Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

274 HISTORY OF THE BANKat both places was very active, Cameron was kept exceedinglybusy. Frequently after partaking of his evening meal atWillow Bunch, he would have to finish the day's work at theoffice there, and then saddle his pony and set out in the dark forBengough. On arriving at his destination he would rollhimself up in his fur coat and blanket and go to sleep on thefloor of the shack, which, as no other accommodation wasavailable, constituted both the temporary office and the livingquarters of the staff. The return journey to Willow Bunch wouldhave to be undertaken under similar conditions after a busyday's work, and on one occasion Cameron found that he hadfallen asleep in the saddle. After that he made a point oftying himself carefully to his saddle, and not infrequentlysnatched a period of well-earned slumber on the road, leavingit to his faithful pony to carry him safely to his journey's end.Some time later these conditions were brought to the attentionof the district superintendent and arrangements were madewhich called for less strenuous work on the part of the managerof the two branches. Cameron subsequently left the bank togo into business for himself and met a tragic but heroic end onthe battle-fields of France.The rapid opening of branches in southern Alberta broughtsimilar experiences to the officers stationed in that part of theWest. At one time in the winter of 1904-05, owing to ashortage of clerks, it was found necessary to conduct twobranches, those at Nanton and Claresholm, with the samestaff. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday the clerks,who slept at Claresholm, arose at 6 a.m. and took the train forNanton, returning at 9 o'clock the same evening. Thebusiness grew very rapidly, so that frequently when the timecame to take the train back to Claresholm the day's business atNanton was not completed, and it was necessary to carrysome of the Nanton books to Claresholm to finish the work.It was no uncommon sight to see a member of the staff tr;to add up the cash-book on the train. The Claresholm offiwas installed in the roughest of wooden shacks, and had