exclamation of
despair--and then the blank look. The vacant expression seemed to be
behind all his woes, and an empty mind was undoubtedly behind that.

"You missed your calling, Port," said Bill Watson on one occasion; "you
should have been a sign painter. Those aren't figures you are making,
you know."

Perry looked hopelessly at his work and then into the ledger keeper's
face. Watson indulged in a spasm of mirth.

"I can hardly wait till balance day," he stammered, with difficulty
controlling himself; "that nut of yours will crack--and I don't think
there'll be enough kernel to excite a squirrel."

"Aw, cut it out and show me this," grumbled the savings-man.

"Yes," interrupted the teller, in his mandatory way, "don't be kidding
him all the time, Watson."

The ledger keeper looked at Castle through the wire of the cage.

"Oh, hello, Clarice," he said, "when did you get back?"

The teller reddened, but made no reply. He was not accustomed to
impudence, for he was a near relative of Inspector Castle's. This
time, though, he could not find words to support his dignity, so he
remained silent.

Evan heard him speaking to the manager about it, later.

"I simply won't stand it, Mr. Robb," he was saying; "they've got to
show respect."

"Well, you know, Alf," said the manager carelessly, "they're only boys.
Don't be too hard on them.... By the way, how do you like Nelson?"

"Oh, he's no worse than the general run," replied Castle impatiently;
"I suppose he'll get there in time."

"Yes," said Robb, reflectively, "like the rest of us.... You know, I
rather like the boy; he seems anxious to do his best."

Castle made no reply, but left the manager's office suddenly, as though
disgusted at not having found satisfaction there. The manager sighed,
deeply enough for Evan to hear, and murmured audibly:

"Mollycoddles, all of us!"

With that he slammed down his desk-top and reached for his hat with one
hand and a half-smoked cigar with the other. When the front door
closed behind him Watson and Perry engaged in a rough-and-tumble. A
heavy ruler rolled to the floor with a bang, Porter's big boot struck a
fixture, and various other accidents contributed to the hubbub.

"My ----, cut it out!" shrieked the helpless teller, glowing with wrath.

Watson made a grab for him, but he rushed into his cage and locked the
door. The combatants were puffing too hard to speak, or one of them at
least would probably h