The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-11-21
A MODERN ALLADlN.

Some three months ago plain lookiu
man, Of American birth, presented hin
self at one Of our leading banks and sol
ic,ed an interview with the manager Th
banker wus very much occupied with bi
cares, overburdened With offers Of papc
for discount. and harrassed with the pros
pect Of losses on loaDs for which he he'll
collateral in the shape Of mining stocks
seemingly descending on bis hands. II
surveyed his supposed customer, and al
most before the FIRST words Of SALVATION ha
fallen from the new customers lips. b.
soii:
"No, sir; cant do it. Very sorry, bu
wo have already gone beyond our limits Il
accommodate our own customers. DoiDI
uo'hiug on the outside to-day, al an.
rates
The stranger mrde no reply, lu, depos
! tied lealherL valise on the bankers desk
opened aud took rom it mass of dug,
metal, looking half like brass, md bapdel
it to him. The man of money looked a
it curiously, and returned it saying he wa.
no judge ofmineral substances, and had
not time to study this particular specimen
The stranger asked him if be would
know gold il be saw il; and ifuo,. would
he be kind enough to scud for some conf
dental person. on whose judgment be
could rely, TO assay and determine the
quality and value Of his lump Of metal
tho proposition was reluctantly acceded to.
One Of our most prominent assayers was
summoned, aud after examining the sub.
stance, and inquiring with visible excite
meni where it came from, and receiving M
satisfaction, departed taking it With him
promising to report it on the next day
noon. Punc,ually at tue appointed
liMc the men met at the hank The as.
sayer produced The metal, which had beeu
rulfinio the farm Of bar, and had all the
appearance Of the ordinary gold igno, Of
commerce
THAT looks like gold" said the bank
u"
! ut is gold" ,nid the assayer, "aud
eeAsiy- .. thousand 6ae-lbcN Npuross lbav..
ever put in crusih|e "
The stranger said nothing, The others
piled him with questions concerning the
'ource from which it came lie civilly
tat firmly declined to furnish any infor
requesting them, as further test
of ts genuincness, 10 send il to the Mint
10 this city for coinage. To this they as.
,ented. and the bar was sent With other
bars to the Mint 1t was there again sub
nittcd 10 the usual test 10 such cases, and
he next day its value was returned in
double caeles-somethiug more than eight
thousand dollars-vhich was placed to
'be credit Of the now decidedly interesting
stranger For nearly week nobiug was
'esn or heard Of bin. The banker was 10
! fever Of excitement lie could think Of
nothing but the owner Of the cAd. He .
'an over all tue mining news Of the public
press for some record Of strike in the
,old producing districts; aud. If the truth
must be told, he waited for some in'elli
,ence Of an andacious robbery of the treas.
'ry box Of al up country stage, or the
obbery Of some bank or assay office, 10
Which bis new friend should plav prom
uent part.
So we'll satisfied was be of the correct.
ess Of this latter conjecture, that be was
% the point Of advertising the possession,
y him. under peculiar circumstances, Of
large quantity ofre6ned gold, when the
epositor appeared, hr'nsmg with hin
,uch larger piece of 'he same metal as
eforc. which with some eeremcgy uui
Equity, he submitted Tor inspection -
his was done, aud the stranger Inquired
the banker was entirely satisfied Of its
enuineness.
"Perfec,ly. perfectly" WAS the answer
ltis gold Where did YOU get it?"
The answer nearl, caused him 10 faint
[e sat for few moments '|ike one in q
ance His ears wer' filed with strange
,unds. His eyes grew .Atm His hands
embed nervously aud bis heart beat