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HOME ASTD FAllM MAGAZINE SECTION
The First Assistant Cashier
By Konnotb Oarlylo Bcatson, in L. A. Times
I ONES' daughter cupped nor cntn
in tho pnlra of lior Land nnd
turnod lior clear crny" oyca full
jjpon Lor father.
"1'loaso toll mo just what It will
mean if I refuso him," sho said.
Jones wanted to lio to her. Ho want
ed to asauro lior tliat it would mean no
moro if bIio rofusod to marry Qulgloy
than if alio should refuso to marry any.
bno else. Hut ho found that with tlioao
clear oyca upon him ho somehow could
not do so. A lio oxpotod to thoso eyes
jvould perish as certainly and as quick
ly as filth exposed to tho sun.
"I'm nfrnld," ho told her, "it will
moan thnt by this tlmo next week tho
Ucnrdstown National Bank will havo n
now first assistant cashier."
Then ho slowly wet his lips. Thoso
Jlps seemed utterly bloodless. Ills en
jliro faco seemed bloodless, for thnt
I natter; and ono somehow suspected
hat hia wholo body was, too. A frlond
tiad on co laughingly remarked that his
)lood had all been absorbed by the
firm for which ho had worked tho last
35 years. That friend never guessed
bow near ho had corao to tho truth.
A light flamed up in tho girl's oyos.
Jones saw it nnd forestalled what he
know sho was about to say.
"No, Gertie, I don't mean lhat," ho
paid. Quiglcy wouldn't havo mo let out
becauso you rofusod to marry him. Ho
Isn't that kind I'm sure ho would
.want you to como to him absolutely of
your own uccord or not at nil."
' "Thon what do you meant"
Jones raised a shaky right hand to
Jils chin. That hand did not shako
merely becauso of any momentary ex
citement. It had started shaking IS
years before, nnd it had grown more
nnd moro shaky every year since.
"aortic," ho said quietly, "I nm
CO years old. Now, tho first assistant
n a bank is required to do a great deal
of work. Ho is required to do all of
Lis own work, part of tho work of thoso
below him nnd most of tho work of
thoo abovo him. To do nil this nnd to
do it well is n task that is difficult
of pcrformanco for oven n young man.
For n man of my ago it is absolutely
impossibio or performance. Wo, you
pee"
")ut surely, father, they won't for
trot that you'vo slaved for tho bank
Lalf of your lifo; that you'vo "
"My dear," Jones smiled, "thero is
not much Hontlmont in any business.
.Tboro cannot bo. And thoro is probably
Iom sontlmcnt in tho banking business
Jhnn in any 'other. 'When a fjrst assist
ant remains n first assistant until ho
is no longor nblo to do all tho work
lhat is glvon him, Lo is practically al
ways roplaccd by a younger man. This
is not right, possibly, but it is Inevit
able, nnd no ono is to bo consorrd for
ft. Tho lifo or tho hoalth, nt least
bt tho bank required that it bo dono."
"Havo you any reason for thinking
lhat they intend to lot you out just
owt"
"Yes. Sanders, who is undor mo, Is
n son-in-law of Lakers, tho president of
tho board of directors. It Las como to
mo that Sandors has been telling about
that ho expects to bo at my desk by
tho middlo of next week. This means,
of courso, thnt Lakers will try to havo
mo let out at tho next meeting of tho
board and tho next meeting Is tomor
row morning."
A frown Bottled on Gertlo's face.
"I know what's bothering yon,"sald
Jonoa. "You'ro wondering whoro Qulg
loy comes in. I'll tell you. No ono is
ovor let out without tho voto of tho
board being unanimous no ono abovo
the position of clork, that Is. Now,
Lakers is president of tho board and
a man of much influence, nnd fow of
Iho directors would enro to hold out
Ugainst Llm. Qulgloy is ono that might.
JIo would bo certain to do so if ho
jenow that I was to bo his father-in-law.
Do you boot"
Nobody but Jones himself could ever
ronlizo what it was costing Llm to talk
like this to Gordo. Hut Lo could not
liolp it. When a little child, Gortlo Lad
- turnod thoso clear gray eyes upon him
find asked Llm tho truth nbout Santa
Glaus, and Lo had told it to hor, and
nover elnco had he been ablo to tell,
hor anything but tho -'truth. Ho felt
now that as long na tho facts had to
como out it was best to got thorn out
na quickly as possiblo.
For sovoral moments Gortio silently
studied tho carpet; thon sho sullenly
looked tip with a bright smile.
"I sec, father," sho said? "and I'll
marry Mr. Qulgloy, of course. That's
a little onough thing to do for a fathor
who's dono so much for mo."
"You'll mnrry lilra If you lovo him,
nnd not otherwise," ho said decisively.
"I havon't told you this to influonco
yon. I'vo told it to you becauso I'vo
never beon nblo to Ho to you. If I
thought you hnd mnrrlod n man for ray
sako whom you did not lovo, I could
not 11 vo." And tho manner in which
ho said this last would havo convinced
any jury in tho world that ho was toll
ing tho truth.
Just then tho maid camo into tho
room, n tray In her hand. Gcrtlo took
up the card on tho tray nnd glanced
nt It.
"It's Tommy Travis," sho said, look
ing up and Jones Baw n little path of
red como into tho chcok that was
turnod toward him. "Tell hlra wo '11 bo
right in, Mary."
A moment later thoy wont into tho
parlor to greet tho visitor. Travis was
tall, tanned, nnd 22; n collego nthloto
by his looks, but nctually n book-keep-cr.
Ho camo of a very aristocratic,
very highly respected, very poor fam
ily. Eugonically, ho was nn Ideal son-in-law
for anyone; financially, ho was
not.
Jones did not stay long In tho parlor,
but quickly took himself off to Lis
club. Ho did not stay long nt tho club,
for Lo found cards, companions nnd
billiards nil equally depressing. Leav
ing tho club, ho walked slowly tip tho
street, not knowing or caring whero
Lo was go!ng.And presently ho found
himself In front of tho Beardstown Na
tional Bank.
Ho stood thoro nn tho sidewalk n
moment, gazing nt tho Lcavy platoglass
winnows. An nulomobllo whirled nround
tho corner, nnd Its Leadllght fell full
upon tho window Just before him,
lighting up plainly tho Interior of the
bank. Jones caught n gllmpso of Lis
own desk; nnd tlion, giving wny to nn
odd fancy, he walked around to tho
rear entranco and rnpped sharply thrco
times. After n moment the night watch
man oponcd tho door. Ho let Jones in
without question; It was not unusual
for Jones to come back to his offlco nt
night. I'4W first nmlstnnts can do nil
tho work thoy nro required to do in
their regular working Lours.
Straight to Lis desk went Jones,
There, still guided merely by fancy, Lo
got up on his high stool nnd sat look
ing out througL Lis window, just ns Lo
did wlion n lino of peoplo stood tliero.
He remembered tho first tlmo ho Lad
seen tho insldo of tho bank. Then ho
hnd stood in thnt lino of people, wait
ing to hnvo his first salary check
cashed. What n wondorful thing that
bit of papor had seemcdl In Imagina
tion Lo pictured Lis lifo from Hint aay
on. Now Lo was standing tremblingly
beforo Major Black, then president of
tho bank, asking for a position. Now
he wns working as n clerk working
furiously thnt Lo might gain notice and
advancement. Now Lo was again
standing boforo Major Black, bluslilng
nt tLo other's words of commondatlon
and Lcnrlng that ho was to bo mado
nn assistant teller. Now Lo was on
tho bank steps, facing a surging, sullon
mob of men nnd women, jilendlng with
thorn, begging them not to bring ruin
on thcmselvos and tho bank by de
manding their deposits. At first it was
like trying to bent down a fortress
with pebbles, and Lis words brought
forth only sneors nnd cat-calls. Gradu
ally, though, tho sneors disappeared and
tho cat-calls grow less frequent. His
enthusiasm swelled, no tnlkod on furi
ously nnd desperately. Prcsontly a fow
began to turn shamefacedly away, nnd
tho rest, sheep-like, began to follow.
Now Major Black was sobbing out his
thankfulness; telling him thnt ho had
saved tho bank, nnd that tho bank
would know how to rownrd Llm. Now
Lo was ultting nt tho first assistant
cashier's window for tho first tlmo.
How bright tho world had seomod that
mornlngl Thero had not beon a sign
of n cloud in tho sky. IIo was to bo.
mnrrlod in a week to tho most won
dcrful girl in tho world, and tho
cashier's desk, with its salary of $5000
a year, had sconiod but a stop nway.
T....L .. lM .... .i. or .. .
uuak u bhiji uhu ui. i-o jourH Wero
to brhitr it tint onn Inch irlnonrl It
might havo beon dlfferont in Major
uiucu. iiuu uvuu. .urn ono morning mo
Major's heart had gono back onvhlin
nnd Lo Lad diod without Laving tlmo
to ovon mnko a will. And directly
thoronftor things began to break badly
for Jones.
Hindi's death had loft room for a
Btop up all along tho lino. What actual
ly happened was that ovorybody step
ped up oxcopt Jones, tho second assist
ant being pushod over his head to tho
cashier's desk. Again Jonos lived ovor
tho disappointment ho had felt thon.
Ono day, no mo throo months later, a
mesecngor boy had como Into tho bank
with word thnt ho was wanted at homo
at once. When ho had arrived thoro
Dr. Anson had opened tho door for him.
Ho remembered Low gravo tho expres
sion on tho phyBlcinn's faco had beon.
"You'd bottor como right upstairs,"
tho other had said. "Sho's been ask
ing for you."
Upstairs ho had found his wlfo lying
in bed, a pink Uttlo objoct bosldo hor.
Sho had smiled wookly at him, closed
her oyes, nnd sighed dcoply; nnd thon
Dr. Anson had laid a hand across his
shoulders.
"Sho's gone, Jones," ho had said
simply.
Tho noxt tlmo Bomeono Ltd boon
shoved ovor Jonos' head ho hadn't
cared bo much. It hadn't soomod to
mattor, somehow. For a long time
nothing Lad Boomed lo matter vory
mucL. Whon Lo Lnd finally begun to
tako a now interest in lifo, bo Lad real
ized that an advancement was out of
tho question. A flxturo Lo was and
a flxturo Lo would stay. Whon tho
others moved, it was taken for grant
ed and ns n matter of courso that ho
should stand still..
And now ho was to bo lot out. This
was tho end, thon. After 35 yoarn of
slavery, ho wns to bo
A clock Btruck off tho nour oi ten.
.Tnnnn Rlnrtril and climbed down from
his stool. Ho realized, all at once, that
tho placo wan vory coiu. no incu 10
Bpcak a cheerful word to tho watch-
man as Lo wont out, but somonow wnai
Lo said did not sound cheerful.
Beaching homo, Jonos wont Blralght
to his room. Ho had been thoro but a
fow minutes whon ho beard tLo door
opon. Glnnclng up, Lo flaw Gortlo com
ing towards him. Hor cheekn wero un
naturally flushed and hor oyes wero
unnaturally bright. Sho sat down on
tho arm of his chair nnd put hor arm
nround him, nnd thon suddenly sho
burled her fnco in his vest front.
"F father," flho sobbed, "I I c
couldn't. Ho ho asked mo to to
marry him, nnd I C couldn't rofuso
h him. Ho only gots a flovonty-flvo
dollars a month, b but I I 1 lovo
him."
"Why, what in tho world!" ex
claimed Jonos, raising ner ince.
"Oh. T I know I'm ungrateful and
and b solflsh, b but when T Tom-
my nsked mo l o couiun-i say no.
I j just c couldn't. I"
Suddenly Jones saw ngnt. no ow
what Bho had dono nnd why aho was
crying nbout it, nnd ho saw, too, what
his courso must be. no forced a smllo
to his faco.
"Well, Gertie, what nro you crying
Miniitf" ho nsked. "You'ro not aorry
you accepted him already, aro yout"
Gcrtlo brlgntoncu a muo douidu ucr
tears.
"But but Mr. Quiglcy won't"
"Ob, bother Qulgleyl" Jones ex
claimed lightly ho mado It como light
ly. "I wouldn't think of allowing you
to marry Llm unless you loved Llm,
nnd you know it. AnyLow, what if I
nm let out of tLo Boardstown Natlonalt
I can get" Ho paused a momont nnd
swallowed. Ho Lad meant to say tLat
Lo could get plonty of otLer positions,
but thoso clear gray oyes would not
let him. "Thoro 'a othor banks in
town," ho finished. "I guoss thoro 'a
no danger of mo starving to, doatb. I
was unstrung whon I tralked to you
this ovonlng, nnd things seemed worso
than they wore. Now, brighten up, my
dear, and toll mo moro about Tommy."
An hour later Gortlo, rcassurct. and
happy, left tho room. Ab the door
closed after hor, Jonos relaxed In his
chajr nud elghod deeply. Just thon ho
felt i very, vory old man.
.When Q.uJgloy called early, iho noxt
mornlniT tr. .i.. .. .. -
received W answer tV
hadaskedhortwoda;,11'
brought Jones S tR'
of tho board wanted loeh,rrt
had boon upoctlns tw T ,ot
put ovcrythlng In pcrfcct "' "W;
g", Sot down fTmVIr
lastlookathUv JL'T'l
BHhtly, and then "ffiftj
Lers glanced up ahocnl,
"Bit down, Jones," ho sMi
Jones sat down. Lakers Uim.vu .,
rubbed his chin for tT
"Jones," ho said, "do yon rMlia
thatfyon aro getting to bo pjftj
Jones nodded. Ho couldn't trail U..
Bclf to speak just then. nli'
';Yes,yotlmU8tboBOmcwhcro
05," tho other wont on. "A mtZ
old can't do tho work a first auirtul
cashier must do, Jones, It's a tfoTJ
Impossibility. Tho first assistant U til
pack-mulo of a bank, and OTerjheJ
takes a turn at riding on Mm. p.,
thought for a long tlmo that e mi
to havo a younger man as our pt
mulo, and I brought tho matter up U
foro tho other directors at the meeUt.
this morning. Thoy all agreed with mi
and we decided to make young Sjnim
first assistant."
Lakers pausod and coughed. Jm
glancod at tho window at his ricnt ul
saw that a shadow had fallen acroM It
Kvldontly a cloud had passed Wot
tho sun. Tho words of a song hi hi
known ns a child camo back to hla,
"Somo whero behind tho clouds the ra
is shining." Ho smiled grimly to Via.
solf nnd wondered if somowhero beliil
tho clouds his son could bo tal&uig.
"Yes, Jones," Lakers wenton,l,wi
decided that you 'd been our pack msii
long enough. A man who has itrrtl
his firm ns long nnd as faithfully u
you havo descrvoa a better reward Um
that Now, Winston hasn't beea well
for n long tlmo, and his physicians hu
that his lungs aro affected. IIi'i
bought a placo out in Arizona, and hi
is going out thero next week. VT de
cided nt tho meeting that no one wu
bettor fitted or moro entitled to fill
his placo than you. So I take pleanrt
In Informing you, Jones, that from to
morrow on your position will be ttit
of head cashier."
Whon Jonos looked again at that
window ho saw that tho cloud had
gono by nnd that the sunlight wu
streaming in brightly.
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