The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-01-02

foes. Like a spider in the centre of his
net, he watched sharply to see where and
how it was threatened. Studying over
the usual weekly returns one day, he OBJ
served this in the return from one branch
"We return you less than our average
of Savannah Branch notes"
This was not calculated to arrest any
special attention. But the next week two
branch returns said:
"Our returns, this week, shows less than
the average of Savannah Branch notes.
1t may be supposed that Nicholas Biddle
turned his eyeglasses upon this second
warning with curious interest, and when
the next week-and the succeeding weeks
and every week-the steady wholesale
disappearance of Savannah Branch notes
from circulation was thus proved, we
fancy we see Nicholas Biddle place the
right digit aside his nose, and thought
fully ponder. No one but himself knew
OF those signs OF storm coming from all
quarters Just what it all meant, he could
only guess, but he hit the truth. So keep
ing his own counsel, he quietly shipped
5000, 900 of specie to Savannah Branch
with a letter to the President-who was
directed to keep his eyes wide open, and
his mouth shut. Meanwhile, Broker
Clark was gathering them in,' and
chuckling over the success and secrecy of
his labors. What he did, he meant should
be thorough; and when he started to
squelch the Savannah Branch, he intend
ed to snuff it all out, sure; and so he made
no undue haste, and took no perious risk,
hot he.
One fine, sunny day, at a time of the
year unknown to this deponent-on all
sunny days are specially fine in Savannah
"a strange gentleman entered the quiet
office Of the United States Branch Bank in
Savannah and inquired for the President,
an occurrence not unusual. Coming
into the presence of the great man of the
bank, the stranger introduced himself as
''Mr. Clark, of New York"
Mr.. President courteously clasped the
hand of Mr.. Clark, who reciprocated.
Seats are now taken, and the first gen.
eral chat Of such meetings ensued. AT
last something like the following took
place.
''Mr. President, / an1 d olo.,,-s.. and
have some of your notes for which ] want
the specie"
"Certainly Mr.. Clark what amount
have you?'
well, perhaps | have more than you
anticipate
''WhY, what sum is it ?'
Every much larger than you usually
have presented, presume"
This catches the ear OF the President,
who recalls ''Old Nick's' letter of instruc
tions. Mr.. President, with a bland smile,
remarks:
I'VE shall be most happy to give you
the specie, whatever the amount, Mr..
Clark"
1t is Mr. Clark's turn, now, to indulge IN
u soft inward smile How little does the
/ President dream of the crushing bundle Of
Savannah notes now impending over his
doomed bank With a nonchalence, which
only broker can put on, Mr.. Clark finally
replies to Mr.. Presidents inquiry
'sOne hundred and seventy thou
sand dollars,'
Strange to Mr. Clark, the President
never WINGED. With a look of surprise,
he said:
THAT is q very extraordinary sum Of
our notes for even a broker to have. How
came you in possession of such an amount
of Savannah notes, Mr.. Clark ?"
II don't dnow that | need to make any
expanatieenn De nt ft uIark that that his is does not
cover any malicious attempt to iniure our
BANK
81 repeat Mr. President, | came for the
specie of these notes, and would be
obliged if you would let me have it
"Oh, certainly. Cashier"
The Cashier presents himself, pen on
ear.
''This gentleman says he has Sl73. 900
of our notes, for which he wants the
specie. Please count his money and give
| him, tba 7 lo,
will prefer drafts for the most of this, Mr.
Clark How will you have them,-on
New York of Philadelphia or are you
wanting to place funds in New orleans ?"
81 want the SPECIE"
Very well. Drafts on New York will
be specie to you of course What amount
of draft will you have, and how much
specie ?"
Il want no drafts at all--only specie,
sir"
'But 50 much specie will cost you
very large sum for insurance and trans
portion
"That is my lookout Sir"
'Oh, very well. | beg your pardon.
Give him the specie, Mr.. Cashier
Smilingly the polite cashier receives Mr.
Clark's pile Of es,-counts them, IAN
nounces the amount correct, and, return
ing to the back room, calls one or two
clerks to the vaults, and attacks the specie
kegs. And now they roll out--the memo
randum clerk calling out in a clear voice
Give thousand''-'twenty thousand'-
"twenty-hve thousand"-and yet steadily
the kegs rolled out, and t. e clerk called
aloud the accumulating specie.
At first, Mr. Clark, broker from New
York, admired the cool and easy way in
which the President played his bluff =
for, in his heart, Mr.. Clark was sure it was
a sheer bluff. There could not be fifteen
thousand dollars specie in that bank. by
any possibility. And so, when the Presi-
dent, after his directions to the cashier,
commenced social chat on general
topics, Mr.. Clark responded. No sign
was made by either which indicated the
real thought Of each
Clark was sure he had Mr.. President
foul, and Mr. President knew Mr.. Clark
was hopelessly his victim
"Twenty-tive thousantn' called the
memorandum clerk
Mr.. Clark talked-but he was greatly
surprised inwardly.
''FOrty-five thousand !"
Mr.. Clark's talk was not so easy He
was llttle-Or rather, good deal-dis-
turbed. Perhaps those kegs did not hold
specie. He didn't believe they did. 1t
was ruse of some kind. But there was
all astonishing air OF matter-o fact bust
ness in the way those kegs rolled out, and
in the omnibus voice that announced,
"Sixty-five thousand" and it was provok-
ing to see the sweet serenity which sat
upon the face of the chatty President. He
paid no more attention to those kegs than
as if they had been paving gstones.
"Seventy-tive thousandr' eighty thou
sand -'eighty-fve thousand - and the
stream Of kegs was still rolling out. Clark,
broker from New York, could hold in no
longer. Those kegs might not contain
specie, but they might-he wanted to
break the bank-not specie. And the
kegs looked and rolled and behaved Just
as though they were honest kegs.
"Ninety-ive thousand ~ and there is
another keg in sight and coming.
Mr. President" CLARK broke in upon
that officials OpinOn of the nrohahle cot