eral thousands to spare."

Feeling a bit unsteady, Evan offered Doro a seat on one of the wings of
the stage, then went back to the platform. When the overture was
finished he stood before the assembly again.

"I have great news for you," he said, and related the newly-found
philanthropist's offer. There was perfect order while he spoke, but it
was evident the clerks were restraining themselves.

"Let us see Mr. Doro," one fellow shouted. Everyone clapped the
suggestion.

"He will appear at our meeting to-night," said Evan, answering for
Doro, "when we convene to elect permanent officers."

They were satisfied with that. Mr. Doro's suggestion was talked to
informally by different men from Montreal, London and other cities, all
of whom were in favor of some such institution as the one proposed.
The general opinion was that it would be a fine thing for the boys;
would serve as a rendezvous for transient clerks, make a good club for
city men, and promulgate the spirit of sociability. Toronto was
thought to be the most convenient city in the Dominion to have as
headquarters for the A.B.C.'s: there Hague conferences with head office
would take place.

At a signal from the chairman the orchestra began to play a song
entitled "Bankerdom." It was sung by a quartette of clerks, and
afterwards by the Assembly, who were provided with printed copies. The
refrain went:

"O Bankerdom, dear Bankerdom,
We sing to thee a freedom-song;
The years have gone that knew us dumb,--
The years we found so hard and long;
And here to-day is taken from
Our aching wrists the silver thong
That bound us to a monied wrong,
Our Bankerdom, free Bankerdom!"

About five o'clock the afternoon session was adjourned.

A. P.'s father, who was quite a plunger when he came to town, persuaded
the Nelsons to dine with him at a first-class hotel. Evan could not go
along; he had accepted an invitation to dine at Mrs. Greig's.

Sam Robb was ill--that accounted for his absence from the mass meeting
in the afternoon. Evan had been to see him a few days before, but Robb
was too sick to talk. Now he was downstairs in carpet slippers, and
looked pretty well.

"How did it come off?" was his salutation.

Evan described the whole affair, to the ex-manager's extreme
satisfaction. Before they had been conversing long he asked frankly,

"Are you still slaving away?"

"Yes," sighed Robb; "but the union will help us boys."

"Why