The Press., 1915-01-13
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
 By M. QUAD Copyright, 1914, by the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

T
 For seven years old John Fosdick
 had been paying teller of the First Ma
 tional bank in western town. He
 had secured the place through having
 the friendship of the president. But there had been ring" against him
 in the bank Without the president
 behind him. even after he had held the
 place for three or four years, he would
 have been fired by those in authority. The seventh year was drawing to a
 close when old John was caught up.
 A stranger presented a check which
 he hesitated to pay and about which he consulted the cashier. Later on the cashier stated that he had ordered it to be held pending examination. Old John said that he had been ordered to pay it at once. The check was paid. and, being spurious. the bank was $500 out of pocket.
 The president beiEg in Europe. the board took the case under advisement. i and 'by order" the old man was fired out into the world to begin life anew. There were resolutions. of course. and one of them was to the effect that the bank presented him with the sum of $10O 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 met him and. wifelike. gave him sympathy and encourage ment first of all
 Never mind, John; never mind." she kept saying. We have a few dol lars ahead. and you are only fifty-five years old. and something good is sure to turn up. You have fought too long to give up now"
 But the weeks went by and nothing
 turned up. The business world has
 very little use for an old man who has no capital. John Fosdick's savings
 were gradually used up, the gener- osity of his few friends exhausted, and there came day 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 food, at least he would go out of it and hope that his going would open the hearts of men toward
 
 hour he started out with the firm in tention of drowning himself in the riv- CT. It was clustering November day. and as he passed the bank with bowed head. bent shoulders and we'll worn garments even those who had depriv ed him of his place felt a touch of sympathy. He was making for the suburbs and a highway bridge and wondering how long 1t would take to drown and what men would say of him when dead when he caught sight of men and horses skulking behind an abandoned factory. It was singular. bound on such a mission as he was, that be should have seen or wondered and speculated on why those men and horses were there, but he had scarcely passed the old factory when he sud- denly turned about and ran for the business part of the town with speed that astonished himself.
 Tn the vaults of the First National bank was sum close upon $3.0OO.O00 deposited there temporarily by a rail- road company. Outside the vault was a big safe containing $25.000 more. It was quiet afternoon. with few people moving about Over 100 of the men living in town had gone over to the new town of Prairie Flower to an auc ton of real estate. There hadn't been a better opportunity for years to make a dash at the bank. It was a civilized young city. but within striking distance of No Mans Land and hundred des- perate outlaws.
 headed and his gray hair flying. burst into the bank. He was speeches. with his running. but he did not try to use his voice. He dashed open the gate and seized the heavy doors of the safe and closed them with bang. Sev eral employees tried to seize him. but he shook them off. and just as firing and yelling were heard on the street he slammed the doors of the vault He had only turned from 1t when four border ruffians rushed into the bank. each with pistol in hand. while three others remained outside and fired at every pedestrian in sight.
 Hands up and money outr' shouted one of three who entered the bank. and in an instant every official and employee WAS covered
 ''Gentlemen. the bank is closed for today" said John Fosdick.
 "open the safe and vaults or I'll | blow your brains outr'
 "I have key to neither"
 You liar. Take thatr'
 The old man sank with bullet in | his brain. and the white faced cashier | would have opened safe and vault | with his own hands but for the arrival Df assistance. A few citizens had and killed one of the watch ars and wounded another. This caus- d n stampede on the part of the des- peradoes. They did not even grab the money packages in sight. but hastened o get away as fast as possible. John FoSdick did not drown himself. Lut he ay dead. He had been discharged on recount of old age and carelessness. lut his speed and acumen had saved he First National bank from being leaned out He wondered what men would say of him after death. They aid he was a hero. He had hoped nen would have pity on his aged wid- w When he had been laid away the 'lnk voted her life pension. the citi- ems and the ruIlroad company made ID public purse. and she wanted for othing the rest of her life V