The Monte Vista journal., 1915-07-10
Observation-Disclosures
TWIST OF THE MIND f.:
BY FRANK FILsoN. 8

.
ais bag in his hand. Inside tho hoa
we're eight thousand dollars in hills
me loss would not be discovered I'm.
I'll half-past one, for certain reasons
"nlcn Llttlefield knew intimately. and
by that time Littletield would he on
his way south.
He had made all his calculations
ana mad no regrets. He had shaved
TOT the Eighth National for seven
years. ana ne was now drawing q
oessariy nfteen hundred. with no pros-
pect OF a raise. Johnson, the manager
nld not like him. Sleigh, the paving
teller, had been with the bank since
ooyhood; he was an old stick-in-the-
mud and would die in harness there
Inc road to promotion was blocked
and, II 1t were not, there was no
chance for Littlefield, with Johnson's
enmity.
Littlefield had Studied the man and
| wondered why he hated him so Ha
could not even speak ciyilly to him.
Littlefield had been expecting his dis.
missal since the first of the year; how.
ever, he had stuck 1t out for Lucy's
sake. But when Lucy Merritt went
back on him
1t was foolish quarrel, but she had
given him back his ring and told him
she never wanted to see him again.
he could not even remember what
they had quarreled about. At first
Littlefield had been overwhelmed; but
then he began to accept 1t as part of
the grudge fate seemed to have against
him.
And, once he had begun to believe
himself victim Of destiny, he lost
all moral sense. He was alone in the
world, and now that he had lost Lucy
he meant to make amends to himself
at the banks expense.
He had reached the door when the
porter came up to him.
Mr.. Johnson wants to see you, Mr.
Littlefield," he said.
There was significant look upon
the mans face. Littlefield had a wild
impulse to bolt for the door, Instead
of that he stood looking speechlessly
at Jacks. Jacks face grew sterner.
AT once. sir, he said" he continued.
tlefield. you don't look very happy" he
said. you seem to go about your
work with a perpetual glower-at
least when meet you"
Was he playing with him? Or was
this the preliminary to his discharge?
Littlefield's hopes grew.
Put your bag on the table. Mr.. Lit.
tlefleld," continued Johnson. you
look as though you were afraid was
going to open it, Come. set 1t down
beside me-never mind these papers"
Littlefield flung the bag down de-
family and stood facing his tormentor.
Johnson arose slowly, and suddenly
clapped his hand hard on the others
shoulder
We've been looking over your rec.
ord since you came here, Mr.. Little
field" said Johnson, "and it makes
very creditable showing. Mr.. Sleigh,
you know, is leaving to accept the
cashiers position with Brown & Sea-
gull. We are going to promote you to
his place at the salary which always
goes with 1.-TWO thousand to start
and an annual increase Of a hundred
up to twenty-five hundred"
Littlefleld still stared at him; he had
not yet understood.
$50 you see," continued johnson.
I'VE have not failed to recognize the
zeal that you have shown in our In
terests. l may tell you in confidence
that there was much difficulty in de-
| Gliding between you and another mem
| Der Of our force, and that you we're
selected on my insistence for the rea-
son that have given you
Littlefeld understood at last, and
| he swung round impulsively ana
looked into Johnson's face.
81 have thought sometimes that you
had taken a dislike to me- continued
the manager.
mo. sir; no." blurted out Littleheld
II must have given a false impress
sion. L"
II am indeed glad to hear It, an
swered Johnson, wringing the other
mans hand warmly. And now permit
me to offer you my best and sincerest
congratulations"
Littlefield found himself outside the
ONCE again. He walked idly toward
tho door. He did not quite know Where
he was going. He was recalled to him
self by Jacks, who thrust letter into
his hand.
AUST come, sir" said Jacks, smil'