Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-09-05


down.
When | entered the room President
Packers and his colleagues scrutinlzed
me ms II | We're promissory note with
only one indorser, until | began to
feel nervous enough to speculate
whether | mightn't have robbed the
safe in fit of temporary insanity.
However, the President soon put me
Mt ease on this point by throwing me
into state OF great uncertainty on
another.
"Mr. Saunders" began he, with his
usual air of addressing mass meeting,
"Mr Saunders, are you n person of
prudence, saSacity and good iudg-
ment?"
L thought had decided these ques.
tions in the negative by accepting the
position | held for the pay l received.
but OF course it wouldn't do to say so,
and | simply replied that [ couldn't
say.
"Or," continued the President,
"should the contingency arise, Of
physical courage in danger?"
l had played left half-back on n
light football team against a bad tenn
pered, heavy eleven who couldn't
score; nevertheless / again answered
that couldn't say.
These noncommittal replies seemed
satisfactory, and | now saw that the
object OF this catechism was not to
find out if | possessed the good quail
itlcs mentioned, but to inform me in.
directly that ] should stand in need
OF them whether possessed them or
not.
President Packers went on to tell
me what was wanted. The bank had
to transmit ten thousand dollars to
Shovel Brothers, contractors en-.
ploycd upon Il new railroad in the
northern part of the State, that the
firm might pay its laborers. The re.
glon was desolate, and the express
company refused to make delivery be.
yond its nearest Office, many miles
distant. Consequently it would be as
well to send the amount all the wav
by special messenger.
| was to be that messenger-n TO
go alone, for no unemployed men of
the necessary trustworthiness could
be found to make up guard. The
Boston bankers, Reichsmarke, Gail
ders y Co., were to send like amount
IN few days, but probably by an
other route, SO that should not be
able to take advantage of the protec
ton their agent would undoubtedly
have.
| instantly accepted the commits
sion, moved by desire for change
from the monotonous routine of the
bank, by a certain spice of adventure
about the expedition, and above all
by the manifest resolve of the Direc.
tors to send me anyway.
''l'll start tomorrow morning"
"Very good, Mr.. Saunders" re,
turned the Presi lent. 'Your zeal is
most gratifying. | have only to sug-
gest your making any changes in your
dress and Appearance that will pre-
vent those whom you meet from sup
posing you to be provided with any
considerable sum of money"
Next morning | was off on an carly
train. The Presidents closing hat
had been needed, anl | Gattered nv.
sclt that no one could ever imagine
me bank clerk, or clerk in any
other reputable business.
| wore remarkably ancient suit of
clothes, hat that would inspire dis,
trust i'll the most guIeless heart, boots
which needed backing, linen which
needed whitening effect of the
whole perfected by two days beard.
[ carried hollow .chested vnlise.
which appeared to have seen so many
OF it worst days that it might have re-
manned unstolen if dropped in the
middle of the most poyerty-stricken
street in Christendom. This recep-
tac'e / treated with the disrespect of
man who, knowing it's padding and
pretension, despises it for containing
nothing but paper wads and paper col
lars. Yet in that forlorn valise, under