Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 293, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1915 — BROUGHT TO TIME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROUGHT TO TIME

By ALVINAH JORDAN GARTH.

Hiram —“Roly-Poly”—Benson, well designated as a nickname, admirably tilled the “Information” desk in the ofBees of Bacon A Co., brokers. He was sndersised, rotund, big-eyed, pink as a posy, always neat and clean of person. He exhaled healthfulness. He seemed built for the very chair he occupied and harmonised well with the six pretty—and also pink—stenographers, filling in the office picture just behind him. Hiram was the office pet. but that had not spoiled him. He had come Into the employ of Bacon A Co. under peculiar circumstances, and the 00-operation that had enabled the connection was appreciated and cherished by young Hiram. If only for the sake of plain, honest, hard-work-ing John Marvin, his sponsor, he was determined to “make good.” It was both curious and portentous the manner in which these two met. Hiram was at that time experiencing the sorrows and hardships of his first employment —messenger boy for the Security National bank. One morning Hiram was sent with two packages of securities to deliver to two different financial Institutions. He placed each in a separate inside coat pocket. It made him puff to walk fast, and he appeared as a strenuous junior business devotee as he swung down the crowded thoroughfare. Abruptly he checked himself to a staggering halt as he chanced to put his hands to his pockets. One of the precious packets was missing! He let out a frantic yell with the full power of his lungs. “Lost —ruined! 11l be hung!” he walled next, and sank to the curb and a crowd gathered. An officer came up

seeking an explanation. Hiram, in his profound excitement and desperation, had swollen the loss in securities np to a fabulous amount. A man pushed his way through the crowd. It was John Marvin. “What was the address in the lost packet, lad?” he inquired. “Blackstone, Wharton Winkleman,” replied Hiram in a breath. “There it is,” announced Marvin, extending a package. “You must have dropped it on the street a ways back where I picked it up.” “Hunkeydory! ” shouted Hiram, and he grabbed the packet eagerly and his face fairly bloomed again, and he clung to Marvin’s sleeve till he was piloted clear of the crowd. “Mister, please give me your card.” “Why, what's that for?” queried Marvin. “So’s I can reward you—not now, when I’m rich. Another thing: I don’t want to forgei what you’ve done tor me. Tell you, it’s a narrow escape! It’s me to deliver these securities and back to the bank and resign my position." “Why do you do that?” asked Marvin, somewhat interested in this oddly original character he had run up against. Tm through!” pronounced Hiram definitely. “No outside work for me. And the responsibility! ~ Nix, not, j also never! I’m too heavy for exercise. ni strike for an inside position.” “Why, come to think of it, our house seeds a new hand at the information desk,"* said Marvin. “Say, mister, work me in, will you?” pressed Hiram eagerly. “I don’t care what the salary is, so long as I don’t have to get down before nine, «n< have an hour noontimes for the sats.” 1 So Marvin gave his card and Hiram was duly installed in his new position. He made himself useful, he was polite, pleasant, accommodating. It was ideal to him to rest in a cushioned chair all day long. He got fatter and more In love with life each succeeding day. As to Marvin, the new employee doted on him. He got to walking home with him, after the day’s work was done. Marvin even took him with him to visit his fiancee, Mary Roberts, who had heard considerable of Hiram, and wanted to see him. Hiram felt grateful and honored. For a week after that he noticed that Mr. Marvin was gloomy and reserved! He talked to him one evening during their homeward walk. The interest and gratitude of the lad made Marvin glad to talk about , kis troubles, even if it was to a boy, for Hi-

”I*m your friend, Mr. Marvin, and Just you believe It. I'll never forget what you’ve done for me. You're worrying about something, and if it’s money—for I hear you’re arranging to get married to that sweet Miss Roberts —why. I’ve got over a hundred in the savings, and it's yours for the asking.” “Thank you. Hiram," returned Marvin, considerably moved at the generous offer, “but It wouldn't help me. I had saved up SSOO to get married on, and It's gone, I fear. I loaned it to a friend —a false friend—who got me to accept a friend of his as Indorser, and left the city. Last week the Indorser, a man named Drollard, paid the note with a SSOO check. Unfortunately I gave up the note, for when I went to cash the check they stamped It ‘Not sufficient funds.’ I’ve been to the bank every day for a week, and it has been no use. I have learned that this Drollard. who is a sleek, clever schemer, keeps an account at the bank, but never allows it to reach the SSOO mark.” “What bank is it drawn on, Mr. Marvin," inquired Hiram. “The Security National.” Hiram let out one of his characteristic yells. “Say, I’m solid there,” he added. “You give me that check. I know the ways and all the fellows at the Security, you see. I was a banker once, you know,” reminded Hiram importantly, "and—l’ll collect that check for you if it can be collected by anyone.” Hiram had not been a banker, as he boasted, but he did know banking ways. Forthwith he placed himself in close touch with the "boys he had known at the bank.” "Aw! give me the tip—it’s all in the family,” was his typical appeal in turn to two of his former fellow workers in the bank, and the next day Hiram was placed In possession of some .very important and guiding facts concerning the man who had given Mr. Marvin the check that could not be collected. The evasive depositor, Hiram discovered, had made it a point to always keep from fifty to one hundred and fifty dollars on deposit under the face of the check he had given to Marvin His final “tip” late one afternoon was that Drollard had $423 to his credit when the bank closed, and Hiram proceeded to draw $77 of his savings. The next morning he appeared at the Security National and deposited that amount to the credit of Drollard, presented the check and received five crisp SIOO bills on the check, which Mr. Marvin had endorsed over to him. “There’s your SSOO, Mr. Marvin,” announced Hiram airily, who tried hard to evade the $77 deficit, had to own the truth, and had one of the SIOO bills forced upon him by the delighted Marvin. At the wedding Hiram was a happy “roly-poly,” Indeed a rotund semblance of some beaming, intensely satisfied Cupid! (Copyright, 1915. by W. O. Chapman.)

He Exhaled Healthfulness.