The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-07-09
THE BANKER'S MISTAKE.


THE Bankers MISTAKE.
My profession isn't a popular one;
in fact, there is considerable prejudice
against it. AS for myself, don't think
it's much worse than good many
others. However, that has nothing to
do with my story.
Some years ago me and the gentle
man who was at that time connected
with me in business-he's met with re-
verses since then, and at present isn't
able to 90 out-was looking around
for job, being at that time rather
hard up, as you might say.
We struck a small country town. L
amt a-goin' to give it away by tell
ING where it was, or what the name of
it was. There was one bank there.
The president was rich and old; owned
the mills, owned the bank, owned most
of the town. There wasn't another
officer but the cashier, and they had
a boy who used to sweep out and run
errands.
The bank was in the main street,
pretty we'll up one end of it-a nice
snug place at the corner, with nothing
very near it. We took our Qbserva-
tions, and found out there wasn't no
trouble at all about it.
There was an old watchman that
walked up and down the street at
nights, when he didn't fall asleep and
forget it. The vault had two doors;
the outside one was chilled iron. and
had three-wheel combination lock;
the inner door was no door at all-you
could pick it open. 1t didn't pretend
to be nothing but fre-proof, and it
wasn't even that.
The first thing we did, of course, was
to fit key to the outside door.
This was our place: After the key
was fitted, | was to go into the bank,
and Jim-that wasn't his name, of
course, but let it pass-was to keep
watch on the outside. When anyone
passed he was to tip me whistle, and
then | was to douse the glim and lay
low. After they got by goes on again.
Simple and easy, you see.
Well, the night we selected the
president happened to be out of town;
gone down to the city, as he often did.
l got inside all right with a slide lam
tern, breast-drill, a steel jimmy,
bunch of skeleton keys, and a green
baize bag to stow the swag. l fixed
my light, and rugged my brest-drill,
and got to work on the door right over
the lock.
Probably a great many of your read
ers are not so well posted as me about
bank locks. and 1 may say for them
that a three-wheel combination lock
has the three wheels in it and slot in
each wheel. In order to unlock the
door, YOU have to get the three slots
opposite to each other at the top of the
lock.
OF course, if you know the number
the lock is set Oh you can do this, but
if you don't, you have to depend on
your ingenuity. There is in each of
these wheels a small hole, through
which you put wire through the back
of the lock when YOU change the COM
bination. Now, if you can bore hole
through the door. and pick up those
wheels by running a wire through those
holes, why, you can open the door, L
hope | may make myself clear.
was boring that hole. The door
was chilled iron, about the neatest
stuff | ever worked on. l went on
steady enough. only stopped when Jim
which, as L said, wasn't his real
name-whistled outside, and the watch
man toddled by.
By-and-by, when I'd got pretty near
through, 1 heard Jim, so to speak,
whistle again.
| stopped, and pretty soon heard
footsteps outside, and Pm blamed if
they didn't come right up the bank
and I baarH kau work in the
lock.
was so dumbfounded when heard
that, that you could have slipped the
bracelets right on me. Ipicked up my
lantern, and I'll be hanged if | didn't
let the slide slip down and throw the
light right on to the door, and there
was the president!
Instead of calling for help, as
thought he would, he took step in
side the door, and shaded his eyes with
his hand and looked at me.
| knowed l ought to knock him down
and cut out, but I'm blest if | could,
was that surprised.
WHO are you?" says he.
'Who are you?' says |, thinking
that was an innocent remark, as he
commenced it, and a-trying all the time
to collect myself.
"Pm the president of the bank,
says he, kinder short; something s
the matter with the lock."
By George! the idea came to me
then.
Yes, SIR" says 1 touching my cap.
MIR. Jennings. he telegraphed thi:
morning as the lock was out of order
and he couldn't get in, and I'm come
on to open it for him."
Il told Jennings a week ago." say:
he, that he ought to get that loci
fixed. Where is he?'
He's been a-writing letters, and
he's gone up to his house to get an
other letter he wanted for to answer
"Well, why don't you go right on?'
says he.
1--WE got almost through" =" says l
land 1 didn't want to finish up anC
open the vault till there was somebod.
here.
That's very creditable to you, say
he; "a very proper sentiment, my man
You can't be too particular, abou
avoiding the very suspicion of evil, b" b
goes on, coming round by the door.