The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-03-10
A Bankers Story.

ut WAS almost three o'clock on a hot
j. summers day the long polished coun-
ters of the Royal Domestic Bank"
were crowded with custOmers-money was
flowing in and running out in the usual
business-like manner. From raised desk
in private room /, the manager of the
Royal Domestic Bank, looked out on the
busy scene with certain pride and plea
sure. The Royal Domestic is not long
established institution, and without vanity,
may say that much of its prosperity and
success is attributable to the zeal and ex-
perience of its manager. In confederation
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 fattering terms in which they spoke of
me.
A clerk put his head inside my door
"Mr. Thrapstow, sir, to speak to you"
Send him in, Robert, l said"
Charles Thrapstow / had known from
boyhood we had both been reared in the
same country town. The fact that his par
ents were of considerable higher status
than mine, perhaps made our subsequent
intimacy all the pleasanter to me, and
caused me to set value upon his good
opinion greater than his intrinsic worth.
Thrapstow was stock brokers' very clever
pushing fellow, who had the reputation of
possessing an excellent judgment and great
luck. At my request he had brought his
account to our bank. 1t was good ac-
count (; he always kept fair balance, and
the cashier had never to look twice at
his checks.
Charlie, like everybody else in business,
occasionally wanted money. had let him
have advances at various times, of course
amply covered by securities advances
which were always promptly paid, 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 pounds. My directors rather
demurred to these bonds as being some
what speculative in nature but as rep
resented that the company was highly re-
spectacle, and its shares we'll quoted in the
market, and that had full confidence in
our customer, our people sanctioned the
advance. had perhaps little uneasy
feeling myself about those bonds, for they
| tc
might have been some little difficulty in
finding customer for them ii case of ne
cessity for sudden sale.
Thrapstow came in radiant. He was a
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 and
gloves, the glossiest of blue frock coats, a
neat light dust coat over it, a blue birds
eye scarf round his throat, in which was
thrust massive topaz full of lustre, and
yellow as beaten gold. t'-
"Well, I've got a customer for those
Damascus bonds waiting at my office sold
'em well, too-to Billings Brothers, who
want them for anArab firm. One premi-
um and brought at one discount"
"I'm very glad of it, Charlie" said
and felt really pleased, not only fol
Thrapstow's sake, but because / should bt
! glad to get rid of the bonds, and the di,
rectors' shrugs whenever they were men
toned.
"Hand 'em over, old fellow" said Char
lie, and I'll bring you Billings check VI
in five minutes. You won't have closed
by then or if you have, pll come in at thu
private door,"
, went to the safe, and put my hanC
! upon the bonds.
Charlie stood there looking so frank anC
free, holding out his hand for the bonds
that hadn't the heart to say to him, as
j ought to have done, "Bripg your custo
mer here, and let him settle for the bonds
! and then will hand them over"
!. / should have said this to anybody else
but somehow could not say it to Charlie
There would be only five minutes risk an'
surely was no risk at all.
: The thing was done in a moment; wa
y carried away by Thrapstow's irresistibl
manner. handed over the bonds ant
Charlie went of like a shot tta
It wanted seven minutes to three, and
sat watching the hands of the clock in
n little tremor, despite my full confidence il
Thrapstow but then had SO thorough