The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-08-11
miscellaneous.
THE RUN ON THE BANK.

There was a run on the Sandhill
and district bank 1t had lasted the
whole of one day and had showed no
signs of abating in the evening. If it
lasted another day-old Mr.. Bradshaw
wiped his brow. 1t was no use talk
ing to his son Dick, for he took no in
terest in business and had spent the
day in a boat with the Flirtington
girls. Still Mr. Bradshaw was bound
to talk to some one.
1--WE shall have to put the shutters
up. One days grace would save us,
believe we could get the money then.
But if they're at us again tomorrow
morning we can't last two hours"
Dick symplthiZed, but had nothing
to suggest except that it would not
make matters worse if he carried out
his engagement to go to the circus
with the Flirtington girls.
''Oh, go to Hong-Kong with the
Flirtington girls, if you like groan-
ed Mr.. Bradshaw.
So Dick went-to the circus (the
other expedition as he observed would
keep and enjoyed the performance
very much, especially the lion tanning,
which was magnificent, and so i'm
pressed Dick that he deserted his COM
panions. went behind the scenes, and
insisted on standing Signor Philippini
several glasses.
SIS that big chap quite safe - he
asked admiringly.
II can do anything with 'im," said
the signor (whose English was natur-
ally defective), but with any one
helse 'e's a roarer, e is, and no mis-
take.''
After the performance Dick took
the Flirtington girls home then, with
a thoughtful look on his face, he went
and had some talk with his father
and came away, carefully placing a
roll of notes in his breast pocket
Then he sought Signor Philippians
society once more. And that is all
that is really known about tiff, that
is, we discard the obviously fanciful
statement of Fanny Flirtington that
as she was gazing at the moon about
3 A. NJ. she saw a heavy wagon drawn
by two horses and driven by Signor
Philippini pass along the street in the
direction of the bank. She must have
been wrong, for Philippini, by the evil
dence of his signora-whose name,
notwithstanding that Philippians
morals were perfectly correct, was
Mrs. Buggins-went to bed at half
past II O'clock and snored all night
However these things may be, this is
what happened next morning. When
the first of the depositors arrived at Z
A. NJ, they found one of the windows
of the bank smashed to pieces and
the shutter hanging loose. A cry
went up that there had been a rob-
berry, and one or two men began to
climb in. They did not get far before
a fearful roar proceeded from the
neighborhood of the counter. They
looked at one another and said it
would be more regular to wait for the
officials.
The roars continued. They sent for
Mr.. Bradshaw. Hardly had he arriv-
ed accompanied by Dick, breathless
and in shirt sleeves) before the back
most rows of the now considerable
crowd became agitated with IL new
sensation. A lion had escaped from
the menagerie and was supposed to
be at large in the town.
'Send for Philippine ~ cried the
proprietor.
They did SO. Philippini had start
and would not return till just before
proprietor was in despair.
where's the beast gone to ~ he
cried.
4 roar from the bank answered his
question.
"Weli. I'm blowed if he's not in the
bank 80 exclaimed the proprietor.
1t certainly appeared to be the fact
that Atlas THAT was the lions name,
had taken refuge in the bank and was
in full possession of the premises and
assets. Under these circumstances
there was, Mr.. Bradshaw explained,
a difficulty in resuming cash pay,
ments, but if his checks would be ae-
cepted--
The crowd roared almost as loud "A
Atlas at such an idea. Something
must be done. They sent for the
Mayor. He repudiated liabilities
They sent for the fire brigade and the
lifeboat crew; neither would come
They got guns and peppered the furni
ture. Atlas retired behind the fire
| proof safe and roared worse than ever
Meanwhile the precious hours were
passing. Mr. Bradshaw's money was
also on its way from London. AT last
| Dick took a noble resolution.
Il will go in at any cost, -" he cried
and in spite of Fanny Flirtington''
tears he scaled the window and disap
peared from view. The crowd waitet
to hear Atlas crunching, but he only
roared When Dick was inside, he
paused and asked in a low voice, ''I
he chained %
Yes" answered Signor Philippin
from behind the safe. us the Aun
Sally business over?' and he cam,
out with long pole in his hand. II,
used the pole to stir poor Atlas III
when the roars became deficient il
quantity or quality.
1.-The money ought to be here il
three hours,n said Dick. Have yo1
got the back door key ?''
Philippini treasured him. Thel
Dick took wild running leap at TIL
window. Philippini stirred up Atlas
who roared Justify. Dick ESCAPED
with his life and landed Il breathles
heap at the mayors feet. The mayo
raised him, and the vicar (who had n
money in the bank Indignantly aske
the crowd if they could not trust
family which produced scions lik
that. Several people cried, "Heal
hear ~ and told Mr.. Bradshaw tina
they never really meant to WITHDRAW
their denosits. Mr.. Bradshaw thank