Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-11-12
aNiseellany.
From Chambers Journal.
An Uninyited Guest.

our bank, the 1Oyai D0meStlc Bank, were
crowded with customers-money was flow
iDr in and running out in the usual busi-
ness ike manner. From a raised desk in
nv private room, L, the managar of the
Rova Domestic Bank, looked out on the
busy scene with certain pride and pleas
ure. The Royal Domestic is not a long
established institution, and, without vanity
may say that much Of it's prosperity and
success is attributable to the zeal and ex-
nerience of its manager. In corroboration
of this statement, L might refer to the last
nrinted report of the directors-laid be-
fore the shareholders at their annual meet
ing-in which they are pleased to say
But after all, perhaps [ may be thought
guilty Of undue egotsm and conceit, if |
repeat the fatteriug terms in which they
speak OF me.
A clerk puts his head inside my door,
Nr. Thrapstow, sir, to speak to you"
Send hin. in, Roberts," said
Charles Thrapstow | had known from
boyhood; we had both been reared in the
same country town. The fact that his
parents were of considerably higher social
status than mine, perhaps made our subse-
quef intimacy all the pleasanter to me,
aud caused me to set value upon his good
opinion greater than its Intrinsic worth.
Thrapstow was a stock broker, very clev-
er, pushing fellow, who had the reputation
Of possessing an excellent judgment and
great good luck. At my request, be had
brought his account to our bank. 1t was
good account; he Away kept fair bal
ance, and the cashier had never to look
twice at his cheques.
Charlie, like everybody else in business,
occasionally wanted money. had let him
have advaces at various times, of course
amply covered by securities, advances
which were always promptly repaid, and
the securities redeemed. At this time, he
had five thousand pounds of ours, to secure
which we held City of Damascus Water
company's bonds to the nominal value of
ten thousand. My directors rather demur-
red to these bonds, as being somewhat
speculative in nature; but as L represented
that the company was highly respectable
and It's shares well quoted IN the market
and that had full confidence in our GUS
| had perhaps little uneasy feeling my
self about these bonds, for they were not
everybodys money, and there might have
been some little difficulty in finding Gus
toner for them in case of the necessity for
a sudden sale.
Tharpstow came in radiant. He was
good looking fellow, with fair beard and
moustache, bright eyes of blush gray, a
nose tilted upwards, giving him saucy
resolute air; he was always well dressed
the shiniest of boots, the most delicate
shade Of color in his light trousers anC
gloves, the glossiest Of blue fr ck-coats, 8
neat light dust coat over it, a blue birds-eye
scarf round his throat, in which was thrust
a massive pin, containing a fine topaz, full
of lustre. and yellow as beaten gold.
Well, I've got customer for those
Damascus bonds waiting at my office; sold
EN- well, TOTO Billing Brothers, who
want them for an Arab firm One pre-
MUM, and bought at one discount"
am very glad of it, Charlie" 1 said
and l felt really pleased, not only for
Tnrapstows sake, but because | should be
glad to get rid OF the bonds, and the direc
tors shrugs whenever they were men
toned
Hand 'em over old fellow" said Char
lie, " and LII bring you Billings chequt
in FIVE minutes. You won't have closed
by then, or if you have, III come in at the
private door"
[ went to the safe, and put my hand
upon the bonds.
Charlie stood there looking so frank ant
free, holding out MS hand for the bonds
that | hadn't the heart to say to him, as
ought to have done Bring your custom
er here, and let MIN settle for the bonds
have said this to anybody else, but some
how | couldn't say it to Charlie. There
would only be five minutes risk, and sure
ly it was no risk at all.
The thing was done in amoment; | wa
carried away by Thrapstows Irresistible
manner. l handed over the bonds, anC
Charlie went off like shot,
1t wanted seven minutes to three, and
sat watching the hands of the clock in {
little tremor, despite my full confidence il
Thrapstow; bat then | had so thorough
knowledge of all the rules of banking, that
knew had done wrong. A few minutes hoy
ever, would set it right. Charles whit
hat and gIittering topaz would soon put il
an appearance.
Just at minute to three the cashie
brought me three cheques, with llttl
slip of paper attached. They were Thrap
slows cheques, for fifteen hundred
twelve hundred and three hundred odd re
spectively, and his balance was only five
hundred odd.
turned white and cold "Of cours
you must refuse them," [ said to tn
cashier.
When he went out, sat in my chai
quite still for few moments, bewlldere'
at the sudden misfortune that had happen
ed to me. Charles Thrapstow was clearl
detauIter; but there was this one chanc
he might have given the cheques In tn
confidence Of selling those bonds, an
placing the balance to his account. In du
course, these cheques, which were crossed
would have been brought to the clearing
house, and been presented on the morrow
But it seemed that his creditors had som
mlstrust of him, and had caused th
cheques to be demanded out of due cours'
The clock struck three. Charles ha
not come back. The bank door close
with clang. could endure the suspens
no longer. Telling the bank porter tha
II Mr.. Thrapstow came, he was to be az
mltted at the private door, and to be d.
tanned in my room till l returned, l wei
out and made my way to his office, whic
was only few yards distant. He WASH
there. The clerk youth Of fifteen. kne
nothing about him. He was in Cap
Court, perhaps-anywhere, he didn't know