David Lannarck, Midget Part 23

"Naw! You're not under anything. You're at the top of the heap. Your sc.r.a.p started things. Get out here on the first train--there's a lot to do and I've pledged you to carry out all the plans as proposed by your friend Townsend. There's lots to do. Get here at once."

And s.h.i.+rley Wells of the East, Sam Welborn of the West, did as he was directed. He arrived in Bransford shortly after the noon hour. And the rest of the afternoon he was listening to Davy's story and Davy's plans. Sunday morning, at the Fourth Avenue Church, he was cordially greeted by many, some of whom he had ridiculed at a former session.

Monday, the full day was spent in the office of his friend Townsend.

Tuesday, Ralph Gaynor of Springfield arrived in Bransford in response to Davy's telegram, wherein it was suggested that "one carfare was cheaper than two."

s.h.i.+rley Wells admired Ralph Gaynor but he marveled at his methods.

Instead of taking him down to the bank building to review the former methods of conducting the business, Gaynor persisted in interviewing any and all with whom he came in contact: business and professional men, farmers and laborers, women clerks and housewives. His questions were casual, the extended answers were his reward. That evening, in Townsend's office, he delivered his estimates and opinion.

"Banking service is badly needed in your city. Your present plans are timely. A news story should go out tomorrow that the organization is formed and will be functioning next week--this to prevent others from invading this fine prospect. You have present opportunity to secure the services of young Nelson, down at the Wide-Awake, as a receiving teller. He is fast and accurate in money matters. The young lady that compiled Mr. Townsend's reports can, and should, take care of the growing bookkeeping. You will not make a great deal of money in this first year of operation. After that, you will have the best banking investment I know of."

"But what about our new cas.h.i.+er, s.h.i.+rley Wells?" inquired Townsend.

"What's his job? He and his little friend here own practically all the stock."

"The banking business," said Gaynor, "has its peculiarities. Back of the counter, it's simply a matter of accuracy. In front of the counter, however, it's a question of diplomacy and good judgment.

s.h.i.+rley Wells is an a.s.set. His business is in front of the counter, greeting the trade and broadening the field for service. A bank must have a.s.sets if it is to make loans."

The Wells National Bank, with its tidy and growing millions of a.s.sets, is functioning at 201 North Oak Street, Bransford, U.S.A.

Just where should these ramblings end? A tragedy ends at the death of any or all; a comedy ends with one of the revived jokes of former years; a biography should terminate at the grave, and a romance finishes as the groom carries his hard-won prize across the threshold of the cottage or palace. What's the finish here?

A start was made to tell the life story of a midget, but complications arose that could not be avoided. Instead of traveling the infrequent paths of the Lilliputians the journey has, in many instances, swept down the traffic-filled thoroughfare of the big adults. But midgets are few in number, they have few contacts with each other. In most every instance, their employment is to exhibit themselves to the thousands and thousands who come to see and comment.

Midgets do not go to war, cannot win a prize fight, or bust one over the right field fence for a home run. Their field for service is limited to public exhibitions; their contacts wholly with the questioning adult. The tragedies of a midget are of the lighter sort, comedies prevail only in a minor degree, romance is a limited factor, and in this particular instance, these ramblings cannot be cla.s.sed as biography--the princ.i.p.al characters are still alive.

And because they are still alive and functioning, the reader is invited out to the Adot vicinity to see--and maybe partic.i.p.ate--in the continuing story.