Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-04

doorway, and he was doing something that HI
had done himself every morning and noon fol-
years and years. He was looking up at tn,
clock on the wall. Then. In a most casual way
he took his watch from Ms vest pocket and
glanced at it. Twitchcomb recognized this al
another of his habts-the persistent and sense.
less habit Of comparing his timepiece with the
infallible clock on the wall every time he en-.
Twitchcomb recognized the person who was
shuffling painfully toward the counter.
It was himself!
There was no getting away from it-he was
looking at himself! Not as he was today. but
a man Of IS or so.
His hair was white, and sparse, and stringy;
his face was thin and gray and scanned; his eyes
behind the horn-rimmed spectacles were mar
row and squinty. and there were deep, pro-
nounced crows feet at the corners; his forehead
was corrugated with series of sharp furrows:
his huge ears stood out like the preposterous
lichens one sees on the trunks Of trees, and his
long neck was scraggly and corded with age,
revealing prodigious and insufficiently clothed
Adams apple.
Twitchcomb resumed an upright position.
Somehow, he experienced a sudden profound
interest in himself. He was watching himself
with curious intensity, not in fear or apprehen-
sion, nor even in perplexity. Quite calmly he
replaced the revolver in its accustomed niche
then deliberately and somewhat casually saun-
tered back ana rested his elbow on the desk, all
the while regarding his aged self with grow
ing look of pity and concern in his eyes, This
He was not gazing at phantom but at real.
living, breathing body, and that body was his
own, shriveled and bent with age He was par
ticularly fascinated by his Adams apple
He watched himself shuttle over to the coun-
ter and put on the green eye shade-he noticed
how long and bony his hands were, with big
knuckle joints and puffy blue vens-hs eye
hed no ha TOR ha
volver. He tried to recall how his face had
looked in the mirror at lunch time-but to save
his soul he could see only the reflection Of his
features as they were presented by this ancient
>caricature.
In some way he knew that his aged self was
Tor would be on the 10th of the coming
January, his birthday. Being distinctly Of a
mathematical and analytical turn OF mind, he
readily calculated that he had added just 40
years to his present age and that he had been
employed in the savings bank for 81 years, lack
ing one month and 1s days. AS he gazed upon
himself standing at the tellers window, not 10
feet away, all this did not at all incredible;
In fact, it seemed quite natural
He was a little aghast at the manner in which
his clothes hung upon his spare frame; he could
not help frowning severely at the baggy, un-
creased trousers and the sagging, shapeless coat.
OF course. it was plain to be seen that his legs
were thin and spindlins, and a trifle warped
were gaunt and stopped; but, even SO there
was excuse for letting himself go to seed like
that He always had been very particular
about his clothes. The women said he was the
most carefully dressed fellow in Rumley: he
liked having the women. say that sort of thing
about him. And here he was, after all these
years. looking like q scarecrow in a suit o.
clothes that hadn't been pressed or brushed for
he didn't know how long. And this started him
to wondering whether the styles had not changed
considerably in 40 years; 1t was reasonable to
assume that they had, and, that being the case
what was he doing in a suit Of clothes so ridicu-
lously out Of fashion?
His reflections were cut short by the sound
Of his own voice. 1t was cracked and quavering
pitched and complaining Still he recognized it
as his own. 1t recalled the days when he was
trying to sing tenor in the church choir, in de-
flance Of the somewhat raucous bass voice that
nature had given him.
His aged self was speaking.
my eyes certainly are not what they used to
be. They seem to such queer things. I
guess I've been using them too hard. I wouldn't
mind getting old-not bit-if it wasn't for my
eyes going back on me. If they keep on both
er!ng me as much they have the last eight
or 10 years guess I'll have to ask for little
vacation I'd have taken one q good many
year ago II I'd had anybody here to take my
place. Still, kind Of hate to run the risk Of
having them put some smart young fellow in
here to help me and then have him get to be
30 competent that he'll take my Job away from
me. I guess I'd better not suggest it to the
board"
III I was president OF this bank" sneered
aged 81, and was relieved to find
his voice had not changed, I'D mighty soon get
rid Of you, you disgusting old FOSSIL"
"Of course, you would" said Twitchcomb,