Arizona state miner., 1924-11-22
HONEST
J. ATKINS
POLICY
20. Doubleday. Page & Coz
By PEARCE THoRNE

TuSu U1 CuSLO1u0rS. 1Il1S may
have been the reason she gave John
Atkins too much change. She gave
him three one-dollar bills, and instead
of fourth one, gave him a five-dollar
bill. So that instead Of four dollars
change he got eight
A queer little thrill ran through
John Atkins when at the street door he
made sure of this-a thrill especially
strange in that it ran through the
bosom of a bank president whose sal
ary was fifteen thousand year plus
what additions came to it in the form
of stock bonuses from successful bor-
rOWerS.
John Atkins was surprised at him
self. He was so surprised that he con-
tinued down the steps and strolled up
the street, determining to settle this
matter of unexpected thrills before
he retraced his way and returned the
five dollars to the trembling old wOm-
an at the cigar counter The day was
balmy, his cigar was mildly stimulat-
ing; and after glancing down to as
sure himself that his gray vest, black
shoes and gray spats were immaculate,
he leisurely crossed the street. men
tally thanking heaven that he was still
young enough to be interested in him
self.
He saw at once that the Incident
regardless of the sum inv0lved-struck
chord which vibrated throughout the
yUhO1O OF %hof
reason it was not only interesting, it
was vital-because his reaction to the
incident was a true indication of his
character. It disclosed his character,
and at the same time did not even re-
motely impinge his reputation. That,
he knew, like Caesars wife, was above
suspicion. He was one of the few men
in "Wall Street" whose presence as
chairman of an organization commit
tee insured that a fair distribution
would be made Of the milk in the
cOconut; he relieved tensions between
temporarily affiliated Crowds" who
had obligations to "get even" and in
troduced an element of friendliness
and fairness into the most business
like meeting. Someone had called him
Honest John Atkins" This name
had fitted him like an old hat and had
stuck to him like poor relation. Ever
since, he had been, Honest John At
kins," and to preserve that title for
himself had Become something as near
as he ever got to religion.
So much for reputation, he thought,
shifting his cigar to the other side of
his lOse-crOpped gray moustache and
turning the corner at Wall street on
his way to the post Office. Now for the
ultimate morality inherent in five
dollar bill.
Consideration one: Did he need the
money? Answer: He did not. Con-
sideration two: Did the old woman
need the money? He remembered that
the installation of the little shop had
been under the supervision of hard
faced. fashily dressed, old-young man
who had ordered the old woman about
like a slave, making her more tremu-
lous than ever. The f1ashy old-young
man seemed the power behind the
throne, and the loss therefore would
fall upon him. The old woman con-
sequently might be dismissed. The
question became: Did the young man
need the money? Apparently he did
not Therefore the matter of human
need-the emotional phase of the sub
ject-had been disposed of, and the
problem now pivoted upon the purely
moral and intellectual question: Shall
return this five-dollar bill; and if so,
why?
John Atkins was rather pleased
with his ANALYSIS of the matter so far.
With an amiable smile On his ruddy
face, he patted the small package of
bonds in his pocket He had told
customer in Boston that he would ad-
dress, register and mail this package
with his Gown hands" And he always
kept his word. 1t was such little per-
sonal touches that showed John At
kins a master craftsman.
"And if SO, Why?" John Atkins
could think of no reason why he
should return the five-dollar bill OF
course, it would be the conventionally
honest thing to do. But rules-he
refected-are made for people unable
to guide themselves. A man of his
caliber could afford to figure things
out on their merits man of his
caliber was really superior to ordinary
laws. He felt sudden rush of pleas
ure at thinking of himself as being
that sort of man. He threw away his
cigar and entered the post office
II want to register this, please" he
said at the registry window, and he
Slid tho fiun.dnlIor hill oorocc. The