rks
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.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER.

PREFACE
I. OUR BANKER
II. SWIPE DAYS
III. A MAN OF THE WORLD
IV. BEING A SPORT
V. MOVED
VI. THE VILLAGE MAIDEN
VII. A BANK HOLIDAY
VIII. A SPORT GONE TO SEED
IX. THE SEED MULTIPLIES
X. TROUBLE COMES
XI. JOYS OF BANKING
XII. SOME WHEEL-COGS COME TOGETHER
XIII. THE MACHINERY GRINDS
XIV. POKER AND PREACHING
XV. FIRED
XVI. BLACKBALLED
XVII. A BANKER'S GIRL
XVIII. IN THE COUNTRY OF OUR COUSINS
XIX. FAR-AWAY GREEN FIELDS
XX. HIGH FINANCE AND PROMOTING
XXI. THE ASSOCIATED BANKCLERKS OF CANADA
XXII. SHE WAITS FOR US

A CANADIAN BANKCLERK

CHAPTER I.

_OUR BANKER._

The Ontario village of Hometon rested. It had been doing for so many
years. There, in days gone by, pioneers with bushy beards--now long
out-of-date, but threatening to sprout again--had fearlessly faced the
wolf-haunted forests, relying, no doubt, upon the ferocity of their own
appearance to frighten off the devourer.

A few old elm trees still remained in the village, to protect it from
the summer sun; and still lived also an occasional pioneer, gnarled and
rugged like the old elms, to sigh and shake his head at the new
civilization, and shelter whom he might from the power of its stroke.

One of these ancient fathers meandered across the main street and into
a grocery store. He plucked a semi-petrified prune from its sticky
environment and drew a stool up to the counter.

"Well, Dad," greeted the grocer, "what's new in the old town?"

The old gentleman worried the stolen morsel into one cheek and replied:

"Our boys keep a-leavin' on us, John; keep a-goin'."

While the grocer stood wondering whether the "keep a-goin'" referred to
himself or "our boys," a customer entered.

"How d'you do, Mrs. Arling," he smiled, leaving the old man to his
quid-like mouthful.

But, in the case of a lady shopper, where business interferes with the
telling of a story--or anything--postpone business.

"Ah yes, Grandpa Newman," she sighed,