The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-06-24

prison. out II were 20 i've on air anu 60
naked and save all my salary wouldn't
have one fifth as much at the age of
thirty nine. On the whole I think l
have made good speculation. Don't
your
The opinions of the directors were not
very coherent just at this moment. They
made various appeals to him on the con
fidence that they had IN him, on the good
name he bore, on the dishonor he would
incur, ETC., but be responded that all these
had not helped him to an increase in his
salary, and relentlessly quoted the Ian
guage of the presidents note to him,
that their relations were purely bust
ness affair on both Sides
Finally he said:
"Our relations have been personally
pleasant, and I have no unconquerable
desire to spend the next eight and one.
half years in Jail. I will make you q
proposition. If you will sign bond not
to prosecute me, and publish in the pa
pers set of resolutions setting forth that,
whereas, your valued and trusted employe,
John Smith, by the receipt of legacy
from deceased relative, has been re-
lievcd of the necessity of further service,
resolved, that you part with him with ex-
IRENE regret, etc.,-if you do this will
bring back $125, 900 and content myself
with the other $4,000. The interest
will make up good part Of the loss to
me-"
It was hard to give up the $12o,OOO
and hitch it to set of resolutions COM
plimenting the thief, but it was choice
between getting half the loaf or nothing
Was the satisfaction of sending him to
prison for eight and one half years worth
SIS 900 g year to them? They figured
on it and agreed it wasn't. They accept
ed the proposition, drew up the bond and
signed it.
"You can get the resolutions IN shape
by to morrow" he said, and have them
ready when bring the money. 1t would
be scarcely delicate for me to be present
when they are adopted
"Couldn't you bring it to-day, MIR.
Smith?" asked the president in a perspi-
ration.
mo, haven't time to 60 for it. The
work at my desk always keeps me busy
until the hour OF closing the bank. You
will have to trust me till tomorrow, and
as by signing this bond you have COM
mitted yourself to the compounding OF a
felony, guess l can trust you-even as
purely business affair."
They were all on hand early next day.
Smith, the cashier, said (nOt without some
surprise at hearing the president inquire
for him as "Mr." Smith) had gone out to
get his lunch. He was asked for halt
dozen times before he came. Every few
minutes the door of the directors room
would open, a perspiring face would be
thrust out, and Smith would be inquired
for. Then the face would be Withdrawn
and the directors would fall to discussing
whether, after all, Smith hadn't taken
their bonds and given them the slip.
At the stroke of IL the door opened
and Smith walked in. He picked up the
resolutions, read them with approval, and
with ''thank you, gentlemen, this is
handsome" he handed a package to the
president, saying:
"Here is your money"
Then he took his former stand by the
mantle piece, and watched their eager
faces as they bent over to count it. A
hundred crisp $1,000 bills-then SCI, 900
more yet-and then to their utter amaze
ment, another hundred $1,000 bills.
"Why, it's all here you've brought it |
all back"
81 never meant to steal it," said Smith,
cody. ~ made you believe did merely
to convince you that you were conducting
your bank on the wrong principle, in
keeping man on a starvation salary
with fortune within his grasp. WANTED
to make you understand that there IS
something more in the relations between
the bank and its trusted employees than
cold business. suppose you have no
further use for me. am ready to turn
over my books as soon as you name my
successor. He viii! find them all right.
Good day."
He walked back to the desk. Pretty
soon they called him in again and the
president made little speech. He said
the lesson had been an unpleasant one,
but they were disposed to take it in the
spirit in which it was given. Perhaps he
was right. They had no desire to punish
him, but : and here he hcsitated and
stammered little-they were also un-
willing, that is to say, they had no desire,
to keep financier of his capacity in the
humble place in which he had hitherto
been employed. Therefore, one Of their
number, Mr.. Wilkins, who was an agent
of an insurance company at salary of
$4,000 year, had decided to resign that
position, and would have Mr.. Smith APP
nointed his successor. Meanwhile Mr..