Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-10-11
A Characteristic AnecdOte Of an
Honest Banker.

/
Andrew V. Stout, the well-knowl
President of the Shoe & Leather Banl
who died recently in New York, com
bined shrewdness with great honesty
Although Mr.. Stout was the Presiden
of the greatest bank in the metropolis
he always had time to attend every
prayer-meeting of ST. naul's Methodist
Church. He was practical, everyday
Christian. He had such implicit faitf
in all men that he was sometimes i'm
posed upon. Que day before he died Mr.
Stout laughingly told.me the outlines
of the following true story:
A few mornings since, when the great
banker was coming down IN the Broad
way cars, he sat in such confidential
proximity to synpathizing pickpocket
that the latter was tempted into the
acceptance of Mr.. Stout's pocket pook
/ containing valuable papers and 5 90 in
| greenbacks. Then the pickpOcket said
! good morning to Mr.. Stout and left. Ar
! irving at the bank, Mr. Stout discovered
| his loss. He was astonished that he, a
shIewd old New Yorker, should have
his pocket picked.
'Pshawr he said to his secretary; nc
man could ever pick my pocket. Should
jdst like 10 see anyone pick my pocket
| shouldp
Then Mr.. Slout's lip curled in con.
temptuous scorn at the bare idea OF
such a silly improbability.
T1,,H =
and valuable papers was gone, and the
next day Mr. Stout advertised in the
Herald. He said if the person who took
his pocket book would return the papers
he would give him the money and TWEEN.
| ty-fve dollars besides.
The next day he got confidential
note from party who said friend of
his had the pocket-book all safe, and
that be would call at the bank the next
day to arrange the matter.
Il wonder if this man really will call !?
unused the banker as he wiped his eye
glasses and cut off basketful Of cou
pons. i wonder if he will be such a
fool as that? Bat then you can't expect
common men to be as Shrewd as bank
presidents
But, sure enough, the next day the
man was at his post.
We'll, what about the pocket-book !?
asked Mr.. Stout.
%, it's all safe, Mr.. Stout, and if you'll
just go with me few blocks Ill show
you the party who has your pocket
book, with al the memoranda, toe. It's
all safe, Mr. Stout. Gomez
The stranger had such an honest look
.
bimself on his knowledge of men, took
stock in him at once.
All right, my sood man, let me get
some money to pay you for your trouble
and Ill be with you, SAID Mr.. Stout,
looking at his $500 watch.
In few moments they started off to-
gether-Nr. Stout end his honest friend
for a Center Street restaurant, where
the thief or finder was supposed to be.
Now, you just fwait outside in the
front room moment, MI. Stout, and III
go into the hack room and see the man
who has the money and valuable pa
pers,' said the good man as he went into
Lhe back room.
In moment Mr.. Stout's friend re
turned with the message that his friend
wouldn't give up the valuable papers in
the pOcket-bOok for twenty-five dollars
He wants fifty dollars, now, sir
But | only advertised to give twenty
five dollars for the papers, said Mr.
Stout, with an eye to business. This is
an eXtoTtion.'
WELL said The kindlv-looking stran
ger, I'll go back and reason with the
gentleman and try and get the papers
for twenty-five dollars And he disap-
peared in the back reom again.
In moment he returned, smiling.
We'll, Mr.. Stout be said, my friend
will take twenty-five dollars, but he
wants the money before he gives up the
pocket-book.
All right said Mr.. Stout, blandly,
here is twenty-five dollars. Take it to
him, my good man, tate it to him, and
bring back the papers quick!
One word, Mr.. Stout said the man,
conidentially, this thing, you know, is
to be strictly between ourselves
Yes. yes I've said
And you will never ask any questions,
tell anything, or seek further knowledge,
will you?'
No, never; l give you my word, as
President of the Shoe & Leather Bank,
my good man, not TO say anything
about it, not single syllable-dot even
to my wife
All right then-mum Is the word
said Mr.. Stours friend, as he put his
finger to his lips and passed into the
back room with the money.
Mr.. Stout waited patiently for his re-
tura-waited five, ten, fifteen minutes,
but alas! his friend never came back,
and the shrewd President returned to
the bank a sad and ruined man. He
says his friend is welcome to the twenty
five dollars, but he told his old friend,
T. S. Winston, the President of the Mu-
tual Life Insurance Company, that he
wouldn't have the story get into print
or around among bis friends for S1O,-
00O.'
No sir, it wouldn't be fair, Mr., Wins
ton, would it? said Mr.. Stout, when
promised -solemnly promised the man
when | gave him the twenty-five dollars
never to mention the matter-not even
to my wlfe.'-LN Y. Times.
Free and Easy Manners.