Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-09-21
II tell you." ns remarked, In moment @

Will SufeeU aT6 InOSo WHO mink uQey Know
something, when they are unmitigated green
horns. Now, Colt, you do know the west
ern country and the railroads. But you are
willing to take advice on the immediate con-
dition of the market, and are brave enough
to follow it; SO you see you have made money
where others generally drop it. guess you
are about $4,000 ahead of this game as you
called it when you first came here. At the
same time am satisfied, for I have made
more in the way of commissions out of you
than if you had been losing your money the
way ordinary lambs do"
Colt took the compliment with his usual
modesty, and few moments later told the
chief clerk that he wanted some more money.
He had been drawing such sums as he needed
from time to time, receiving checks for them,
which he usually took and had cashed at the
Bank of the New Netherlands himself. On
this occasion the amount he desired was
larger than usual, being something over
$1,000; but, of course, in the condition of
Colts account, his request was complied
with, and a check promptly handed to him.
Soon after this, Colt announced in his
usual frank way that he had completed the
business which brought him to New York,
and was about to return to his western home
He found the money he had placed in SAT-
ron's hands was needed in his business but in
short timo he hoped to be able to start
little account again, and conduct it by tele-
graph. His account was accordingly closed
and a check given for the balance, which, in
spite of all the drafts made upon it, was
larger than the amount he had originally
placed in his brokers' hands,
A few days passed, and Colt made his ap-
pearance one morning with q valise in his
hand. His train, he said, left in an hour,
but having some final business to attend to
down town he had called in to say good-by
to his Wall street friends
"By the way" he remarked, looking at his
watch, there is one man I wanted to see.
and now I am too late to 60 to his place.
Can talk to him over your telephone?;'
Permission was readily accorded, and Colt
passed some minutes in the little boxed in
closet in which the telephone hung All that
was heard was therefore the usual amount of
signaling, and considerable talking by Colt,
who, however, came out in a little while de-
clared that the instrument did not work, and
that he would therefore have to see his man
after all. He therefore shook hands with the
broker. and receiving his wishes for pleas
at journey FASTENED away, not without some
regret on Safron's part, who was naturally
sorry to lose so successful and profitable q
customer.
A few moments later clerk from the
Bank of the New Netherlands hurriedly en-
tered Safron's office, with an inquiry as to
whether he had that morning drawn check
in favor of Homer N. Colt for forty thousand
and odd dollars, numbered about one hundred
figures higher than his checks of the preced-
ing day, producing at the same time the slip
Of paper which in all respects was perfect
IF bA
with his own signature SO perfectly initiated
that only the fact that he had signed no such
document convinced him it was a forgery.
SIT is forgery" he finally gasped. "Did
you pay ita"
Luckily not. 1t was presented by a
young man, whom this Mr.. Colt introduced
as his son, and who lately came several times
with large checks, which were all right.
The paying teller, however, had some doubts
about paying as large an amount as this, and
the young man suggested telephoning you to
see if it was all right. The teller called you
up but just as he commenced to ask about it
the telephone broke down, and he couldn't
talk to you. When he said to the young man
that he had better get some one here to come
around with him, he made sudden break
for the door, leaving the check behind him,
and I've been sent to see about it."
ut is mighty lucky for the bank" said
Saffron, ''as the loss on forged check would
have been theirs. Perhaps, however, would
have been chargeable for my negligence in
letting an outsider use my telephone, for
evidently Colt timed himself to be at the in
strument when the bank called me up, and
say it was all right"
The chief clerk here remembered that Colt
had inquired who their stationer was, and on
inquiry it was ascertained that on pretense
of having some similar work executed, he
had obtained sample of Safron's engraved
checks The attempted forgery was there
fore laid bare, and subsequent development
In criminal history showed that the Omaha
lumber merchant, Mr.. Coit was none other
than "Coyote Jim," daring western forger
and bank thief, who had lately served out a
long term in western penitentiary, and
who, after victimizing some western bank,
had escaped with share of his plumber.
"Well," said Saffron, 'I've learned not to
accept a customer without personal intro
duction; and as for tine telephone, the best
service it ever did me was when it broke
down."-Gavin Pendergast in Once Week.