Produced by Al Haines
[Frontispiece: "The Conscientious Clerk" _From drawing by Paul N. Craig, Omaha, Neb., 1913_]
A CANADIAN
BANKCLERK
BY
J. P. BUSCHLEN
TORONTO:
WILLIAM BRIGGS
1913
Copyright, Canada, 1913, by
J. P. BUSCHLEN
Dedicated
TO THE
Conscientious Clerk
_DUST._
_My box is full of others' cash, My pocket full of air, My head is crammed with cleric trash, Layer upon layer._
_I gaze upon the business mob That throngs before my cage, And watch their human pulses throb In greed, fear, rage._
_Yet through the vapor and the must I often catch a smile-- As though someone had lost the lust, And, for a while,_
_Regarded me, the shoveller, As greater than the gold, Which, after all, belongs to her-- Old Mother Mould._
PREFACE
The story herein told is true to life; true, the greater part of it, to my own life. Also, I am convinced that my experience in a Canadian Bank was but mildly exciting as compared with that of many others.
My object in publishing "Evan Nelson's" history is to enlighten the public concerning life behind the wicket and thus pave the way for the legitimate organization of bankclerks into a fraternal association, for their financial and social (including moral) betterment.
Bank officials, I trust, will see to it that my misrepresentations are exposed.
To mothers of bankclerks who attach overmuch importance to the gentility of their Boy's avocation; to fathers who think that because the bank is rich its employes must necessarily become so in time; to friends who criticize the bankclerks of their acquaintance for not settling down--this story is addressed.
To the men of our banks who are dissatisfied with the business they have chosen, or someone else has chosen for them; to Old Country clerks who come out to Canada under the impression that Five Dollars is as good as One Pound; to bank employes in the United States, and to office men everywhere--I am telling my tale.
Finally, I appeal to "the girls we have known." Be sure you study the subject thoroughly before accusing that inscrutable, proud and procrastinating clerk of yours of inconstancy.
THE AUTHOR.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Canadian Bankclerk by J. P. Buschlen
- 2: Gnarled and rugged like the old elms
- 3: Evan was getting along so well
- 4: While the dainty teller fretted in his cage
- 5: Wouldn't Frankie be proud of him
- 6: His remarks were addressed to Perry
- 7: Of course Evan exaggerated matters
- 8: Until the teller grew intolerable
- 9: Then reverse the entry all before Watson could interfere
- 10: Said Bill Watson on one occasion
- 11: Robb puffed his cigar into life before continuing
- 12: He stared at the ledger keeper despairingly
- 13: The thing finally struck Evan himself as funny
- 14: The ledger keeper found him thus
- 15: Robb sighed and walked into his office
- 16: Waiting for the teller to turn around
- 17: Frankie had been paying better attention
- 18: Evan was left on the verandah with Frankie
- 19: Frankie knew she was not an intruder
- 20: But Evan was not familiar with loans
- 21: He was strengthened in his resolve to be independent
- 22: The reply Evan sent Frankie was busy
- 23: Watson was talking on It helps business
- 24: Preferring to do his business through Evan
- 25: Evan felt at home in her company
- 26: Robb came to the cage door for some change
- 27: Evan was not fond of the idea of being fished out
- 28: A teller from one of the other Mt
- 29: But Frankie and Evan were suited to each other
- 30: Frankie went in to her piano and played Sleep and Forget
- 31: Evan pinched his pal's knee cap
- 32: Another letter Evan wrote to Frankie Arling
- 33: Were you rubbing it into Alf to day
- 34: And Robb grunted discontentedly
- 35: How would you like the current ledger
- 36: And while he did not like to leave so kind a manager as Robb
- 37: Dunn had worked at head office
- 38: A book lay beneath the hammock this dreamy Autumn afternoon
- 39: You can't do much on that $250
- 40: Evan thought of his tailor's bill
- 41: The dinner shared with Frankie
- 42: Running back to where Evan was
- 43: That of Creek Bend interested Evan
- 44: His was the only bank in Banfield
- 45: The manager's words indicated that Evan was indispensable
- 46: His thoughts of Frankie were indefinite
- 47: Lou regarded him in consternation
- 48: Lou thoughtlessly said something ill advised
- 49: A glance told Evan who the girl was
- 50: Exclaimed the Bonehead disconsolately
- 51: His Banfield friends had wished him A Merry Christmas
- 52: Occasionally a regular customer came in to cash a cheque
- 53: Why had Robb repeatedly made anti banking suggestions to him
- 54: Henty regarded the teller with unsophisticated admiration
- 55: At length Penton extended his hand
- 56: Penton hesitated as she entered her husband's office
- 57: But as he gazed on the squawking Penton
- 58: Penton probably thought it was timidity
- 59: Penton had a way with him among people
- 60: For in that place sat Frankie Arling
- 61: He knew he loved Frankie Arling
- 62: Penton stood pulling at the inflamed tip of his upper lip
- 63: Had done more than Penton would do
- 64: After Evan had balanced the liability ledger
- 65: Penton coaxed him to have tea with her
- 66: What might not happen if Penton got in a drunken craze
- 67: And Evan would not have trusted Penton in the cage
- 68: And stood by while Penton opened them
- 69: Penton stared glassily a moment
- 70: Evan had a hunch that Penton was the thief
- 71: And Henty looked at him quickly
- 72: That Penton was managing a branch
- 73: The Banfield teller shivered an instant
- 74: Penton surely was an artist at deception
- 75: Penton stayed close to the inspector
- 76: Henty winked at Evan from behind the manager's back
- 77: Penton any longer than was absolutely necessary
- 78: He must tell more than would be good for Penton
- 79: And afterwards to the Penton apartments
- 80: Penton began to drag at his upper lip
- 81: Eager to make up for the minute lost in Banfield
- 82: The Banfield teller fell asleep
- 83: Evan opened his mouth to advise
- 84: Evan looked toward the street again
- 85: You've got four tellers to balance
- 86: The paying teller shouted for the fourth teller
- 87: He called tell Banfield to come over here get it
- 88: The Banfield man would have to learn
- 89: He shouted behind the paying teller
- 90: Soon Key found Evan hesitating over the work
- 91: Robb turned and gazed at his young friend
- 92: Penton promised to hold it for me
- 93: Before long Evan showed signs of restlessness
- 94: That homesickness you speak of is bad
- 95: Robb told him about the expense voucher
- 96: Among those 450 bankclerks at least
- 97: The sophisticated argument amused Evan
- 98: Until now Cantel had been silent
- 99: Evan dreamed of amusing himself
- 100: Maybe Nelsy will sit in a few hands
- 101: Evan decided it was up to him to make a few bets
- 102: He really believed Robb was paying Mrs
- 103: Robb looked daggers at a robin
- 104: Evan Nelson was wearing himself out
- 105: He corrected I meant 'every jackass
- 106: Pointing to tall Marks and short Cantel
- 107: Realize Frankie as he had done in those old school days
- 108: Turning his bunch over to Cantel
- 109: Evan had never been introduced to the manager
- 110: Evan went down to the basement for his hat
- 111: Evan saw that Bill was uninformed
- 112: They couldn't do it in Banfield
- 113: Quite early Sam Robb arrived at the boarding house
- 114: Robb glowered at a passing limousine
- 115: Evan watched the old clerk down the avenue
- 116: He explained about the abattoir company's offer
- 117: Japers lives right in the suburbs of Hamilton
- 118: The second Saturday of Nelson's engagement with Jim Japers
- 119: The Japers did not wait for Evan to dress
- 120: Hazel had had a nice home in Mt
- 121: Evan kept on thinking about the Castles
- 122: Old Penton was like a bear cat
- 123: He called and bade Hazel Morton good bye
- 124: Alban again for a little season
- 125: Frankie was rather silent and downcast
- 126: Frankie and Lou entered the kitchen where Mrs
- 127: That Evan sees girls like that
- 128: He knew he was a good bookkeeper
- 129: The cheque from home for fifty dollars looked good to Evan
- 130: New Yorkers never looked at each other
- 131: Evan wondered why the fellow was so unconcerned about it
- 132: Evan took great pleasure in those parties
- 133: And Evan turned his attention to spring
- 134: He met Henty in Buffalo the following night
- 135: Old man Henty shipped them two cows
- 136: Henty looked on in silence for a few weeks
- 137: But Henty seemed to contain himself by force of will
- 138: I don't know whether they're worth $60
- 139: Henty grew more and more interested
- 140: Evan and Henty left for Vancouver
- 141: Excusing himself with Hazel and Henty
- 142: Evan was thinking of what Watson had done
- 143: Remembering how readily Henty usually thought things out
- 144: Henty was waiting around the corner
- 145: In two weeks they met at Penticton
- 146: While Henty was writing letters
- 147: Henty was informed that somebody waited to see him
- 148: Nelson was smothered in cheers and clapping of hands
- 149: Doro thought a moment before replying
- 150: She looked at Robb before answering
- 151: Doro that they were not yet organized
- 152: Robb took a deep breath at the word Sam
- 153: As Perry was saying his farewells to Frankie
- 154: Frankie is the finest girl in town
