The Washington herald., 1914-11-15

rc~u paving teller OF the First National
Eauk in - Western town. Previous TO
his taking the place he had been pfl-
waite banker and merchant and had
played in hard luck. lie had secured
tho place through having the friendship
OF tho president but there had been a
..rin.' against him in the bank The
place had been promised to u relative OF
the cashiers. and old John was looked
upon a. an intruder. Without the presiI
dent behind him, even after he hau
held the place for three or four years.
hc would have been fired by those III
authority. lie was Il man who said but
little and rendered faithful services. AS
lie grew old they tried TO make his age
Il point against him. and, not succeed
ing i'm that. il was hoped that he might
ct caught up on forged check or
went his way without lighting back. lf
n" lost his place, II meant poverty to
himself and wife in their old age. He
Was prompt. careful and systematic. and
tIu. plans of mis- enemies We're defeated.
The seventh year was drawing TO a
lose when old John was caught up. \
stranger pr, Sented a check which he hCS-
tat"d to pay. and about which he con
%ultod tn" cashier Later On the cashier
stated that he had ordered il 10 be
hClG pending examination Old John said
that hc had been ordered TO pay II at
r.lrc. The check was paid. and, being
spurious, the bank was $500 out of
rocket. 1t WAS question Of vcraClty
bctween cashier and teller. and it was
decided within the bank that the cashier
had the better of IL. Just then, too. old
EoRdiCk slipped in j wrong figure in
making up his days account, and, though
it made only a difference of cents IN
the total, il seemed to prove that old
ago and curclCssncss had untitled him
The president being in Europe. the
lizard took the case under Amusement,
and by order" the Old man was fired
UIL into the world TO begin life anew.
There were resolutions. Of course. and
ono Of them was to the effect that the
hank presented him with the sum Of SlOO
for long and faithful services. He put
on his hat without protest. and he left
the bank without taking the money. At
his humble home an old anxious wife
mot him and, wltellke. gave MN SYM
I.thy and encouragement first of all
Never mind, John; never mind she
kept saying. I'VE have a few dollars
ahead, and you are only .fifty-five years
old, and something good is sure to turn
up. You have fought too long TO give
f.ut the weeks went by. and nothing
turned up. The business world has very
little usC for an old man who has no
capital. John FOsdiCk's savings wcrc
gradually used up. the generosity. Of
his few friends exhausted. and there
came dav when the question Of food
and fuel became serious one. He was
not one to sponge or turn beggar. If
the world would not let him earn his
and hope that his going would open the
hearts Of men toward his widow. After
punderinE for an hour he started out
with the firm intention of drowning
himself in the river. 1t was a buster
ing November day. and as nc passed
the bank with bowed head. bent shoul-
dcrs and well worn garments even those
who had deprived him of his place felt
i touch of sympathy. lie was making
for the suburbs and a highway bridge
and wondering how long II would take
10 drown. and what men would say of
lin when dead. when he caught sight
Of men and horses skulking behind an
bound on such a missiON as he was,
that ne should have seen or wondered