Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-03
THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT,
A STORY OF THE OLD CALIFORNIA
MINING DAYS.


1856. the lTangtown stage creakcd
slowly over the plank roadway form
ing the principal street of Sacramento
City, finally coming to a full stop in
front of the El Dorado hotel. 1t had
not actually stopped before the usual
knot of oilers were collected to stare
as they had done year in and year out,
at the dozen or so dust-begrimed pas
sengers who alightcd, and who began
threshing themselves like men who
had been out in Il heavy fall of snow,
instead of having just finished the
hottest and busiest sixty miles Of road
in America.
This particular stage usually made
connection with the day boat for "The
Bay" as San Francisco was universally
termed in the interior; but on this oc-
casion it had come in too late by an
hour at least, and the boat was conse,
uuently at that moment twenty miles
down the river. Upon learning this
disagrecable piece Of intelligence, the
belated travellers scattered, grumbling
at a detention which each took good
care to explain could never have been
worse-timed or more incOnycnient to
himself than upon this particular after,
noon.
One Traveller, however, stood appar-
emily nonpluSsel by the situation for
a moment or two longer, until his eye
caught the word "Bank," in big golden
letters, staring at him from the oppo-
site side of the street, lie crossed
over, read it again from the curbstone,
and then shamblCd in at the door. lie
knew not why. but once within, he
felt a strange desire to get out again
as quickly as possible, But this secret
admonition passed unheeded.
Before him was 4 counter, extending
across the room, at the back of which
was solid wall of brick. Within this
was built the bank vault, the iron door
of which being half opened discovered
bags of coin piled upon the floor and
shelves from which the dull glitter OF
gold dust caught the visitors eye di-
rectly. The middle of the counter
was occupied by pair of tall scales OF
beautiful workmanship, in which dust
was weighed, while on a table behind
it were trays containing gold and silver
coins. a young man, who was writ,
ing and smoking at the same time
looked up when the door opened to adj
nit the person Of whom we were
speaking. To look at the two men
one would have said that it was the
bank clerk who might be expected tC
feel the presentimnnt of evil. Really,
the other was half bandit in appear
ance.
In the solitary individual who has
just entered the bank we shall describe
not one man only, hut a type Of the
thousands who, like migratory ants
passed and repaSscd the great high
ways leading to the mines Of the
Golden State, lie was Il bronzed
bearded and Wcathcr-bcaten hombre
dressed in a faded wooden shirt, panta
looms secured at the hips by a belt ant
tucked loosely within a pair of miners
boots, a broad-brimmed hat that hat
been hastily crushed upon his head
and pea-jacket dangling from hi:
left shoulder like the short cloak of ar
ancient caba!lero. The haft of a bowie
knife protruded, ready to be grasped
from his belt and when he walked ;
big "six-shooter" Mapped against hi
hip at every step. The man seemed ;
walking arsenal; but had the well
dressed young person been searched, ;
"Derringer" would have been founC
in his pocket. while revolver lay con
venient to his hand underneath tn
counter.
Although he was alone and unno
ticed, yet the strangers manner wa
undeniably nervous and suspicious
Addressing the cashier, he disjointl,
said; 81 say, mister, this yer boat
left can't get to Frisco afore to-mor
row." (inquiringly).
"That's so,' the cashier assented.
"Wcll, continued the miner, "here'
my fix; bound home for the State
Cropping his voice. got $1,000
slowed away; don't know a live hombr
in this yer burg and might git knife
afore morningin some fandango. See?
"That's so" repeated the unmove,
official. Then, seeing his customer ha
come to an end, he said e: 81 reckon
you want to deposit your money wit
us?"
"Thats the how of it, stranger
Lock it up tight whar | kin come TO
it tomorrow"
"Down with the dust then" oil
served the cashier, taking the pen fror
behind his ear and preparing to write
but, seeing his customer throw war
glance right and left, he beckoned hil
to a more retired part of the banl
wherethe depOsitor very coolly diveste
himself Of his shirt, in each corner Q
which five $50 "slugs" were knottet
An equal sum in dust was then pre-
duced from buckskin belt, all c
which was received without the leas
comment upon the ingenuity wit
which 1T had been concealed. A Certif
cate in due form was then made out
specifying that James Wildes had DE-
posted with the "Mutual ConiidenC
and Trust Company" subject to HI
order, 1000. CHANGING at the scrap {
crisp paper, as if hardly comprehend
ing how it could be an equivalent fc
his precious heap of coin and dus
upon the counter, Jim heaved a dee
sigh of relief, then, cruppling the ce
tifcate tightly within his big fist, i
exclaimed: "Thar | kin eat and slice
now, / reckon. Blamed if eyer
knew afore what a coward a rich ma
wasp p
He then started for the door, hes
tated, came back to the counter, an
asked the clerk, in II confidential tom
"Tsay, what might be the valley
that buzzum-pin Of yollrn? The Of
woman at home might like some kin
of q trinket, you know"
The clerk eyed the questioner sharl
". carried his hand hastily to the dii
.J,,,tar N,vhinn in biu ghil