Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-10-31

III 30 Y - 10 ne hl~IJtIISIu NiIi but SOu
will not stay there very long
cyan did not like the programme, bIt he
had no chance to back down. He appeared
at the meeting in span new suit of go-to-
meeting clothes. and delivered speech tina.
might have melted heart of stone, but ran
of the bank directors like water offa ducks
back. There was a scene. One director,
who had gone up himself six times, to my
certain knowledge. Swore that the duty OF the
board was to prosecute the villain. There
nearly was free fight in the board-room,
but the pullic-spirtcd director carried the
day, and poor Van, in spite Of his eloqucnce,
was arrested. Some gna>hing of teeth took
place in PEI gamus that night. VAN family
collapsed under the blow, Van being too
smart man to post his wife. The Perga-
mus Pioneer lifted up its voice and wept at
the disgrace which had fallen on a prom
inemt citizen, and the hearts Of the bank
directors were sore OIL account Of the dollars
which We're not.
"On the next morning the Sky cleared
some. Vans lawyer induced the directors
to hold an extraordinary meeting, and Grated
nearly this
"Gcrtlemrn-ahcm TIE loss of four
hundred thousand dollar. is a serious mat
ter-(crics OF "rhat's so")-but il is inn
possible to view without pity the ahjcct
position Of our oncc-re~perted fellow citizen,
and the despair of his unhappy wife and
children, crushed by this fearful blow.
(Silence.) Our allen brother has but lit le
personal property, and has no rich relations
-(@roane) )-but he has friends. gentlemen,
rich and powerful friends, who will not see
BIN go under for want Of help Here the
puhlic-spiriied director frightened up. His
friends, gentlemen, are not prepared to put
up four hundred thousand dollars-an I'M
mensc sum--but they have taken counsel
together, and are prepared to sacrifice a
hundred thousand. rather than see your late
manager branded as a teIon Speaking in
their name ! am p cpnrcd to offer t.at sum ON
condition that our unhappy friend be allowed
to depart in peace.
This proposition was secuted, the lawyer
was shown out, and severely rcprimandcd
for proposing to compound felony, but
after stormy meeting the high moral tone
went off in n fzzc, and the directors sent one
of their number to talk it over with Vans
lawyer. They We're drcadtully indignant
at the outrageous proposition made to them
this morning, but having the fear Of share
holders before their eyes, not wishing to
see their former friend degraded, and being
generally arcrSc to jumping upon anybody,
they had concluded that rcparaton to the
extent Of twenty-five per cent. was not to be
thrown over, In fine, they took the money,
Van was released, and rushed to his lawyer
brimful Of gratitude This gentleman re-
ceived him quietly, and after Il few minutes
conycr. alton, said-'Supposc we talk busi-
ness. hold Il margin Of hundred thousand
dollars, which We will now divide in equal
shares. Fifty thousand dollars will not do
me any harm, and will start yoI in life again
out West And that's how the business
was settled, and that's how Van comes to be
at Sampvile."
must confess that was thundcrstruck
at this marvellous narrative, and 50 soon as
| racove. I'd breath, said to lIez Dodge, You
seem to have the inside track Of the entire
business. How did you get your informal
ton? | should like to know that lawyer.
He must be a smart man
Poor Old Elez looked up at me with 4 lac',-
lustre eye, and stammercd out, ''I-l-I
was that smart man"