The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1919-11-20
A Happy
Thought
o0
By GEORGE ELMER COBB
(copyrisht. 1919. by the Western Nsws-
paper Union)

1 oStohit q DuihtT. 1e Udu put III Two
years in the minor capacities neces-
sary to routine apprenticeship and
had graduated finally into the credit
department of the Empire National.
Then Clyde fell in love with Naomi
Russell. 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. 4
Naomi is sensible" he told
friend. ''and I've got to show up with
little home before she will marry
me"
Then you've got definite object
in life 10 work for" encouraged his ad-
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 CHANGED to
come in contact with him. These
were quite numerous for whenever
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
vestigntion that one of the vice preSi-
dents singled him out for any con
fidential work he had.
One day an assistant receiving teller
appeared at Clyde's desk with dusky-
hued, bright-eyed little man who look
ed foriornly all at sea as to his sur
roundings. He had a pass book on q
savings bank in remote Minnesota
town, showing that he had deposited
in that Institution.
"He don't understand nor write
word of English" explained the tell
er. I've tried the foreign depart
ment where they talk fifteen Ian
guages. but none of them seem to hit
him. From his gestures 1 assume that
he wants to get some money on that
Minnesota account, but 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. eag-
er expression in the eyes of the little
dark man. Abruptly Clyde got an
idea. He wetted a 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, nodding 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.
"In four days. understand?" he ques-
Toned the stranger. who nodded as
sent
At the end Of that time the little
man showed up. this time with a 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 reply stating that the thumb
mark answered to their identification
OF one Metro Vladis, vino had three
hundred dollars on deposit with them.
and II they found also small wen
upon his left ear. they need not fear
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
checking account. Vladis looked proud
and important as he was given II
check book. and for two or three days
he would draw a check In the morn
Ing. but return the amount in the af-
terpooiI.. enjoying the novelty of sign
ling with a cross and showing the
Thumb mark and The. wen on his ear.
One day there was great excitement
in the institution when It was discov-
cred that some clever thief. taking
advantage Of the absence of one tell
er. when the other teller was busy, had
inserted some kind of a hooked instru-
ment through the window and had de-
parted with twelve packages of fifty
dollar bills. but no clew left as to the
clever criminal. a
The next morning when Clyde reach
ed the bank he found Vladis. wild
eyed and excited. waiting for him.
He was amazed when the little man
drew from his pocket a number of
Hapcr bands each marked five thou
| sand dollars and each bearing the
| initials of the teller, who had been
robbed. 1t appeared that Vladis had
| leased room behind his little fruit
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