The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-07-18

"That would be seventeen thousand
in all, " said the banker.
"Well, said Billy, suppose we make
it twenty thousand as a lump sum; or
rather, as you wish twenty four hours,
I think, as time is valuable in a case
like this, a thousand an hour would not
be exorbitant. If you say twenty four
thousand in gold it's a CO."
"That is a large amount" said the
banker.
"Oh, very well, then" replied Billy.
I'VE have only to do our duty. You
are not absent; you are here. The
amount is large, as you say, but you
must remember that the risk is ire
mendous."
eyes, I admit that" said the banker
with a sigh; ''but you said you would
take twenty thousand or even seven
teen thousand a moment ago."
There are four men to square, be-
sides myself" answered the inspector,
and if one of them objected of course
the game would be up. 1 shall not
take the risk even of mentioning it to
them for anything less than twenty
four, and if I think any longer about
it l shall raise the price to thirty"
II agree to the 424, OOO," said the
banker, hastily. "Can you make sure
of your men-of their silence9"
Reasonably sure" answered Billy.
THE only question is, can we have the
money in gold here and now9"
II am not sure that I can give you
all that amount in gold, but 1 think 1
can" He consulted a pocketbook he
had with him and added some figures
together. Eyes" he said, 81 can do it. "
very well" said Billy, tit is a bar
gain"
Billy called his pals, and together
they accompanied the banker to an
other Dor that contained a large safe,
which Slider opened. He took out sew
eral bags, and, taking down a pair of
scales from the top of the safe, said,
"You may weigh this, and you will
find it correct. There are five bags
here, and they each contain IS, 900"
open all of the bags" said Billy,
cautiously. The banker did so, and
Billy ran a handful of gold from each
Of them through his fingers and found
everything correct.
How much does a thousand wejgh9"
he asked the banker, and on receiving
his answer placed one of the bags in
the scales.
"It is a pity to break bulk" said
Billy. II think we will call it 425, OOO."
Every WE'LL" answered the banker.
Suppose you call your men in. I wish
to be sure that you will keep your part
of the compact"
The four men were speedily inside
the room, and their eyes opened as they
saw the glitter of the gold Them
spector briefly detailed to them the
points of the bargain, while the banker
looked from man and listened anx-
iously.
"You agree to thisY" said Billy, and
each of the men nodded.
"You will have no further trouble
from us, MI. Slider" said Billy Haven,
politely, 'at least for twenty-four
hours"
The banker drew a deep breath Of
relief as each man took a bag of gold
and quietly departed.
A few days after the papers were
filled with the startling announcement
that Mr.. Slider, the we'll known banker,
had absconded, and that an enormous
amount of money was missing. Inves
tigation of the books showed that he
had been preparing for flight for over
a year, and rumor has it that he is snow
living somewhere in South America,
But that is one of the things about
which nobody knows anything definite.
Detroit Free Press.