ll-dressed and glossy-looking, and puffed white rings
upward toward the ceiling.

"Why don't you go out a little, Evan?" he said, casually.

The ledger keepers had become pretty well acquainted by now. Evan's
sincerity and energy were telling on the books, too. Even Castle had
spoken nicely to him one day.

"Out where?" asked Evan, looking away from the French fiction.

"To parties. Where did you think I meant--out in the back yard?"

"I don't know many people yet," replied the savings man.

"You never will, either, unless you make a break. Say, kid, there's a
party on to-night. I can get you a pass. Will you come?"

"It's too late," parried Evan.

Bill regarded him with a look of pity.

"Don't ever make a break like that to a girl in this town," he said,
smiling, "or she'll take you for a greeny. People don't go to dances
at eight o'clock, you know--not in Mt. Alban."

Nelson felt embarrassed. Watson was talking on:

"It helps business, you know. Customers like to know the fellows who
are looking after their money. They like to think you take an interest
in them."

Evan closed his book quickly.

"I'm not afraid to go to the hanged party," he said suddenly.

"That's talking, Nelsy. Get busy, then. You've got nothing to shave,
so it shouldn't take you long to get ready."

Before long the new savings man presented himself dressed for the
dance. Bill regarded him with concealed amusement.

"Say, Evan," he said softly, "could you lend us a dollar? I think
there's something in my account, but I forgot to draw it this
afternoon."

Evan knew there was nothing in Bill's account, but he could not refuse
the trifling loan. He wondered how Watson could spend eight dollars a
week, when his board only cost him three dollars and a half.

In return for the loan Bill did his best to make Evan feel comfortable
at the dance. Now the savings man knew nothing about dancing, and he
was equally ignorant of cards. He found girls at the party anxious to
teach him the former, and married ladies ready to give him "a hand."
With thought of Watson's recently delivered words fresh in his mind, he
began to learn new ways of making himself valuable to the bank. He
would ingratiate himself with the customers.

Two members of the party were particularly agreeable "customers." Evan
discovered that there were some very interesting girls in Mt. Alban.
One of the two belles paid Watson great attention and the other