The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-20


| sagaeity much impaired; and, besides this,
| there will he incurred the dangers OF a
| run upon you. 20 say nothing OF the &C
! tual loss TO the institution. which Will have
/ TO be made good TO the last dollar. But
| let US see If We cannot do better. Not
| withstanding the fact that have fully
/ made up nv mind TO go 10 prison. can
not deny that not 10 go to prison would be
| an advantage. Therefore, If you WILL
| promise me immunity from prosecution,
/ will return 10 YOU tomorrow morning =
/ quarter of a million dollars. | ask you 10
| give me reply within nve minutes. Inc
| proposition is a bare one and 3 sum
/ GENTLY PLAIN. | shall require your faith
/ as directors and individuals. and IN return
| will give you my pledge. as roboer OF
| the highest grade-a bond which perhaps
| Is as good as any that can be made under
! the circumstances"
| The directors no sooner saw that II lay
l within their power 10 regain i've seyentns
| OF their money than they began, almost
with one voice, TO threaten Fields with
| punishment it he did not return the
| whole.
Gentlemen" cried the paying teller,
| interrupting their ordinations, Il must
| impose one more condition. II IS THAT
| you do not mention this affair agaIn--that
| you keep the whole matter secret, and not
| permit il 70 be known beyond this apart
ment that have any other than the most
agreeable relations with you. All that IS
| imperative. There remains but two more
| minutes The president will signify 10
| me your decision"
The time elapsed. Fields put his watch
into his pocket.
well, sir?" said he.
1--WE accept the terms" replied the
president, bowling stiffy.
Fields also bowed A silence ensued.
Presently director said to Fields:
May ask you what led you to this
Sir" replied the teller, with severity,
you are encroachlng upon our contract.
l may speak Of this affair, but you have
no right to-"
Then he turned to the board:
do you wish me TO go back to my
work? ''
There was a consultation. Then the
president said:
''lf you will be so kind"
Fields complied.
The business of the day went forward as
usual. The teller's counter-desk was sup
piled with money, and no suspicion was
aroused among his fellows.
As each director went out of the bank,
he stopped at Fields window. and adj
dressed some set remark TO him upon
business matters: and SO intimate did the
relations between them seem that the
clerks concluded that the lucky man was
about To he made cashier, and they began
TO pay him more respect.
In the intervening night there again re-
CURED to the directors the enOrmlty OF
the outrage to which they had been sub
jected. The incident of recovering so
large part of what they had originally
supposed was gone had the effect of making
them partially unmindful of the loss of the
smaller sum which the teller finally agreed
to accept IN place of punishment. But in
hnl ax. hxart aINff rnnH
and the time of the promised restitution,
the appreciation of their position had time
to revive again, and when they assembled
on the next morning To receive the money
from Fields, they were anxious and
feyerish.
Would he come? Was he not at this
moment in Canada? Would man who
could steal 500 co.. return a quarter of a
million? Absurd
Every moment one of them went to the
door to see If Fields had appeared. The
rest walked about, with their hands be-
hind them, talking together incohercntlv
The air was full of doubts. The teller
usually came at quarter past nine, but
the hour arrived without the man. Intol-
cradle suspensel
Two or three of the directors made paths
for themselves amid the chairs, and anx-
louSly traversed them. Slayin took post
beside a window and gazed into the street
Debritt, with his right hand i'll his bosom
and with his left grasping the upper raiI
of a seat, looked fixedIy into the Goals
Stuart slipped at goblet of water, but his
trembling hand caused him to spill its con-
tents upon the floor. No one now ven
tured TO speak except in whisper; it
seemed that a word or loud noise must
disturb the poise of matters. The clock
licked, the blue flames murmured in the
crate, and the pellets of sand thrown up
nv the wind rartled apaipSt tho xriu1nu-S
But yet there were no signs of the pay
ing teller
Was it possible that this immense sum
of money was gone? Could it be true that
they must renort this terrible thing to the
world? Had they permitted themselves
to become lIeutenantS to a willy scouudrel?
Were they thus waiting silent and inactive
while he was being borne away at the
speed of the wind, out of their reach?
All at once Fields came in at the door.
He was met with a gladness that was
only too perceptible. Every gentleman
emitted sigh of relief, and halt started
as if to take the delinquent BY the hand.
Fields had expected this. He was
shrewd enough to act before the feeling
had evaporated.
He advanced to the table. The direct
ors fastened like schoolboys to take their
accustomed places. They bent upon the
teller's face the most anxious looks.
Gentlemen" said he, Il believe that
you fully understand that I return this
large sum of money TO you at my own op-
ton. You recognize the fact that most
men would endure, for instance, an i'm
prisoment of ten years rather than lose
the control OF quarter of q million dol
lars"
The directors fastened to signify Yes 20
But" continued Fields, taking several
large envelopes from his inner pockets
Al shall he content with less. There is
the sum | mentioned"
The directors fell upon the packages and
counted their contents. The table was
strewed with money. Fields contemplated
the scene with curiosity. Presently il was
announced that the sum was complete.
Now. gentlemen" said Fields. lyon
have suffered loss. | nave 100000 which
| have forced you to present me with.
That Is large sum, though to us who are
so familiar with millions IL seems small
almost insignificant; but. in reality. it has
great Importance. You now see. my
friends, what part of your monev-mak-
ing mechanism may achieve There Is no
bank, even of q thlrd-rate Importance. in
this city, whose receiving teller or pavin-
teller may not do exactly as | have done.
On any day. at any hour, they may load
themselves with valuables and 90 away.
on, and all directors, depend serviiely
upon the pure honesty of your clerks
gu can erect no barrier, no guard. no de
tense, that Will protect YOU from the re-
suits OF decayed principle in them. They
are deeply involved IN dangerous elements
Ease, luxury, lifelong immunity from
toll, wait upon their resolution To do IN
This resolution may Toe the determination
OF an instant, or the result of loug-con-