The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-12-11
AN UNLIMITED GUEST.
A Bankers Story.

A Bankers Story.
From Chambers London journal.
1t was nearly o'clock on a hot
summers day; the long, polished
counters of our bank, the Royal Do
mestic Bank, was crowded with GUS
tomers-money was flowing in and
running out in the usually business
like manner. From a raised desk in
my private room, l, the Manager Of
the Royal Domestic Bank, looked
out on the busy scene with certain
pride and pleasure. The Royal Do
mestic is not a long established,
institution: and, without vanity, |
may say that much of its prosperity
and success is attributable to the zeal
and experience of its manager. In
corroboration of this statement, |
might refer to the last printed report
of the Directors, laid before the
shareholders at their annual meeting,
in which they are pleased to say.
But, after all, perhaps / may be
thought guilty of undue egotism and
conceit if ] repeat the fatterlng terms
in which they speak Of me.
A clerk put his head inside my
door,s'Mr. Thrapstow, sir, wants to
speak to YOU
Send him in, Robert l SAID.
Charles Thrapstow l had known
from childhood we had both been
reared in the same country town.
The facts that his parents were of
considerably higher social status
than mine perhaps made our subse
quent intimacy all the pleasanter to
me, and caused me to set value up
on his good opinion greater than it's
intrinsic worth. Thrapstow was a
stock broker, very clever pushing
fellow, who had the reputation OF
possessing an excellent judgment
and great good luck. AT my request
he had brought his account to our
bank. 1t was a good account he
always kept fair balance, and the
Cashier had never to look twice at
his checks.
Charlie, like everybody else in
business, occasionally wanted mon
ey. | have let him have advances
at various times, of course amply
covered by securities, advances
which were always promptly repaid,
and the securities redeemed. AT
this time he had $4,000 of ours, to
secure which We held City of Dam
ascus Water CompaDy's bonds to the
nominal value of 100000. My
Directors rather demurred to these
bonds, as being somewhat specula-
tive in nature but as | represented
that the company was highly respec-
table, and its shares well quoted in
the market, and that | had full con-
fidence in our customer, our people
sanctioned the advance. l had per-
haps little uneasy feeling myself
about those bonds, and there might
have been some little difficulty in
finding a custumer for them in case
of the necessity for sudden sale.
Thrapstow came in radiant. He
was a good-looking fellow, with a
fair beard and moustache, bright eyes
of blush gray, nose tilted upwards,
giving him a saucy, resolute air; he
was always we'll dressed, the shiniest
of boots, the most delicate shade of
color in his light trousers and gloves,
the glossiest of blue frock-coats, a
neat light dust.eoat over it, blue
birds eye scarf round his throat, in
which was thrust massive pin, con-
tanning fine topaz, full of luster, and
yellow as beaten gold.
sWell. I've got a customer for
those Damascus bonds waiting at
my office sold'em well, .oo-to
Billings Brothers, who want them for
an Arab firm. One premium, and l
bought at one discount.
T'm very glad of it, Charles l
said, and l felt really pleased, not
only for Thrapstow's sake, but be-
cause l should be glad to get rid of
the bonds and the Directors shrugs
whenever they were mentioned.
Hand 'em over, old fellow, said
Charlie, 'and I'll bring you Billings
check up in five minutes. You won't
have closed by then; or if you
have, I'll come in at the private
door,
went to the safe, and put my
hand upon the bonds.
Charlie stood there looking so
frank and free, holding out his hand
for the bonds, that hadn't the heart
to say to him, as l ought to have
done. Bring your customer here,
and let him settle for the bonds, and
then l will hand them over. should
have said this TO anybody else, but
somehow l couldn't say it to Charlie.
There would be only five minutes
risk and surely it was no risk at all.
The thing was done in a moment ;
l was carried away by Thrapstow s
irresistible manner. l handed over
the bonds, and Charlie went off like
a shot.
1t wanted seven minutes to 3, and
sat watching the hands of the clock
in little tremor, despite my full
confidence in Thrapstow; but then
had so thorough a knowledge Of all
the rules of banking, that l couldn't
help feeling that had done wrong.
A few minutes, however, would set
it right. Charles white hat and
glittering topaz would soon put in an
appearance.
Just at minute to the cashier
brought me three checks, with lit
tie slip of paper attached. They
were Thrapstow's checks, for fI 500,
9l,2OO and f3OO odd respectively,
and his balance was only $500 odd.
turned white and cold. sOi
course you must refuse them,' / said
to the cashier.
When he went ou., / sat in my
chair quite still for few moments,
bewildered at the sudden misfortune
that had happened to me. Charles
Thrapstow was clearly defaulter
but there was this one chance-he
might have given the checks in the
confidence of selling those bonds,
and placing the balance. to his &C.
count. In due course these checks
which were crossed, would have
been brought to the Clearing House
and have been presented on the NOR
row. But it seemed that his creditors