Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-11-06
"A Happy
Thought
@0
By GEORGE ELMER COBB
Copyright. 1919. by the Western News
paper Union.)

OSSoiho q nuliNeT. ne Iiau put III TWO
years in the minor capacities .,eces-
sary to a routine apprenticeship and
had graduated finally into the credit
department of the Empire National.
! Then Clyde fell in love with Naomi
Russell, a stenographer in the tran
sit division, and hoping for an in
crease in salary and that Naomi would
continue to love and wait for him
about comprised the main activities in
his career.
Naomi is sensible" he told a
friend, "and I've got to show up with
little home before she will marry
me-"
"Then you've got definite object
in life to work for" encouraged his adj
wiser.
Wish I could make some extra
money! said Clyde. You see, there
won't be much of a raise in my salary
for two years."
Clyde was an all around favorite
with his fellow workers. and with
those of its patrons who Glanced to
come in contact with him. These
were quite numerous, for whenever a
visiting bank man or client wanted
information he was invariably sent to
Clyde, who was always accommodate
ing, exerted himself to do his hest. and
was so prompt and reliable in his in
vestigation that one of the vice presi-
dents singled him out for any con-
f1dential work he had.
I; One day an assistant receiving teller
appeared at Clydes desk with duslly-
hEed, bright-eyed little man who look
ed forlornly all at sea as to his sur
roundings. He had pass hook on a
savings bank in remote Minnesota
town, showing that he had deposited
something over three hundred dollars
In that institution.
"He don't understand nor write a
word of English" explained the tell
err. 1--WE tried the foreign depart
ment where they talk fifteen Ian
guages, but none of them seem to hit
him. From his gestures assume that
he wants to get some money on that
Minnesota account, hut of course
identification is necessary. See, he
does that all the time-shows his left
hand as If trying to indicate some
thing"
The teller departed and Clyde stud
led his visitor. There was lost, Gag
err expression in the eyes of the little
dark man. Abruptly Clyde got all
idea. He wetted piece of blotting
/! pad with ink, pressed his thumb into
1t, then made an impression on clean
sheet Of paper and looked inquiring-
ly at his client, who at once was all
smiles, noddlng his head vigorously
and made his own thumb mark for
Clyde on fragment of paper, Clyde
pointed to a clock, ran his finger four
times around its dial and held up as
many fingers. NJ
"In four days, understands" he ques-
! toned the stranger, who nodded as.
i sent
At the end of that time the little
man showed up. this time with man
! who could act as an interpreter. In
the meantime Clyde had carried out
bis happy thought, had sent the thumb
mark to the Minnesota bank and had
received a reply stating that the thumb
mark answered to their Identification
of one Metro Vladis, who had three
hundred dollars on deposit with them
and If they found also a small wer
upon his left ear, they need not feal
to cash the deposit book.
The wen was discovered, Vladis Civ
en- fifty dollars which he asked for
and with the balance he opened up 9
checking account. Vladis looked PROUD
and important as he was given !;
check hook. and for two or three day.
he would draw check in the morn
ing, but return the amount in the af
ternoon, enjoying the novelty of sign
ing with cross and Slowing tn,
thumb mark and the wen on his ear
4 One day there was great excitement
in the institution when 1t was dScov
cred that some clever thief, taking
advantage of the absence of one tell
er. when the other teller was busy, hat
inserted some kind of Il hooked instru
ment through the window and had de
parted with twelve packages of fifty
dollar bills. but no clew left as to tn,
clever criminal.
The next morning when Clyde reach
ed the hank he found Vladis. wild
eyed and excited, waiting for him
He was amazed when the little maj
drew from his pocket number Of
paper bands each marked five thou
sand dollars and each bearing tn,
initials of the teller, who had beer
! robbed. II appeared that Vladis hat
leased room behind his little frn
store to two men, had found the bands
in their waste basket and, familiar
with the bands from having drawn
money several times, his suspicious
were aroused. Very quietly Clyd,
left the bank with Vladis and accom-
panied by two of the special detec
tives Of the institution, and within nj
hour all except trlfie of the sixt,
thousand dollars was recovered.
The bank fairly overwhelmed VladI
by presenting him with thousant
dollars. AS to Clyde, the vice pres
ident learned OF his love for Naom
Russell and their mutual longing fo
home. At the next meeting of til,
directors of the bank it was decided
that neat little bungalow that ha,
come into possession of the institution
should be given to Clyde, and so till
helpful friend of rich and poor alik,
acquired royal reward.