ors and a something more than that in the popular president
himself. Besides he had developed a talent for the business and was in
the confidence of the cashier, a somewhat sickly man who more than once
had found himself compelled to rely upon the rapidly maturing judgment
of his young associate, in matters oftentimes of the utmost importance.
The manner in which Bertram found himself able to respond to these
various calls, convinced him that he had been correct in his opinion of
his own nature, when he informed his uncle that music was his pleasure
rather than his necessity.

Entering the building by way of Pearl Street, he was about to open the
door leading into the bank proper, when he heard a little piping voice
at his side, and turning, confronted the janitor's baby daughter. She
was a sweet and interesting child, and with his usual good nature
Bertram at once stopped to give her a kiss.

"I likes you," prattled she as he put her down again after lifting her
up high over his head, "but I likes de oder one best."

"I hope the other one duly appreciates your preference," laughed he, and
was again on the point of entering the bank when he felt or thought he
felt a hand laid on his arm. It was the janitor himself this time, a
worthy man, greatly trusted in the bank, but possessed of such an
extraordinary peculiarity in the way of a pair of protruding eyes, that
his appearance was always attended by a shock.

"Well, Hopgood, what is it?" cried Bertram, in his cheery tone.

The janitor drew back and mercifully shifted his gaze from the young
man's face. "Nothing sir; did I stop you? Beg pardon," he continued,
half stammering, "I'm dreadful awkward sometimes." And with a nod he
sidled off towards his little one whom he confusedly took up in his
arms.

Now Bertram was sure the man had touched him and that, too, with a very
eager hand, but being late that morning and consequently in somewhat of
a hurry, he did not stop to pursue the matter. Hastening into the Bank,
he assisted the teller in opening the safe, that being his especial
duty, and was taking out such papers as he himself required, when he was
surprised to catch another sight of those same extraordinary organs of
which I have just spoken, peering upon him from the door by which he had
previously entered. They vanished as soon as he encountered them, but
more than once during the morning he perceived them looking upon him
from various quarters of the bank, ti