Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-07-08
HIS
HOLIDAY
By w. B. M. Ferguson.
fellow clerks called hir

M IS fellow clerks called MIN
IA W Easy" and there was . legend
to the effect that he had once
zen young. His name was Henry w.
&fotty. He had been in the National
kckerage company for twenty five
ars, and somehow hts salary had
ver increased In ratio with those
ars. But Trotty was never sensitive
garding his obvious lack of CONNER
hl genius, for he had earned his nick
me. He was the easiest thing" the
1ancial centkr had seen in many q
aorn many lambs. But Throgmorton
rect at first liked even while it Sc
etiy scornsd, openly pitied.
came to regard Troty as q gentle
noeclie thrown by queer turn Of
CO among the hardest-headed. hand
ana necessarily hardest hearted.
en- IN the world. And stories that
e told Of Trotty's softness are legion.
ne least among them is that once he
hd given the half Of his small weeks
iary TO a notorious unregenerated
iaracter begging for charity. And
men taxed with the crime. Trotty only
Ald: i did not ask If he was good;
lily II ne was hungry" That had
1hppened long ago. when the legion
Hsarding his youth had not been
hought OF, and he had since gone on
eommitting crimes Of similar nature,
put OF less degree.
IS When Trotty had been with the Ma
4onal Brokerage company for ten
Hears, a gradual change was noticed
"a him. His optimism was still as re-
4lient, unfailing, as Of old: his ca
4reat. But his generosity seemed to
ave suffered . check. He was still
Pc friend of every stray cat or stray
uman; but strange foreign streak
"a parsimony had mingled with the
warp and wool of his life.
Hes waking up. He may be sue
cess yet" said his friends encourag-
hgly.. But parsimony, like everything,
an be devoted too much. As the
years went on, and Trotty's ability 10
ut on penny and see all around 1t
developed commensurately, his CO.
workers did not take kindly to the
change. They still called him Easy"
but now in irony. Stories were told
Of his parsimony as they had formerly
been told Of his criminal generosity
bow he contrived to save In ways for
eign to all decent-living men.
II And all for what ?" asked Throg-
morton street complainingly. Hes
not married, and has neither kith nor
kin"
4 But despite Trotty's waking up"
he did not rise in the financial world.
He had been born to serve. not to rule.
and IT was apparent that he viewed
bis position as but a means to an end.
Ills attention was plainly concentrated
Pm something outside Of mere finance.
What it was Throgmorton street did
~ know.
IN st" they said wisely. Probably
l3SI lting his earnings away for a rainy
- He must have laid by a comfort
sum during all these years liv-
II as he does He's one OF those
ks who can live in London within
&neir income" They judged Trotty's
home life by the standard tea and
&scone luncheon.
81 And when 1t leaked out what Trotty
was saving fora holiday. And
%'Trotty's holiday" became the stock
Joke of Throgmorton street
were q baby?" they asked. "well,
that's rough. Easy! Too bad your
tastes are so expensive that you have
70 work day and night, year in. year
put, to keep only yourself alive. And
so. when you've saved enough, you're
going on regular orgy? What form
will it take? A trip round the world
In your private yacht? Well be there
when it comes off. Don't forget us,
Trotty." And Trotty had only smiled
On the day that Trotty had had
completed his twenty eighth year OF
service with the National Brokerage
company, long expected crash con-
Ayulsed Throgmorton street. The bot
TOM had dropped out Of everything. It
was rumored that the National Brok-
Nerage company was on the verge Of
collapse. Trotty was summoned to the
#private office OF Mr.. Grabbe, the senior
&fnember of the firm. 1t was an unex-
#pected honor and the old senior clerk
ch nj hnfo
%entering. Mr.. Crabbe opened fire
without any preliminary skirmishing.
Mr.. Trotty, you know how things
8are with us?"
q Yes, sir" said Trotty. rubbing his
&veined hands, that even In the warm
cst weather looked frost bitten.
well, this is time for co-opera-
&tion" said Mr.. Crabbe grimly. at IL
Fonly temporary fiutter. and we are too
*frmly established to go under. But
we will require all our resources. The
krest of our STAFF have stood with us
nobly, helping as they can. We need
all we can get. Now ask n We can
fexpect the same from your"
yes, sir" said Trotty. his hands
clasping and unclasping.
Good" said Mr.. Crabbe. II expect
AS much from one of our oldest clerks.
Nov. ! have no desire to inquire into
your private AFFAIRS. Mr.. Trotty. but
suppose you can lend US at least
two thousand in cash or in Acne
eecurity? That Is only q drop In the
bucket, but every little bit helps"
81 Trotty's face paled slowly. II can't.
sir" he said. huskily.
What" said Mr.. Crabbe.
II thought you meant other kind
OF help, sir, J" said Trotty TREMENDOUSLY.
II will work without salary. I can't
give you any financial aid, much as l
wauid like to do 30. All I have isis
r. Crabbe eyed the trembling figure
q me senior clerk The eye intimated
the senior clerk was q perverter
10 truth Very well. Mr. .Trctty," he
4sad at length. II was wrong to ex-
pect II suppose OF course, You
know We are necessarily cutting down
our stan am sorry, but your serv-
Ices VIII no longer be required. / am
forced into this unpleanant position
by circumstances. do not wish you
TO think that my request has any bear
Ing on the question. OF course. Il /.
needless to say that II You saw your
way to having an interest In the arm
things might be otherwise. AZ Il r..
have no other alternative"
There was 4 nna1lty about Mr..
rabies worried face that brooked "a
I ~ -