The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 24 September 1908, Page 3

The Storyteller

A WISE YOUTH

A mild hum filled the banking room. ' There was the click of many footsteps on tha marble floor, and within the great polished railing clerks with monotonous voices were comparing long lines of figures. Men came and went, and all the machinery of the great institution seemed to move .with the .smoothness and regularity of the mighty clock that hung high on t'io painted wall. The boy who paused at the threshold had looked in at this big financial hive, and somehow fancied that it made him feel very small. Everybody was so entirely unconscious of his presence, the currents of humanity flowed by him so steadily, he seemed so thoroughly on the .cutside of all this activity that for a moment it almost disheartened him. Could he ever break into this busy life? Could he make himself oven the smallest factor in it? Wm there any place for him in this ceasetess flow? But he was not a boy to be icadily discouraged. He was nineteen and well built; his health w£ts excellent, his appclu* good. He had come to the city from the farm, and he meant to make a bi .ivo fight to win solid foothold. He advanced a little further, and as he did so a uniformed man, who resembled both a naval officer and a "policeman, carno toward him and lookod him over inquiringly. The boy pulled an envelope from his pocket and held it up. ' I want to see Mr Barrington,' he said ' Have you had an appointment with him?' the uniformed man asked. No. I have a letter of introduction.' ' You'll have to go round there by the gate and wait )n the bench until Mr. Barrington is at leisure. When he's through with the- people ahead of you, he'll come to the gate and as'« you what you want. But he may not be through before after- • iocn. Bettrr wail, ' o\v<vcr, if you've got the time." ' Oh, I've got ihe time all right. 1 laughed the boy. ' I've got more time than anything else. Are j'ou a bank officer?' He was a good-natured man, and he smiled at the boy's question. ' I'm the bank officer,' he answered with a little chuckle. ' I keep order out here and tell people where to go, and have a general oversight over the whole affair.' ' Look out for robbers, too, I s'pose. ' • Yes,' replied the officer. ' But there's little danger th«.u they will come here. They would have to be unusually clever to make the visit pay.' ' Maybe you're a detective, too?' said the boy. ' I was a detective, ' the officer answered. ' This job is casior And pays better ' " I The boy looked at him admiringly. 'Wouldn't like an assistant, would you?' he asked. The big officer laughed. .' Not enough work for two,' he replied. ' Besides, it's no place fci a hoy who has come up from the country to mako an everlasting fortune.' It was the boy's turn to laugh. ' I won't forget you when I get to be the president of the concern,' he said. 'Something seems to tell me that we're going to know each other better.. But I guess-" I'm detaining .you.' ' That's all right,' said the big officer. - ' f haven't lost sight of anything that's going on. See you again, perhaps,' and - he sauntered away. - . - •".-' ■■-•' • * The boy walked around the long counter- and reached the bench by the little gate. A man was sitting there', a man who .looked up quickly as the boy took "a seat beside him. • He was ■ z ar- well-dressed man with a black' moustache and a • somewhat ~ .furtive look. The boy realised that the stranger' was staring j-TiaYd at -Kim, and that the stare was not- a friendly one. ■**W.ant to -see Barrington?' the man presently asked. * - --'YeV .- .'.".... 'He won!t be able to see you this morning. Jie's got half " a dozen people in his room now.' •_• * I knew he was busy. But I ain't in a- hurry." The man was silent for a little while. Thc>boy leaned back and stared at the frescoed -ceiling. " ." "'.' ' Looking for a job? 1 said the man. ' - '.Yes.' v ' What kind of a job?'

DUNEDIN

'Anything that's honest where I can learn something.' ' Yes. How would you like the drug business?' ' Pretty well, I guess.' 'There's a friend of mine wants a straight boy of about your age. He told me so yesterday. Said he'd rather have a boy from the country.' ' That's me,' said the boy. * Everybody seems to know I'm from the country.' . 'Country boys are in demand, 1 said the stranger. ' Glad to hear that,' laughed the boy. ' I guess I ain't going to starve. Still, I'm afraid the supply keeps pretty well up to the demand.' 1 Good boys never have any trouble getting work, 1 said the man. ' Better go right down now and see my friond. He's .U the corner of Bayard and Twenty-first streets. You'll find him there now. I'm afraid the place will be gone if you don't hustle after it.' The lad looked around. 'You're very kind,' he said, 'to take such an interest in me.' ' I like your looks. ' ' Thank you. It's funny you knew I was from the country." ' Well, there's a difference in your appearance, you know.' ' I suppose there is. There must be. That big bank officer out there, he recognised me, too. He used to be a detective. ' Did he?' ' Yes. He says that pays better. ' ' Of course he knows.' ' And it's easier.' The man squirmed nervously. ' Don't you want to try for that place in the drug store?' I ain't quite sure. Hours long?' ' I don't know how long they are. You'll find out when you go for the place.' ' Yes. Have to draw soda water?' ' Perhaps so.' ' Man was killed in our town by a soda water fountain blowing up.' The man looked at his watch. It was a gold watch and a handsome one. The boy caught sight of it over the man's shoulder. He also saw that the hand that held it trembled. ' You've got jusf about time to get there before my friend goes for lunch.' The boy yawned. ' I guess I wouldn't care for the drug business,' he said. The man said something hastily under his breath. ' I might poison somebody,' said the boy. ' There was a clerk in the drug store at our place who gave a woman paris green for her complexion. The doctor said if she'd taken it inside it would have killed her. I'd hate to have a thing like that on my conscience. I don't believe I'd sleep well after it.' The man looked around at the boy. He was staring up at the ceiling with an innocent air, his hands deep in his pockets and his head thrown back. ' Guess you don't want to work,' said the man. ' Yes, I do. That is, I want to make money. I ain't so anxious about the work.' The man tapped his foot impatiently on the polished floor. ' Do you expect a job here?' ' I don't really expect anything You see, I'm greener thm I look. Everybody knows lam from the country. You know it, and that there detective out there knew it. Of course, Mr. Barrington will know it, because I'm taking a letter of- introduction to him. You see, he's a friend of Banker Symington in our town. It isn't any such bank as this. Not by a good deal. But it's sound and it s safe, and Banker Symington knows his business as well as any man in his line "ran know it. And he knows Banker Symington, too. When he heard I was coming up here he gave me a letter of introduction, and I guess he has said a good word for me. We are well acquainted. I was in the bank with him for a year or more. We two were the whole thing.' The boy laughed. 'It was a good deal different from this sort of a place.' Then he looked around at the stranger. 'So you see this is pretty nearly the only business I know anything about— and I don't know anything too much about this. At the same time, I wouldn't object to a nice job most anywhere. The drug business is a good one, and of course I might do worse.' He lazily rolled his eyes toward the stranger ' Where did you say your friend's drug store is?' The man quickly looked up. T< It's the corner of Hazcn and Twenty-fifth,' he glibly said. 'You tan easily findit.'

'Yes,' drawled the boy. 'I guess I'll go down there if I don't get a chance to .see Mr. Barrington pretty soon. ' The man scowled in an ugly way, but it was lost on the boy, who continued to stare at the ceiling. And then both lapsed into silence. But the eyes of the boy were alert for all his apparent absorptions in the rich frescoes. He saw that the man was nervous and anxious, and he wondered why. Presently he yawned and drew himself up. ' I'll be asleep here in a moment,' he said, 'if I don't stii' around a little. My foot's asleep now.' He arose as he spoke and struck his heel sharply to the floor. .'lf Mr. Barrington comes out I'll be right back. I'm just going to walk around a little and start my circulation.' He walked toward the door slowly, the man watching hitn intenHy. Then ho turned and came back. His eves, apparently intent upon the fine decoiations, were busy all about him. The tall office was near the outer door, but the boy took good care i'Ot to attract his. attention. Presently the officer moved toward the bank counter and leaned against it. It was the chance the boy hoped for. From his position the officer could not be seen by the man on the bench, and the boy knew this. He sidled across to the counter and stared through the heavy plate glass window as if fascinated by the work and the workers within. Almost within arm's length, just around the angle, stood the tall officer. ' Officer,' said the boy in a hoarse whisper, ' don't look around.' The officer had started at this abrupt order, but he heeded it. ' I hear you,' he softly said; ' what's up?' ' I'm the country boy you spoke to awhile ago.' ' Yes, I recognise your voice. What's wrong?' ' I don't know yc-t. I'm going to find out if I can. There's a follow sitting on that waiting bench by the gate whose looks I don't like. There's something wrong about him.' ' Lot me have another look at him. ' ' No, no. You'll scare him off the track. I'm going to stay right with him and see his little game through.' ' But this is my job,' protested the officer in a low whisper. 'It isn't any job at all yet, 1 said the boy. 'You'll get in all right when it is.' But what makes you think he's up to mischief?' ' He's nervous and excited. He wants to get rid of me He trk-d to send me out to look for a job, and he got the addresses mixed up. Besides, I know who he is. I was with a circus two seasons, and he was a hanger-on. He was v confidence man, a capper, a cheap gambler, and finally he was mixed up in a hold-up scrape and disappeared. I knew him the instant I got a good look at him.' ' Say,' murmured the officer, "' you are not as green as you look.' 1 Perhaps I couldn't be,' the boy softly chuckled. ' Anyway I'm on to this fellow all right-I'm not going to leave him until I find out what he's up to. Keep. out of sight until I call you. What's your name?' ' Mary. You yell Macy if you want me. But, say, I don't half like this. Ain't I trusting too much to you?' ' Guess not,' said the boy. ' There's nothing against the fellow as yet. It will be a good deal more to the credit of both of us if we. nab him in some nefarious act. But don't you show yourself in any way that will excite his suspicions. Hang around the outside door and keep your ears both open. There, I've talked enough. I'm going back to the bench.' He gave one long lingering look at the little stacks of gold on the marble slab beyond the plate glass, and then lounged back to the bench by the gate. The man there, who had been staring hard at him, frowned as he approached. 'You like, money, don't you?' ho said. ' Guess I do,' laughed the boy. ' 'Specially gold. There ain't as pretty a metal as the yellow stuff. And, gee whiz! what a heap of it they've got inside there! I was counting a lot of those stacks, and there's more'n 2000 in one of 'em.'* ' Maybe you'd like to earn a little money,' said the man. 'Of course I would,' said the boy. 'That's what I'm- here for.' ' Well, here's your chance,' said the man. ' I've forgotten a valuable paper that I need in some business here to-day, and I wish you'd go after it.' 1 Where?'" 1 Here's the address. \ He scribbled a line on a scrap of envelope. 'It will only take you twenty minutes or so. . I'd go myself, but I can't leave here.' The boy looked at the address. ' This ain't the drug Tstore, is it?' he drawled. ' ' No, but it's just around the corner;' ' -

• The boy read the card aloud : ' No. 27 Heffefman street. Is it easy to find?' ' Yes. Ask the first policeman you meet. ' . ' ' I don't like to ask anything of the policemen,' said the boy. ' They might ask me who I was working for. ' ' What do you mean by that?' said the man sharply. 'I mean that as long as I haven 't.^any regular work" I'm a sort of vagrant, ain't I?' And he looked up at the, stranger with an innocent glance. ' ' ' ~ ~ ■ ' I'll give you a dollar if you'll do this errand,' said the man. 'Dollar is a good deal,'' murmured the boy. 'That's at the rate of three dollars an hour, and" ten hours would make it thirty dollars.' ■ He said this with the air of one who solves an interesting problem. ' There was a fellow who went from our town when I was a small boy and struck it rich' with some steel makers, and they say his income 'now is something like a dollar a minute all day long and all night too. Time must fly very merrily with him.' And he chuckled softly. ' Are you going on that errand?' the man asked. ' I don't know as I am,' drawled the boy. ' I'd like to earn the money all right, but I don't believe' I can do more than one thing at a time. I came here to see Mr. Barrington, and I guess I'd better wait until he comes out.' ' See here,' said the man hurriedly, , ' I'll give you five dollars to take this message.' ' Taint worth' it,' draw-led the boy. 'It would be robbing you. You ought to be more careful with your stuff. I wouldn't want an overcharge on my mind like that. No, sir. You keep jour money, mister. ' ' You're a fool,' growled the man. 4 Well, I ain't no robber,' said the boy simply. The man started and glanced at him sharply, but his" face was bland and smiling. ' My old grandfather used to say,' remarked the boy, ' that to take advantage of a man's distress was no better than stealing from him— and it -vvas a blamed sight meaner.' The stranger was about to make an angry retort when tha appearance of a man at the gate stopped him. He was a young man, and he was bare-headed and wore" no coat. There were calico sleeves on his arms and a pen behind his ear. He looked like one of the numerous young men behind the bi" counter. ft He nodded slightly, and the man at the bench arose quietly and stepped forward. The boy arose just as quickly and followed him. ' Here is the package Mr. Barrington left for you,' said the young man at the gate. He spoke hurriedly, and extended a bundle wrapped in a newspaper. 'All right,' said the man, and reached forward and grasped the package. He turned quickly away, and there was the boy in his pathway. He was pale, but smiling. ' Get out of my way,' hissed the man as he pushed forward. There was desperation in his face, and there was fear— and there was guilt. 'Wait,' said the boy quickly. He saw the maru_at the gate still standing there with a look of horror on his face. H > saw the other man's hand drop into his side pocket. ' Wait, Jim Barton,' cried- the boy. With an oath the man sprang forward, but the boy nimbly ducked and caught him tightly about the waist. The man's hand came out of his pocket, and he struck* viciously at the boy's head. At the same moment the man at the gate ran forward-, 'Macy!' cried the boy, and^with a violent effort, he flung the first man to the floor and fell heavily across him. When he opened his eyes again he was lying on a couch in a handsomely furnished room; and a kindly faced man was looking down at him. His head ached, and there was a thick bandage about it. ' He's all right, Barrington,' said the -man beside- the- * couch. 'He has a tough" head, and' it was only a scalp wound. 'Good,' said the tall man, who stepped forward. ' ~ 'Are yoti Mr. Barrington?' the boy inquired "as" lie sat up. . ' Yes. ' - . ' ' Then I have a letter of introduction for you.' ' You have introduced yourself very acceptably,' laughed the tall man. 'I fancy I know who you are— Mr. Symington wrote to me: concerning you "last week. And I want you to understand that you have made a very favorable impression on the bank, and the bank will show its gratitude in a practical way. Your shrewdness and courage prevented the loss of a largo' sum of

currency, and spoiled one of the neatest gieces of thievery ever attempted. Both the principals are gaoled, and lam sorry to say that one of 'our young men is Confined with them.' 'Then Macy Was tliere?' laughed the boy. Mlacywason .hand,' said the" tall man. ' Macy thinks you are- a -.wonder,- and gives }ou all the credit. ' -' Here V the, letter,' said , the boy," as he drew an envelope from his pocket. 'You'll find that I'm looking for work.' '.You needn't look any farther,' laughed the tall man. — Cleveland Plain Dealer.