ho could manage
a branch, but everybody can't have one, you know. Managerships are
sugar-plums to be handed out carefully by head office."

"I see," said the new man. "But," he added, "the banks claim they are
very hard up for managers."

"That's because the job isn't up to much when you do get it; a good
many fellows get out when they find what they're up against. A lot of
this talk about the great opportunities of banking originates in head
office and is peddled around the country for a purpose. The bank has
the greatest advertising system in the country and the least expensive.
It carries the biggest bluff on earth. The bank's on a par with
political flag-wavers when it comes to handing the people the bunco."

About five o'clock Mr. Willis, the old general-ledger clerk and
ex-manager, edged over toward the cash book, with his hat on and a pipe
in his mouth.

"Well, Watson," he said, lighting a match, "how's your successor coming
along?" The match was burning down, but Willis held it tantalizingly
away from the pipe while he added: "Why don't you introduce him?"

While the match threatened to burn the old clerk's fingers he slowly
greeted Evan, and puffing a last flickering flame into his bowl, in a
way that showed how closely he had, during years of smoking, studied
the science of combustion, asked:

"How do you think you are going to like city work, Mr. Nelson?"

"It doesn't look very good to me," said Evan. "I'm off color to-day;
my head is bursting."

"Why don't you go home?"

"Yes, go on," said Bill; "I didn't know you were all in. You certainly
don't look any too frisky."

"I may be on the job alone to-morrow, though," replied Nelson, "and
just yet I don't know the first thing about it."

Neither Willis nor Watson advised him against the wisdom of learning
things when he had a chance, so he stayed. No doubt they knew how it
felt to be up against a new post in the middle of a day, with everyone
too busy to lend a hand, or even a suggestion. The perspiration that
has been lost under those circumstances would make quite a stream.

Bill had a bad balance. He worked till ten o'clock, taking half an
hour off to eat supper. Evan stuck to it, too. When he got to his
hotel he had nervous indigestion and a violent headache. He took
quinine and went to bed, more or less disgusted with life. When the
drug began to work and the pain of his head was soothed, a peaceful
lethargy crept over him, an