there was an impression
abroad that he was stingy. Certainly he
did not spend his money frivolously and
he never had done So Many fathers held
him up as an example to their sons, and
this tended further to the creation of
feeling among his contemporaries that he
was lacking in good fellowship.
Raridan knew the personal history of
most of his fellow townsmen, and he was
fond Of characterizing those whom he par
ticularly liked or disliked, for the benefit
of his friends. He took It upon himself to
sketch Wheaton for John Saxton's benefit
m this fashion.
Jim Wheaton's one OF those men who
never make mistakes" said Raridan, with
the scorn of a man whose own mistakes do
not worry him. HE went into that bank
as boy, and was first a model messenger,
and then a model clerk and when they had
to have cashier there was the model as
sistant, who had been a model everything
else, SO they put him In. There wasn't
anybody else for the job; and I guess he's
good man for 1t, too. A bank cashier
doesn't dare to make mistakes; and as
wheaton is not of that warm, emotional
nature that would lead him to lend money
without setting something substantial to
mold before the borrower got away he's the
model cashier. You've heard of those bank
cashiers who can refuse a loan to man
ana send him out of the bank singing happy
chants. Well. Jim isn't that kind When
he turns down man, the man doesn't go
on his way rejoicing don't know how much
money Wheaton's got He's made some
thing, OF course, and Porter would probably
sell him stock up to certain point. He'll
die rich, and nobody, 1 fancy, will ever be
any gladder because he's favored this little
old earth with his presence
AS bank clerk the teller.s cage had
shut Wheaton OFF from the world. Young
women of social distinction who came
sometimes to get checks cashed, knew him
as q kind of automaton, that looked at
both sides Of their checks and at them
selves and then passed out coin and paper
70 them; they saw him nowhere else, and
did not bother themselves about him. Al
ter his promotion to be assistant cashier
he saw the world closer at hand. He had
desk and could sit down and talk to the
men whom he had studied from the cage for
SO long. The young women, too. approach
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10

hours to the ball games or horse races, he
never Joined them. When their books did
not balance he never volunteered to help
them. AS for himself, he always balanced,
and did not need their help; and they hated
him for it. This was his hour of triumph,
but he went to his victory without the
cheer Of his comrades.
He heard Mr.. Porters question as to
whether he felt qualified to accept the pro-
motion; and he sat patiently under the in
Quir1es of the others as to his fitness. 1t
required no great powers of intuition to
know that these old men had already ap-
pointed him; that if they had not known to
their own satisfaction that he was the best
available man they would not be taking
advice from him in the matter
Sanders leaves on Monday to take an
other position, and we will put you in his
cage to give you a trial." the president
said, finally. Wheaton expressed his graft
tude for this mark of confidence. He waa
not troubled by the suggestion Of q trial
Porter and Thompson, the cashier, always
spoke Of his promotions as trials" He
had never failed thus far and his self
confidence was not disturbed by the care
these men always took to tie strings to
everything they did with a view, to easy
withdrawal If the results were not satisfac-
tory. The position had been filled and there
was nothing more to be said. Thompson,
however, always liked to have a last word
wheaton, your family live here, don't
they?"
NO" said Wheaton, smiling his difficult
smile, ~ haven't any family My parents
are dead. I came here from Ohio, and
be ard over on the north side.'
Another Ohio man.. said Porter, you
can't keep 'em down" They all laughed
at Porter's joke and Wheaton bowed him
self out under cover of 1t.
Later, when need arose for creating the
position of assistant cashier, 1t was natural
that the new desk should be assigned to
Wheaton. He was faithful and competent;
neither Porter nor Thompson had son to
install in the bank; and, as they said to
each other and to their fellow directors
Wheaton had two distinguishing qualifica-
tions-he did his work and he kept his
mouth shut.
In the course of time Thompson's health
broke down and the doctors ordered him
away to New Mexico. and again there
seenYd nothing to do but to promote
Wheaton. Thompson wished to sell his
stock and resign, but Porter would not have
clear that the cashier would never again
be fit for continuous service in the bank.
Wheaton was duly elected cashier and
Thompson was made vice president.
Wheaton had now been in Clarkson if
teen years, and he was well aware that
other young men, with influential connec-
tons, had not done nearly SO well as he
He treasured no illusions as to his abilities;
he did not think he had genius for bIlsi-
hess; but he had ted to his own sat-
isfaction that such qualities as he possessed
industry, sobriety and obedience-brought
results. and with these results he was we'll
satisfied. He hoped some day to be rich,
but he was content to make haste slowly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10

He became known to the florist and the
haberdasher; there a little Hamble-
tonian at a certain liveryman's which War
ry Raridan drove good deal, and he had
learned from Wary how pleasant il was
| to drive out to the new country club in a
runabout instead of using the street car
which left margin of plebeian walking at
the end or the line. He had never smoked
but he now made ii point to carry cisa-
rettes with him. Raridan and many other
young men of his acquaintance always had
them; he fancied that the smoking of a
cigarette gave a touch of elegance to a
gentleman. Captain Wheelock smoked
cigarettes which bore his own monogram.
and as he said that these did not cost any
more than others of the same brand
J wheaton allowed the captain to order some
Tor him. But while he acquired the s,,per-
nc1al graces. he did not lose his instructive
thrift; he had never attempted to plunge.
even eve. ON what his associates at The Bachel-
ors called sure things" and he was
equally incapable of personal exfrava
gances If he bought flowers he sent them
where they would tell In his favor If he
nad 30 TO give to the Gazette's ice fund for
the poor he considered that when the news
paper printed his name in it's list Of ac
knoWiedgments between Timothy Mar,
grave who gave $50. and William Porter.
VINO gave twenty-five, he had received an
ADEQUATE return on his investment
A few days after Evelyn Porter came
home Wheaton followed Raridan to his
room one evening after dinner Raridan
had set The Bachelors an example of white
fiannels for the warm weather, and Wbea-
Ton also had abolished his evening clothes
Raridans rooms had not yet lost their nov.
city Tor him. The pictures the stat.
uettes. the books. the broad couch with
Its heap of vari-colored pillows the table
with It's candelabra, by which Raridan al.
ways read certain of the poets-these still
had their mystery for Wheaton.
Going out tonight?" he asked with a
show of indifference.
Hadn't thought of it," answered Rarf-
dan, who was cutting the pages of q nnaga-
zine. Kick the cat off the couch thers.
won't you?-its that blessed chinaman's
beast Don't know what a Monaghan ia
doing with cat-Egyptian bird, isn't ft?'
Don't let me interrupt If you're read
ing" said Wheaton. But thought some
of dropping in at Mr.. Porter's Miss Por-
ter's bone now, / believe"
That's a good idea,' said Raridan. who
saw what was wanted. He threw his mag
azine at the cat and got up and yawned.
Suppose we do go?"
The call had been successfully managed.
Miss Porter was very pretty. and not SO
young as Wheaton expected to find her.
Raridan left him talking to her and went
across to the library where Mr.. Porter
was reading his evening paper. Raridan
had way If wandering about In other
peoples houses, which Wheaton envied
him. Miss Porter seemed to take his call
as matter of course, and when her
father came out presently and greeted him
casually as If he were familiar of tho
house he felt relieved and gratif1ed.
ITO be continued tomorrow.l
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
NAVAL PROMOTIONS.
Changes Consequent on the Retiremen,
of Rear Admiral Summers.

of Rear Admiral Summers
Rear Admiral George w. Summers, re-
Gently detached from command of the
South Atlantic squadron, will be retired
for age on the 31st instant. The follow
ing named officers will then each be pro-
NOTED to the next higher grade:
Capt. Charles ONeil, Comdrs. John A.
Rodgers and A. V. Wadhams, Lieut..
Comdrs. l. S. X. Reeves, York Noel,
Lieuts. w. p. Winchen, C. P. Eaton,
Lieuts. q. c. ]. w. Graeme A H Nc
Carthy.
A number of other promotions will be
made on the LIST proximo to fill vacancies
in the line created by the act Of March g.
1903, which provides that % per cent Of
such vacancies shall be filled each year
The officers to be promoted are Lieuts. J.
M. Ellicott, c. w. Dyson, H George, F. L.
Chaplin, w. c, Herbert, A. S. HaIstead, J.
e. Palmer, Lieuts. q. g. H. ~ Jenson.
W. d. Leahy, A. T. Graham. A. st. G.
Smith, O. d. Duncan, w. Mcdowell, A.
Courts, c. T. Owens. H. Williams, r. w.
Henderson, w. C. Ackerson, c. s. Kemp.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
MEREDITH NICHOLSON

grave, the general manager of the Trans
continental, which, he had heard. was a
great primary school for ambitious boys.
1t was thus that his residence in Clark
son was established. He attended night
school, was assiduous in his duties and at
tanned in due course the dignity of a desk
at which ne took the cards of Margraves
callers, indexed the letter books and copied
figures under the direction of the chief
clerk. After a year, hearing that one of
the Ciarkson National Banks messengers
was about to resign he applied for this
place. Margrave recommended him. the
local manager of the news agency vouched
for his integrity, and in due course he
wendell the streets of Clarkson with long
bill book. the outward and visible sign OF
his position as messenger. He was steadily
promoted in the bank and felt his past re-
ceding farther and farther behind him.
When, at an important hour of his nfe
Wheaton was promoted to be paying teller
he was in the receiving teller's cage. He
had known that the more desirable position
was vacant and had heard his fellow clerks
specializing as to the possibility of pro-
motion from among their number. Thomp-
son, the cashier, had nephew in the bank:
and among the clerks he was thought to
have the best chance. They all knew that
the directors were in session. and several
whose tasks for the day were finished
fingered later than was their wont to see
what would happen. Wheaton kept quietly
at his work: but he had an eye on the
ucot VI tHc uu SctOf8 IooIH anu an ear Inat
insensibly turned toward the annunciator
by which messengers were called to the
board room. 1t rang at last, and Wheaton
wiped his pen with a little more than his
usual care as he waited for the result of
the summons. This was on his twenty
fifth birthday.
Mr.. Wheaton," The other clerks look
ed at one another. The question that had
been uppermost with ell OF them for
week past was answered Thompson's
nephew slammed his book shut and carried
1t into the vault. Wheaton put aside the
balance sheet over which he had been lin
gering and went into the directors ROOM
There had been no note of joy among his
associates. He knew that he was not popu-
lar with them; he was not. in their sense
good fellow. When they rushed on after
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
SEALED PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT
the Office of the
Great Falls and Old Dominion
Railroad COMPANY,

Railroad Company,
Evening Star Building, Washington D. c..
UNTIL IL O'CLOCK NOON,
ON THE 18TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1903,
for grading and masonry work the first seven
miles of double track roadbed construction.
certified check In the sum Of 81 600 must ac-
company each proposal and the successful bidder
will be required TO furnish approved security
bond in sum equal to the full estimated amount
Of the contract.
Blank forms for proposals, specifications and gen.
eral information can be obtained at the office of
the engineer,
W. B. UPTON,
Washington Loan and Trust Building, Washing
ton d. O. de1-9t
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10

Rescuer (who had hauled fisherman out
of the river)-"Ow did yer come to fall in,
mate?'
Fisherman-"Phew! / didn't come to fall
in, you fool, came to fish.'-Judy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
Jon PANAMA TREATY
SENATOR MORGAN VIGOROUSLY
CRITIcIsEs IT'S NEGOTIATION.
Calls It "Most Wretched, a Most
Abominable and .. Most Hor-
rible Transaction"


SENATOR Aofsah aua,essoa 'he senate yes
siaaS ai.efnooh oii ehe Suoah DILL taxing
ehas occasion 10 express hs views on the
o"""i uea'S' III .ha' ooi!iiec-
uoh ne Ifeeiy critlclseo WAat ne denominat-
ed presidential usurpatiOn.' He declared
that the United States is becoming affected
IN the core With consciousness ana aoo,arad
that the country seemed to be ouivar,ns
~ "e oo"h'iy eeelo1 W "e q"iVefihs
with DOUBT as to whether 1t should go over
entirely or pursue the better course follow
ed by our national fathers
60 far &c no ,,as ooncar,,ed ,,o ,,ro,,,, 40.
~ "A % ho was eoiSS he "ouio hot
DC 80 mean as 10 ylelo 10 temptation to
simply advance the commercial interests of
his state He spoke of the 20 per cent re-
duct,on ou.r.n+a.d bv tho hi, 70 cube,
nrod,,o+s b,,t ,oS .ha xnan, 49,. q.
might t,1rn o,,+ to he a snoone, hill, ,,,hioh
this government may evade or not as It sees
States ,,,o,,ia AZ GO - ,,;aht nie.sn ,;tt ~
Island OF Cuba. which. he declared is little
more than a dependency. "She is, he said
now tettered to the decks OF our warships
g.. S a.. 10y % III S al snip "ae
Inc Fanana Oa"ai treaty.
he spoke OF the negotiations OF the Pan
anna canal treaty as grotesque act. and
declared that Panama had mo more right
than that country had to consecrate a
,.,,
SAINT
"Ha came" the senator added, "as
sWift-WinGed messenger Of falsehood dis
patched on his mission by the Panama
Canal COMPANY"
So far as the concession made to Cuba in
this bill is concerned II would not he re-
earded by the Cubans In ANYTHING but a
serious light, whatever the result may be-
THE Cubans will not" he said. regard It
but will accent II seriously
Mr. Morgan said that C1,ha would do well
to give "a raf,I heed To o,,r n,,rnoses II, the
legislation under consideration They
should not follow the old adape nor To look
a Gift horse in the mouth for in this case
che Gift horse is a bronco which preets
them with q whinnev and NAV send them
away with a lick
Fract1cally ar war.
Returning tn tho Panama situation Mr..
49,. =, -. - T,.a C+ota 4,
Hioisah saio 'ha' 'ie ohi'e" '''
pracucaly at war with Coiompia as the
result Of the fact that the president had
fallen into a tran. He wanted he said,
to save the Senate from this same trap. and
again referred to Mr.. Bur au-Variiia' the
Panama minister ana altef reviewing
pr1ehy that gentleman history as an ehsl
Eeer ana contractor on the IahaIla caliai
LII oiu IN" hn, 1af+ tha ith,,ns rinh
ran
Mr.. Morgan declared that he had no
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10
DETERIORATION IN COTTON.
Secretary Wilson Ascribes It to Cul
tivating Single Crops.

Secretary Wilson believes that the habit
OF the cotton-raising farmers of cultivating
the same crop on the same land for many
seasons is probably the cause of the dete-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-10

An evening newspapers
appeals to a man or wo-
man in his or her best
mood. 1t is a recreation to
be enjoyed when it can be
enjoyed.