Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-10-10

"Please tell me just what It will
mean il refuse him" she said.
Jones wanted to lie to her. He want
ed to assure her that it would mean no
moro If she refused to marry Quigley
than if she should refuse to marry any.
one else. But he found that with those
clear eyes upon him he somehow could
not do SO. A lie exposed to those eyes
would perish as certainly and as quick.
iy as filth exposed to the sun.
I'm afraid" he told her, "it will
mean that by this time next week the
Beardstown National Bank will have q
now first assistant cashier"
Then he slowly wet his lips. Those
lips seemed utterly bloodless. His en-.
tire face seemed bloodless, for that
mattor; ard one somehow suspected
that his whole body was, too A friend
bad once laughingly remarked that his
blood had all been absorbed by the
firm for which ho had worked the last
20 years. That friend never puessod
how near he had come to the truth.
A Light famed up in the girl 8 eyes.
Jones saw it and forestalled what he
know she was about TO say.
=" No, Gertie, don I mean that, - he
said Quigley wouldn't u have me let out
because you refused to marry him. He
isn't that kind I'm sure he would
want you to come to him absolutely of
your own accord or not at all.n
"Thon-what do you mean7u
Jones raised shaky right hand to
his chin. That hand did not shake
merely because Of any momontary OK.
element, II had started shaking Is
years before, and 1t had grown more
and more shaky every year since.
"Gertie," he said quietly, "I am
90 years old. Now, the first assistant
IN bank is required to do n great deal
OF work. Ho is required to do all Of
his own work, part Of the work Of those
below him and most Of the work Of
those above him. To do all this and To
do It well Is task that is difficult
Of performance for even a young man.
For a man of my age It is absolutely
impossible Of performance. SO, you
gee"
"But surely, father, they won't for.
got that you u'yo shaved for tho bapk
half Of your lifci that you We"
MY dear" Jones smiled, "therc ia
not much sentiment in any business
There cannot be, And thoro is probably
loss sentiment In tho banking business
than In any other. When first assist.
ant remains first assistant until he
70 no longer able TO do all tho work
that 10 givon him, he 10 practically al.
ways replaced by younger man. This
10 not right, possibly, but II 10 ineyit.
able, and no one is TO bo censored for
H. The lifo-or tho health, at lcast--
Of the bank requires that II bo done, -
" Have you any reason for thinking
that they intend to lot you out just
nowf"
"Ycs, Sanders, who Is under mo, ia
q son'in'law Of Lakers, the president Of
tho board Of directors. II has como to
me that Sanders has been telling about
that ho expects to bo at my deak by
Tho middle Of next week. Thin means,
Of course, that Lakers will try TO have
me lot out at the next meeting Of the
board-and the next meeting 10 tomor
row morning"
A frown settled on Gcrticu faco.
al know what's bothcring you said
Jones "You re wondering who're Quig
ley comes in. IN tell you. No one ia
ever lot out without tho vote Of tho
board being unanimous ono above
the position Of clerk, that Ia Now,
liakera Ia president Of tho board and
\ man Of much influence, and fcw Of
Tho directors would care to hold out
against HIM Quigloy Is one that might.
lio would be certain to do 30 II no
know that was to be his fatherln.
law DO you sootn
Nobody but Jones himself could ever
realize what IL was costing him to talk
like this to Gcrtic But no could not
help H. When little child, Gcrtio had
turned those clear gray eyes upon him
aud asked him the truth about Santa