Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-30

tickle goddess grew tired of smiling and
began to frown. A financial crash came,
and colossal fortunes crumbled into
dust. Rich men, whose obligations we
hold and counted as good as gold. woke
up to find themselves bankrupt. Such
losses, from day to day repeated, sadly
crippled our resources Men began to
be distrustful Of each other. Our credit
ors, like those of others, became suspl-
cious. and one evening it reached our
ears that a run would be made upon US
the next day.
with the sum standing to Mr.. Pill
sens credit, could We have counted on
its remaining undisturbed, we might
easily have weathered the storm and
come out all right. But as ill-luck would
have it, we had just received a letter
announcing Mr.. Pilsen's return, and his
desire for an interviw at nine o'clock
next morning. he must have heard OF
our endorsements, and doubtless wish
ed to secure himself before the tempest
broke.
poor barker's face was haggard and
careworn when We met in our private
office at an early hour. He had passed
sleepless night, no doubt; l am GER
tain had. He brought news of the ar
rest Of Stephen Gregg, our absconding
messenger, who had been taken by the
detectives while paying stolen visit to
his family after his long absence. But
there was poor consolation in the news,
for Stephen had come back tramp in
rags, and there was little Use in asking
him what had become Of the $50. 900. He
told the officers he had lost it, and had
run away because he knew his story
wouldn't be believed.
Barker and l were anxiously debat'
ing whether to open up as usual, and
pay out while the money lasted, on the
principle of first come first served or
to make everything over for the benefit
Of all alike, when Mr.. Pilsen came and
was admitted, as we had given direc.
ections, by the side door,
"He looked pale and worp-was in.
deed the mere shadow of himself.
"I have GOMEZ he said, taking the
chair offered him, to-
"'You have come, Of course | inter
rupted, to demand your money. We
have no complaints to make, but
"I have come he added after pause
TO perform an act of restitution. Three
years ago found. where it had been lost
on the street, a package of twenty-thou
sand dollars. Your firms name was on
the wrapper. My first impulse was tt
act honestly and restore the property
but a sudden temptation overcame me.
had often seen my way to fortune, as l
thought, through certain speculations
with the aid of little money. Now il
your chance the Tempter. whispered
and l yielded to his voice; l knew yor
were young men, and might he ruined
by the loss of such sum, 1t was tol
this reason that l deposited with 20,
your own money, that you might not b
deprived of its use-only securing to my
self the temporary employment Of Ger
tain limited amounts in some invest
ments which l directed you to make, ant
which, as had expected, proved highl,
profitable. In right and Justice tn
money you thought you owed to me i
every cent your own, and l have come t
surrender all claim to it. My physical
I, cells me my days are numbered. and d
not wish to die with an unatoned Grim
upon my conscience
"Barker and l felt more, just then, lik
thanking than chiding Jared Pilsen for
wrong which had turned so greatly
our advantage. With difficulty we prt
Q vailed upon him to accept sum suff
: cient for his present needs; and we sa'
: to it that he wanted nothing for the brit
remainder of his life.
q 1--WE came out of the financial strugg
with flying colors, and took Stephe
t Gregg (of whose honesty, we make
known, we had received convincin
= proofs, back into our service, but we
very careful afterwards how we trustt
J. him to carry packages of value"
> AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.