The Dolores star., 1924-05-30
Janitor Meyers
Luck
Bv CHARLES E. BAXTER
90. 1894. western Newspaper union.)

90. 1874. Western Newspaper union-)
u\NrHY, Meyer, this isn't the time
" to talk about raising wages,
wltn business us it is" the president
ui the llttle bank had told the old
watchman. Besides, prices are fall
ing, and your money will soon be
worth a good deal more to you than
it is today"
Old Meyer said nothing. He had
simply taken the securities and left
the Office. But he was thinking harder
than he had ever thought in his life
before.
Eighteen dollars a week. after thirty
years servicel He had saved up six
hundred toward the realization OF his
dream, Ii bungalow in Florida for his
old age He had neither wife nor
child And the president had re-
fused him that paltry raise which
would enable him TO retire 10 the
bungalow, ten years hence, at sew
enty.
In the package he carried were ne
gotiable securities to the value Of
five thousand dollars. Every week he
carried similar package to the post
Office. He knew all about 1t.
And only three weeks before Wad-
dell, man with whom he had struck
up an intimacy at the furnished room
aouse in which he was living had
ainted at ways of making easy money.
WaddelI had of course known of his
position as the bank messenger, but
he had not known how sorely he was
tempted by his words. Waddell had
not been explicit. Old Meyer did
not allow him to be- 1t was because
the temptation was so strong that old
Meyers Indignation was so great. He
had soon shown Waddell where he got
Off, and Waddell had left the next
day. Meyer had not seen him again.
But now-the temptation struck
home so fercely that Never could not
resist It. He had only to walk
straight to the station, take train
to the junction, and there pick up the
2 :15 to the coast. He would be well
on his way before he was missed. No
one would have the slightest clue to
mis- whereabouts
And 1t would serve President Han
son right! Next time he had a trust
ed employee, he would be wiser than
to keep him struggling along on eight
cen dollars week.
No sooner had this thought come to
him than Meyer found himself proceed
ing, almost against his volition. to-
ward the Union station.
He took longer route through the
slum district to avoid being recog-
nized. great many people in the
town knew Meyer. And one never
needed to take more risks than neces-
sary. Luckily, he had drawn hun
dred dollars from the savings bank
that day to make a payment on his
house. That would be enough to take
him through to the coast and keep
him till he could dispose OF his Sc
curities. He must let the other Ave
hundred of his savings go.
What fool he had been to struggle
all those years for Hansonl
He was passing through little al
ley when a man stepped out from n
doorway in front of him. To Meyers
astonishment he recognized Waddell.
Hello, Meyer" Waddell nodded.
PITY you wouldn't come In with US on
that deal. Well, that's up to you.
Hand 'em overr"
He snatched at the package In old
Meyers hands. For an instant old
Meyer did not understand what Wad.
del! meant.
Then, snatchlng 1t back. he started
TO run. He raised his voice. A blow
fell on his head from behind. half.
stunning him. And he screamed nj
the top Of his voice. and fought with
desperate fury He had forgotten all
about the coast. He only remembered
his years of service to the bank.
And, still clutching desperately at the
package, he sank into oblivion.
He opened his eyes to see a face
staring into his. AS the room ceased
to revOlve about him he discovered