Evening star., 1920-02-08

first. Sadie's report on him, after a
glimpse she'd had at the store. was that
he was plain-featuted@ and awkward.
looking. But decided that was putin
1t mild when Miss Robinson towed him
around to the studio to spring this
proposition of hers about getting him
into bank Plain. Why. that hand
hewn face of his would have had an Abe
Lincoln statue lookin like a life mask
Of Francis X. Bushman. It's long,
serious face. corrugated like a wash
board, with unexpected knobs and
lunches on 1t. and set or by pair Of
ears that gives him sort of an airplane
effect. Also he has a wavy forelock Of
brownish hair that's a reg'lar name,
something after the style OF the one
worn by Jim Barnes, the crack golfer.
looks him over, from his number eleven
shoes up. and smothers a gasp.
why bank?" / asks
Because it's so genteel" says Miss
Robinson.
Has he had any experience in that
line?" says l.
HE was checker in lumber yard
for two years. says Miss Robinson.
And he's just finished six months
night school course in banking at the
Y. NJ. e. A. l made him take that and
I've been looking over his work. He
does it beautifully. Not Q mistake. Ana
such neat figures"
"Yes, that might help some" says 7,
"but-" Here / breaks off to take
another doubtful glance at Victor.
You see," goes on Miss Robinson. 'ff
he can get to be a banker we are going
to be married. Aren't we. Vic?"
I'VE certainly are. Mollie.' says he.
Smilin' generous and beamin'.
That's when l begun takin' notice Of
them friendly gray eyes Of his. Say.
don't know how he did it. but when he
turned 'em loose on you. sort Of roliin'
'em timid and apoloEizin'. you couldn't
help but feel that here was somebody
you could trust with anything you might
have. from your watch to your kid sis.
ter. Just plain honest. them eyes was,
the kind you read about. Never a shift
or a futter, but steady as signboards at
a street corner. And when that wide
homely mouth Of his unreefed itself it
produced the folksiest. most good
natured smile you'd want to meet.
Then that settles it," says I. Bank
recruitin' Is some out Of my line. but III
sec what can be done among my
friends
As matter Of fact, though. it was
really Sadie and Mrs. Purdy- -Pell who
found the place for him, in an up
town branch Of 4 bank that Purdy-
Pell was director Of. understand
they had some Job shown him in, too,
for the cashier kicked like a steer
that should be wished on his staff.
He must have stood for lot Of guy
in from she others. but l expect he
kept springin' that folksy smile on
'em. and doin' his work patient and
accurate. and in no time at all he'd
qualined. Then one day when nearly
half the force was down with the fu
no was told to sub In at tho ladies'
window and from that on he was kept
there. The women simply wouldn't
have anybody else wait on 'em but
Mr.. Annis. I suppose they'd never met
. folksy bank clerk before and they
were strong for him. Anyway. at the
end Of the year Victor was drawin'
dowa . good salary, as bank wages
go. and Miss Robinson had chucked
her job in tho thingumbob depart.
ment to become Mrs. Annis.
Well, her next move 10 to come out
to Rockhurst- ION. the Sound scoutin'
for q small cottage. As she explains
to Sadie. now that Victor was 4 bank
or she felt they ought to live like
reg'lar persons. which you couldn't
do in a fiat. you know. And here her
luck stilt held. for she picks up q cute
little stone affair right in amongst .