Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-01-04
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, JA
Bookkeeper
Snodgrass
By JOHN PALMER
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t@. 1923. Western Newspaper Union)
John AYLMER was president Of the
} trust company and there was no
reason why he should ever have heard
Of Snodgrass, who was a subordinate
bookkeeper. AS a matter Of fact, pass
ing through the Office he had seen and
been irritated by the man.
Snodgrass was fifty-three, round as
a ball and puffy as a puff-ball. He
had a rotund face that reflected every
passing emotion He was a good book
keeper and he had been with the Arm
eleven years.
A fiat had gone out that low"grade
men over fifty were to be discharged.
That was Aylmer's policy. Aylmer
was q new man. Some one, he re-
called. had mentioned Snodgrass
Before Mr.. Cough left he was
thinking of giving Snodgrass the va
cancy at the head Of his department.
You know, 1t isn't filled, yet, SIR"
"Oh, let the man CO." said Aylmer.
In that casual moment he decided the
fate Of Snodgrass, and Of Snodgrass'
wife-of whose existence he was un-
aware-and Snodgrass' three children,
equally nonexistsnt so far as his con
sciousness was concerned.
SO Snodgrass went, protesting and
almost weeping, and Aylmer forgot
all about him until he saw a man In
the street, ragged tramp, who re-
minded him of--who was it7-Snod-
grass
He frowned; but when he had
passed and glanced at the man he per-
celved that 1t wasn't Snodgrass. Yet
1t was odd how that brought SnOd-
grass back into his mind. Why should
he be thinking of Snodgrass, who was
nothing to hlmf Why did he look up
involuntarily as he crossed the room
to see II Snodgrass was In his placer
Aylmer lived at Battlefield, q flour
lshing new suburb. One evening, 60
Ing home, he could have sworn he saw
Snodgrass In the crowd.
He remembered 1t next morning,
and called his secretary. who's 60
Ing to I'LL Coughs postr he asked.
"Why, 1t isn't filed yet, sir, you re-
member. There was some talk Of
Snodgrass-"
Eyes, yes, know That man Snod-
grass-where does he liver"
The secretary looked up the cards
and found a city address. did you
think" he inquired.
mo, no, | simply happened to think
Of It," the president answered.
The secretary telephoned, however,
and found that SHodgrass had given
up his apartment when he was dis
charged.
From that moment Snodgrass lay
still heavier on Aylmer's mind. Ayl-
mer had family troubles; his wife and
he were barely on speaking terms
and he had cut of his sons allowance
until he made good. This left little
room for SnOdgrass; and still he
thought OF him, and hated him. Snod-
grass seemed to have become q sym.
Dol of his domestic misfortunes.
One evening, when he had gone for
a stroll in a new part Of Battlefield,
lie saw, at the gate of cheap house,
man who looked remarkably like
Snodgrass. He was small and rotund.
Beside him, looking at q newly planted
prlvet hedge, stood a thin, tiny wom-
an, and In the background were two
girls and boy, romping merrily in
the sand left by the builders.
II was too late to turn back. Ayl.
mer would have to pass Snodgrass.
He braced back his shoulders and
walked past them.
Evening, Snodgrass," he said, as
he went by.
The man turned In surprise. Ayl.
mer's Jaw fell; II wasn't Snodgrass.
Get snodgrass," he told his secre
tary next morning
A week later stout, tubby little
inan appeared at the door Of the presi-
dents office. The secretary looked In
"Mr. Snodgrass," he said.
Alymer hardly knew Snodgrass In
his new check suit, his immaculate
boots, his wing collar. He put out
chilly hand.
II heard you wanted to see me, Mr..
Aylmer," said Snodgrass.
"Yes-um-er--the fact is, we want
new chief of the bookkeeping de-
partment, Snodgrass, and think per
haps we dismissed you too hastily.
and--um-you can start In at"
Snodgrass waved his hand. Fact
IL, I've got a position as manager for
the ButterheId company, Mr.. Aylmer,"
he said. o-sOrry--nothing doing.
They've been after me for months,
only I wanted to try out the old firm
first"
He was gone. leaving Aylmer star.
ing after him.
"Oh. we'll" he said YEARLY, at
doesn't pay to try to help these fel-
lows Now | wonder how he put that
hOOdOo on me-"