The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-14


save all my salary, l wouldn't have
one-fiftieth as much at the age of
thirty-nine. On the whole l think
have made good speculation, don't
you 2"
The opinions of the directors were
not very coherent just at this moment.
the confidence they had had in him, on
the good name he bore, on the dis
honor he would incur, etc. but he re-
sponded that all these had not helped
him to an increase in salary, and re-
lentlessly quoted the language of the
presidents note to him, that their
relations were purely business affair
on both sides" Finally be said:
"Our relations have been personally
pleasant and | have no unconquera-
BILE desire to spend the next eight and
one-half years in jail. l will make you
proposition. If you will sign bond
not to prosecute me, and publish in the
daily papers a set of resolutions setting
forth that whereas, your valued and
trusted employee, John Smith, by the
receipt of a legacy from deceased
relative, has been relieved of the ne
cessity of further service, resolved,
that you part with him with extreme
regret, etc. If you do this, will bring
back 1926, 900 and content myself with
the other S125,000 The interest will
make up good part of the loss to me-"
1t was hard to give up 1926, 900 and
hitch to it set of resolutions compli-
menting the thief, but it was a choice
between getting half the loaf or moth
ing. Was the satisfaction of sending
him to prison for eight and one-half
years worth $4,000 year to them?
They figured on it and agreed that it
wasn't. They accepted his PROPOSE
ton, drew up the bond and signed it,
"You can get the resolutions in
shape by tomorrow" he said, "and
have them ready when l bring the
money. 1t would scarcely be delicate
for me to be present when they are
adopted"
"Couldn't you bring it to-day, Mr..
Smith," asked the president in per-
spiration.
mo, haven't time to go after it,
The work at my desk always keeps me
busy until the hour for closing the bank.
You will have to trust in me till to-
morrow, and as by signing this bond
you have committed yourselves to the
compromising of felony, guess can
trust you-even as purely business
affair"
They were all on hand early next
day. Smith, the cashier said (not with
out some surprise at hearing the presi-
dent inquire for him as &C. Mr." Smith,
had gone out to get his lunch. He was
asked for half dozen times before he
came. Every few minutes the door of
the directors room would open, a per-
! spring face would be thrust out and
Smith would be inquired for Then
the face would be withdrawn and the di-
rectors would fall to discussing whether
after all, Smith hadn't taken their bond
and given them the slip. AT the stroke
of twelve the door opened and Smith
walked in. He picked up the resolu-
tiOns, read them with approval, and
with "Thank you, gentlemen; this is
handsome" he handed package to
the president, saying:
" Here is your money"
Then he took his former stand by the
mantel-piece and watched their eager
faces while they bent over to count it.
A hundred crisp 81 900 bills-then S25,-
600, some of it in smaller denomina-
tions-S25, 900 more yet-and then, to
their amazement, another one hundred
81 900 bills.
why, it's all here-you've brought
it all back"
81 never meant to steal it," said
Smith, coolly. 4" made you believe
did, merely to convince you that you
were conducting your bank on the
wrong principle, in keeping a man on a
starvation salary with fortune within
his grasp. / wanted to make you un.
derstand that there is something more
in the relations between bank and its
trusted employees than cold business.
suppose you have no further use fol-
me. | am ready to turn over my book:
as soon as you name my successor. He
will find them all right. Good day."
He walked back to his desk. Pretty
soon they called him in again, and the
president made little speech He
said the lesson had been an un
pleasant one, but they were disposed t
take it in the spirit in which it was
given. Perhaps he was right. They
had no desire to punish him, but-anC
here he hesitated and stammered
little-they were also unwilling, that il
to say, they had no desire to keep
financier of his capacity in the humbl,
place in which he had hitherto beer
employed. Therefore, one of their nun
Der, Mr.. wilkins, who was the agent o
an insurance company, at a salary o
$4,000 year, had decided to resigl
that position, and would have Mr.. Smitl
appointed his successor. Meanwhile
Mr.. Smith could take vacation of tw,
weeks.-Selected.