The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-09-11
THE REASON.
cFrom the Red Book Maeazine.)


huge ledger.
eight hundred and seventy-five
balances to be drawn and it's ten
o'clock already. Whew p he ex-
claimed as he settled himself to the
work.
Eight, fifteen, eighteen, twenty
FIVE and three is twenty eight. -
He subtracted mechanically. The
sharp steel pen scratched noisily on.
"Queer about that overdraft of
Wesson's," he thought. "I'll speak
to Mr.. Fassett about it in the morning.
sMr.' Fassett. l remember when
Mr. Fassett was in kits and was
just Little Tommie, and now have
to speak to him about overdrafts.
Lordy What don't remember !
''Five, thirteen, fourteen, twenty
four and two IS twenty-six.
Goods il heaven Is to morrow
December fourth, the day I first came
into the bank? Sixty-four from one
hundred eight Forty-four, forty
four years. That is a long time.
Well, we'll, we'll, forty-four years.
What lot of changes In forty-four
years? But I'm not changed. No,
I'm not changed. I've been at this
desk forty-four years; think of it,
forty-four years.
''I'm not changed. I'm just lit
tie thinner and my hands are a little
colder In the mornings. but I'm the
same old sixpence, same old nickel,
I ever was
"Five, nine, thirteen and eight is
twenty-one. I wonder what's be-
come of Harley Peterson. Queer fell
low, Harley; always up to tricks.
Do remember the time be put glue
in old Snider's ink? Shall ever
forget it? Ha! ha ha | wonder
what ever became of Harley?
"How lively that accounts got all
of sudden Phil must be paying
his last years bills.
"The rest of the fellows-ah we'll,
they have changed, haven't they !!
Pink Adams that was on this job
when first came into the bank. Now
he married money. Isaw that young
est boy of his the other day in one of
those two-seated automobiles driving
like-yes, like the dickens-down
Main street. He can drive faster
than his old dad ever could add, that's
certain.
"And that girl of his. She came
in here last week sometime, all wells
and hat, and says in one of those loud
I-don' care -who-h hears me school girl
voices, I'D like you to balance my
book, If you please, and will you cash
that for me. Thank you.' Why,
that check, sixty six sixty-six, was
lust what old Pink used to get
month, and now he gives her one like
it every week to blow in on candy and
tennis balls l saw Pink the other
day. Lord, but he has changed !!
There was a time when new coat
was as rare as shave with Pink
Say, that's little mean, I do believe.
always did like Pink and like him
still. God bless i'm
"That's quite deposit for the Soap
Company. Business must be picking
up with 'em.
IT wonder why l never changed.
I have been kind of failure, now,
haven't /?
"All of the other fellows got out of
here sooner or later, and some did
well and some not so well, but they
all did something anyway, while I
never did anything but add and SUBJ
tract. I wonder why.
cts getting cold here. l must
hurry up. Wow but it's dark out
doors. Always is at o.3o, I've
noticed. Ha ha ha !
"Forty-four years, forty-four years |!
"Just look at them all. Bill
Francis out in Chicago, worth cou-
pie of million and Tom Long at home
running the whole blamed town. Not
so bad town, either Tom certainly
runs 1t we'll.
"Now, I wonder why.
"I was Just as smart as any of
them Except maybe Tom Long. l
used to win all kinds of prizes in
school. No, was smart enough to
run along of Tom, but nobody ever
asked me to. Strange, now; vow
1t is strange. It isn't as If I'd been
sicklv for 7 was the strongest in the
crowd no getting round that. /
remember wiping the floor with Bill,
many time. No, was strong
enough. It's only recently my hands
got to being cold of mornings, and my
eyes-yes, yes, theyar a little watery.
"Wurra, wurra it's getting late.
Come, step lively.
"It isn't as if people didn't like me,
either. Everybody always liked me.
Yes, and I've liked everybody; even
these young whippersnappers who
come in here nowadays and skip this
old desk at the end of the second year
or so.
"And I've been faithful. l think
I've been faithful. Early and late
I've been right on my job-with ex-
ceptions; yes, yes, with exceptions,
that's true.
mine, sixteen-"
The arc over the front door ratified
noisily and sputteringly as it readjust-
ed itself.
Give, thirteen, twenty-five. Only
at the Halls and Hawkinses Well,
maybe I'll-"
The clock gave the premonitory
tick which marked its intention soor
| to strike the hour of eleven. 1t hac