American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-09-07
A Modern Aladdin.

licited an interview with the manager.
The banker was very much occupied with
his cares. ovcrburdcned with offers OF pa
per for discount. and haraSsed with the
prospect of losses on loans for which he
held collateral in the shape of mining
stocks. seemingly descending on his hands.
He surveyed has supposed customer, and
almost before the first words of salutation
had fallen from the new comer's lips, he
said
No. sir; can't do it. Very sorry; but
have gone beyond our limits to accommo-
date our own customers. Doing nothing
on the outside to-day, at any rates.
The stranger made no reply. but depos-
tied leathern valise on the bankers desk,
opened and took from it a mass of dinSy
metal. looking half like brass. and handed
it TO him. The man of money looked ut
it curiously, and returned it, saying he
was no judge of mineral substances. and
had no time to study this particular spec
linen.
The stranger asked him if he would
know gold if he saw it /; and, if not, would
he be kind enough to send for some con-
iidential person. on whose Judgment he
could rely. to say and determine the quail
ty and value ofhis lump of metal. The
proposition was reluctantly acceded to.
One of our most prominent aSSayerS was
summoned. and after examining the sub
stance. and lnquiring with visible excite
ment, where it came from, and receiving
no satisfaction, departed, taking it with
him, promising to report on it the next
day but one at noon. Punctually ut the
appointed time the three men met at the
bank. The assayer produced the metal,
which had been run into the form of n
bar. and had all the appearance of the or
binary gold ingot of commerce.
THAT looks like gold" said the banker.
''Itis gold" said the assayer. ''nearly a
a thousand fine-the purest L have ever
put in a crucible.''
The stranger said nothing. The others
piled him with questions concerning the
source from which it came. He civily but
firmly declined to furnish any information.
requesting them. as further test of its
genuineness. to send it to the Mint i'm this
city for coinage. To this they assented,
and the bar was sent with other bars, to
the Mint. 1t was there again submitted to
the test usual in such cases, and the next
day its value was returned in double
eagles-something more than eight thous-
and dollars-which was placed to The
credit of the now decidedly interesting
stranger. For nearly a week nothing was
seen or heard of him. The banker was in
Il fever of excitement. He could think of
nothing but the owner of the gold. He
ran over all the mining news of the public
press for some record of a strike in the
gold-producing districts; and, if the
| telligence of an 'audacious robbery of the
treasury-boX of an up-country stage or of
the rifling of some bank or assay office in
which his new friend should play promi-
nent part.
So well satisfied was he of the correct
ness of this latter conjecture that he was
on the point of advertising the possession
by him. under peculiar circumstances, of
Il large quantity of refined gold, when the
depositor appeared, bringing with him a
much larger piece of the same metal as
formerly, which, with some ceremony
and dignity. he submitted tor inspection.
This was done, and the stranger inquired
if the banker was entirely satisfied of its
genuineness.
Perfectly, perfectly" was the answer.
1t is gold. Where did you get it?''
The answer nearly caused him to faint.
He sat for a few moments like one in a
trance. His ears We're filled with strange
sounds. His eyes grew dim. His hands
| trembled nervOusly, and his heart beat a
queer tattoo which alarmed him for his
personal safety. 1t was very briefanswer.
yet in it were invol, ed the most moment
Gus consequences to commerce, to the
vast system of labor and capital employed
in the mining enterprises of the State, to
the precious metal basis of trade in every
land, and to the maintenance even of gov
ernment itself. 1t contained 4 revolution
within itself.
81 made 1t myself"
1t is no wonder that the amazing dis
closure almost unnamed the listener. The
stranger quietly said:
= made it myself and, after pause.
he added: = | can make it by the ton |
can freight Il ship with it within Il month
from the time | have enlarged my present
| laboratory, as l am now about to do
The banker piled him with questions as
| to its locality, and with prayers to be per-
mitted to visit the scene of his marvellous
labors. but to no purpose: He then held
up before the discoverer the power which
they could WELD in the community, the
vast possessions which they might acquire
and the certainty of making together
fame unequalled since the world began.
He represented to him the impossiblity of
cOnceaiment, except with the aid of one
| situated like himself, whs could turn this
| new accession into the now steady money
tides of commercial exchange, and swell.
without destroying them. He attempted
| to show him the danger to himself from
the chagrin of those whose values he
| might impair CT destroy, and the need of
| caution in utilizing for himself his terri
BILE secret.
His nearer sat with imperturbable coun-
tenance until the close Of the bankers
| harangue, and then replied:
= will make you the depository of my
gold. You may control its ISSUE and we
will together share the power it brings.
| But my process must remain forever in
my own heart. l shall never reveal it. |
| will bring you, in a very few days, more
than you have now in your vaults. My
| laboratory is near the New Park, in Il
building which would attract no atten-
| tien, save from its dilapidated appearance.
| was at work there during the most part
of the past winter, and have, by degrees.
succeeded in making myself quite COM