Charge Minutes

I was in the common room of my fraternity dutifully applying linseed oil and turpentine to the woodwork when I came across a shelf of black bound volumes labeled CHARGE MINUTES. These were reports going back sixty and more years detailing the achievements of members. I cracked a volume open at random and read for a few minutes the report from 1902, dominated by brothers Frank and Tim. Perhaps five minutes after I had resumed renovation there was a knock at the front door, and a wizened old man shuffled in ... it was Tim!. I led him to the bound volumes, frantically riffled through the pages, and read aloud from the 1902 report. I was quite dizzy from the coincidence of it all, and my chin began to quiver when he said "Frank. Great guy. I really miss him." He turned to shuffle out, and I did my best to restrain him. "Please wait. The guys will be back shortly, and I want them to meet you." He was determined to leave, but I got between him and the door. He looked up at me with blazing blue eyes. "It won't do you any good, you know." I was baffled. "I don't know how you fellers knew I was coming, but it won't do you any good. You ain't gonna get a penny out of me!" He shuffled out the door and down the walkway, with me behind pleading for him to wait. "Sorry young feller, my daughter is in the car. Got-To-Go!" and off he went.