Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-04

bGths Hylhs 10 Set Ahothef tiVVVo toVStHes'
and she got tired waiting and marrisd that
smart aisek drummer. Ford Hinkston. O. well.
what's the use whining about II nowf IL I'd
had grain OF sense I would have married her.
and then she wouldn't have had 10 lead the dogs
life she led with him, She"
Twiteheomb. 81. with interest; "was she
pretty7"
Twteheomb. IT; Pretty a. q picture"
Twiteheomb. ~. his eyes sparkling; well.
by lingo, II Isn't too late yet, I'll marry her a.
sure as my name is-"
"Twitehcomb. ~. deeisiveB; ~ wouldn't
marry her now II she was the last woman In thn
world. She's over go, nothing but skin and
bones. and she's got three Of the onsriest sons
that ever lived, One Of them, Georsie, worked
here In the bank for a few months We had TO
discharge him because he set the waste paper
basket on fire twice with clearet stubs. and
once he told Mr.. Carver right 10 his face that
he was an old Sissy. and"
Twitcheomb. 81: "Who is Mr. carver7"
Twitchcomb. II. In amazement: Why. you
blamed young ignoramus. don't you know who
tho president OF this bank is?"
Twitcheomb. 81. with asperity: Certainly
do James w. Filklns."
Twiteheomb. II; Been dead for nearly 40
years Hamilton Carver is president now.'
Twitehcomb. 81. passing his hand over his
brow In bewderment: II keep forgetting that
I've been here 10 years longer than had any
idea I'D been. You don't mean young Ham
Carver. do your"
Twitchcomb. n: "well. he used to be young
Ham Carver He's old Ham Carver now. same
as I'm old Twltchcomb now. Lord. how time
flies' And how we fail TO improve II! As
stand here looking ut myself as was 40 years
ago. / could cry-yes. sir. could shed tears Of
pure gall. The trouble with life Is that q man
doesn't know what to make Of II until he
reaches an age when he's got to look backward
instead Of forward. It's like climbing clear to
the top Of a lofty mountain and then looking
down from the peak and saying. Well. that was
a pretty stiff climb. but, now that I'm up here.
the only thing get out Of 1t Is q view OF the
most beautiful valley In the world It's too
late for me to give up this Job now. But. by
glory. II was you I'd get out tomorrow and
have little fun tramping around the beautiful
valley. That's what I'd do II I were you. you
bithering parsimonous. simple e-minded. chick
en-hearted-"
Twitchcomb. 81: That's all very well. but
Id like to know how the. bank would get along
without me. II was to quit, or II anything
were to happen to me. why they'd have to close
up entirely They simply can't get along with
out me-"
Twitchcomb II. glancing up at the clock and
then at his watch: What are they going to
do when die? Close up shop? Not much.
AS long as live and am able to stagger around
they'll keep on increasing my duties without in
creasing-why. I haven't had an increase OF
ask for a raise they'd bounce me. They wouldn't
wait for me to die. They'd have some young
fellow In here messing up my work iside Of 10
days, and the worst Of 1t is they'd be paying
him twice as much as they feel they can afford
to pay me-"
Twitchcomb. 81. now looked up at the clock
and frowned. 1t was getting late. They had
supper at half past six at the boarding house,
and he made 1t a rule to be on hand the instant
the bell rang
"It's time to lock up" he said. 1T don't
hustle along I'll be late for the Christmas tree.
and haven't been late in Is years."
"Pshaw! That's nothing. Why, I've been
ahead Of time every Christmas even for IS
years."
For the first time in my life am beginning
% doubt my own veracity." .
thine will TELL" was the sententious rejoinder
I'M you will recognize the truth when you
hear It."
"By jingo I've just thought Of several things
ID like to know. now that have the chance.
iod knows I hate to think I'm going to look
ike you when I'm old, and be as slovenly and
~ the way, how about my teeth Are they
cal or false?"
They're all my own, and they're mighty good
mes, If do say myself. Comes Of never
pending any money on candy and that sort Of
hing"
,'Wen. that's something to be thankful for.
lou seem to be healthy enough for man near
ng So How do you account for IT."
1--WE never had chance to be unhealthy,
you can't be in bad health unless you've got
he time to experiment with It. Heaven knows
We never had day that I could devote to
worrying about my health. My eyes bother me
cme. and I have headaches occasionally.
ometmes wonder If my liver Is as good az It
sed to be. But on the whole I'm In uncommon
good health for man Of my age"
Looking back over stretch OF 40 years.
ave had many misfortunes or sorrows or
'orres?"
"None to speak Of. One day has been very
iuch like another, and all the years have been
mazingly similar. Nothing much doing in any
them so far as 1 was concerned The only
Scltement I've had, SO far as I can remember,
falling in love from time to time. I still keep
nat up. It's very simple form Of amusement
i'd doesn't cost anything There was a young
dy IN here this morning that sort of took my
ncy. Edward Browns granddaughter. Dog
one it, know I'll lie awake half an hour or
ore thinking about her tonight. And the
ord knows I need all the sleep can get dur
g the early part OF the evening, because I've
eveloped the habit of waking up before day.
,ht and not being able to drop off again. It's
confounded nuisance. Seems to come with old
&c. Sometimes wish I had died when I waa
or thereabouts.N 1t would have saved me an
pful lot Of time and money.
"In plain words. life has been Just ono tire
me- uninterestng day after another. Is that
nat have to look forward to?"
II could have avoided 1t II I'd got out inte
o world a little more and raised Cain occa-
,nally," lamented Twitchcomb, II.
Shut up! At least try to be respectable in
ur old age"
Its the only pleasure have these days
is thinking of the thousand and one disrep-
able things I've missed"
But II you'd been up to any Of the things
u speak of you would have been DISCHARGED
'm the bank long ago, and probably would
We died in the gutter"
Twitchcomb n. shook his head slowly. II
, a lot of men around here every day who