The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-11-11
TEMPTED AND TRIED.
THE STORY OF A CASHIER WHO
ROBBED THE BANK.

having IA population Of about 10,.
600, says writer in the New York
Sun. There were two Or three
private banks, but no other insti.
tuiions having the capital and dig
nlty we carried. The stockholders
numbered nearly thirty people,
and all were residents of the city
and county. Among them were
lour or five willows, and quite a
number of minors and orphans
were also represented. At that
date | was young man OF %, and
acting as cashier and book keeper
for manufacturing concern.
had three thousand dollars in cash
and with this | bought stock in the
new bank. The organization had
been completed, and The instltn-
ton Was really 10 open when the
president sent for me and said:
"James. haye known you for
the past three or four years. Ev.
erybody in the town seems to
speak we'll of you. Your employ.
ers tell me they have the utmost
confidence in your integrity, and
each one of executive has spoken
IN your favor. | have purchased
$4,000 worth of stock in your name
TO bring your holding up to $4,000.
and am authorized to offer you
the position of cashier"
Yes, had many friends, | was
ambitious and industrious. / was
also honest. No man could say
that had wronged him III any
mannei. | don't mean TO convey
the idea that WAS an exception.
There has never been any scarcity
OF thoroughly reliable young men,
nor will there ever be. | accepted
the position with feeling of graf.
itude toward those who had ten
dered it, and | made up my mind
to prove myself competent and
worthy in every particular.
In one year we had grasped
halt The business III The county. la
two years there was only one pri.
vale bank left. We had any
amount OF money TO lend on easy
terms, and whenever an extension
was wanted it was cheerfully
granted. l had done more than
any other man to bring about this
s. ate Of affairs. | say so becau Sc
all the officers and stockholders
said so. In two years my salary
was advanced three different times,
No man could have been more ful.
ly trusted lhanl was. My advice
was soueh, and invariably follow.
ed, and everybody complimented
the bank on its sagacily in having
secured my services. | had been
with the bank two years and ioul
months when u singular incident
happened. One evening as | sat
reading in my room the thought
came 10 me like flash TO rob the
bank and escape 10 a foreign coun-
try. pledge you my word | was
frightened for a moment. Ii was
as it voice had whispered in my
ears. Rob the bank! Why,
would chop off a finger sooner
than embezzle a penny! Wha
could have given birth to such {
thoughts | was upset and lndig
nant, and yet could not shake of
the idea. TO my alarm tounc
myself beginning to reason ant
speculate. II was as if had ,
double, and The double SAID to me
"You are working like a slave
to enrich Others. You are gettin,
a fair salary, but it should b.
double what it is. Why sIav,
away for years TO get a few thous
aud ahead when you can lay you
hand ON a fortune any dayg |
would be stealing, but then we al
steal. You are young and full o
energy and ambition. With $50,
| 600 10 back you, you can 60 t
some foreign country and maxi
millions and become a nabob in
few years." ggHM
| l should have trainpled sucl
thoughts under foot OH the instant
| No man in a rused position turn
thief in a day. It's only after b.
has fought with temptation an
been overcome. | made an elfor
to rid myself Of the thought, AM
it would have vanished but for
silly action on my part. A wee
later, as l smiled in contempt a
the idea OF my turning robbcr,
allowed myself to speculate o
what would happen IN case | die
| fsl. g. suOu1n~o.i CNss, ,~>ss.,L