The record-union., 1894-10-13
Barrett BilingSby's Compassion.


like dense fog upon the great Trust and
Security Bank.
Even ordinary civilities between Off
cials and employees had given place to the
coldest and chariest Of greetings, while
something like frowns of suspicion and
anxiety rested upon the faces of all, from
President Barrett Billingsby down to
jolly Harry Everett, the lusty messenger
of the bank.
Only this very morning, Mr.. Bill
lingsby, as he was entering the bank, had
accidentally overheard most ominous
conversation between a large depositor
and one of the receiving tellers.
What in the Old Harry's the matter
with the folks here, anyhow? Bank in
trouble?''
''Eh What? Why, certainly not!
Never had larger surplus than this very
minute" replied the teller in almost of
tended surprise.
THAT straight?'
dead morally, incontrovertibly
straight"
well, you don't look it. Nobody has
looked 1t here for month. All seem 10
be in the dumps; seem to be in mourning;
seem to have funeral on hand. Any
thing to weep over, honest now ?''
Nonsense! Not thing" returned
the teller with assumed heartiness, as ne
blOtted the entry and returned the GUS
TONER'S book.
Don't believe it. Looks like pecula-
ton, or check-kiting, or the banks been
hard hit with forgery, or balloon loans.
See here, young man." continued the
customer, lowering his voice contden-
TALLY, and speaking close to the window,
you Just say for me TO friend Billingsby,
hp L
founded churlishness and down-in-th'-
mouthness are really hurting the Trust
and Security"
Hurting it?"
"Yes, hurting it. Friends of the bank
are whispering ii over and shaking their
heads. First thing you know here, de-
posts will be quietly Withdrawn. Then
Ihere'u be run. Then up you'll 20.
See?''
1.-TWO million more than we can use, in
the vaults" replied the teller with an in
credulOuS smile.
kind of crowd'd leave the balance the
other way. You just mention what I've
said to Billingsby. Good morning"
II will, sure. Thanksn' replied the
teller with genuine activity, as he shook
himself into something like cheeriness,
but, on the departure OF the customer, in
stantly relapsed into his previous look of
gravity and concern.
That settles itn' said Mr.. Billingsby
stoutly to himseIt,a he entered his private
office, removed MS overcoat and imme-
diately returned to the exchange.
He passed quickly behind the oak and
brass-grated partitions and moved rapidly
from one little com partment to another
speaking a few quiet and earnest words
to each occupant.
This had an almost electrical effect in
reinfusing, whether enforced or real, that
Il 4 Il
tent which has often been known to stand
a bank in the stead OF Soreiy needed cash
in times of great emergency and peril
Mr.. Billingsby, after observing with
satisfaction the marked change his brief
conference with his employees had created.
returned to his private office with the re-
mark:
~ told them l would end this anony-
ance at once, and now L will do itr'
With only a mere glance at huge pile
of unopened letters upon his desk, he
Immediately went to his telephone and
gave the instrument a peremplory
ring.
lie made his order to the central Office,
and, while waiting for a response TO his
call, stood looking worriedly through the
strong iron bars of his window into the
walled court below. Suddenly he gave a
little start.
wonder what OLD Everetps doing
down there?" he reflected. That's 40
place for him at this hour. l didn't
know any of our employees had access to
the court before noon.''
'Yes,'' turning the instrument. ''The
Trust and Security-Mr. Billingsby's at
the 'phone. Is that you, Dingleton?
Good morning! Busy?"
a little silence enSued.
Sorry, but can't you postpone your
preliminary investigation on that iewelry
robbery until little later In the dav?
n Il s- in
strengthening out a little matter here i'm
mediately. Greatly obliged if you would
step down for few minuteS-yourself.
you know"
Another short silence followed, during
which Mr.. Billingsby's face expressed
hopetulnes, pertur rbation and satisfaction
by turns
''All right. Very much obliged Just
run in for few minutes on your way TO
the train. Um-m-m N? All right. Good
bye ~
He rang off the call, stepped to the
window, peered closely about the court
and with the remark II sometimes don't
know just what to make of old Everett
But it isn't han, that's sure enough % be-
gan a hasty examination of his mornings
mail.
He was thus deeply engrossed when
Dingleton, the head of great detective
agency, entered his private Office, seated
himself close to his desk and, with a
slight inclination OF his head back ward
toward the tellers and the vaults, said
cbeerily,
"No trouble out there, hope?'
Not like any of the detectives in the
stories and the books was Dingleton;
those detectives with blue-black boards
and black-blue mustaches, dreadful
voices aud steely, glittering eyes, who
ramp and rend and soar through time
and space, the Nemeses of avenging
Justice. and who should all be clapped
into the vacuum of forgetfulness by one
triumphant sweep of the stern hand OF
Justice avenged.
He was stoclky, pudgy man. with as
fine paunch as good living ever grew. a
comfortable way of resting his hands
upon it, a nobby head which had room
to repose upon a big neck set close down
within broad shoulders, and with such a
pleasant and merry smile lighting his
rray ewes and pursing his kindly mouth,
that any one knowing him would almost
welcome trouble for the pleasure OF hay-
ing Dingleton help him out.