Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-04
Copyright, 1895, by the Author.
CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VI
Although I had the very respectable
balance of $85, 900 at the bank, I had
not as yet since my arrival in London
paid it visit. This was in pursuance
of our plan. So far I had only done bust
ness with the supernumeraries, and
none of the people at the top had ever
even heard of me. But we determined
that they should not long remain in
ignorance of the great American con-
tractor, F. A. Warren.
Three months had elapsed since our
departure from London on our piratical
tour to the Spanish main. In all nearly
five months had passed since Green had
introduced me to the old lady whose
impregnable vaults we had now at last
determined to loot. That in itself was
q favorable circumstance, as it would
give me chance to flourish in grand
ly indefinite way to the effect that I had
for some time been customer Of the
bank, and none Of the officials would
probably take the trouble to ascertain
how very brief, in fact, my acquaintance
had been.
left London by the night mail from
Victoria station for Paris, the first of
many hurried trips took to the con-
tinent on the business we had entered
upon. Truly we worked hard, spent
money lavishly, brought all our power
and genius to work-for what? To have
the lightning fall and pitch us from our
earthly heaven into PRISONS hell
Upon my arrival drove at once to
the Hotel Bristol, Place Vendome, a
swell hotel, where none but the great
sirs of the earth could afford to stop.
Here I registered as F. A. Warren,
London, and at once sent off the follow
ing letter:
P. M. Francis, Esq, Manager Bank Of Eng
land London:
DEAR S1R-I am a customer Of the bank.
Therefore take the liberty Of troubling you
In the hope to have the benefit Of your advice.
Will yon kindly inform me what good per
cent stocks are to be had In the market; also
II the bank will transact the business for me?
remain very truly yours,
By return mail came letter wherein
I was advised to invest in India per
cents or London Gas. I wrote an i'm
mediate order to have the bank purchase
S10;O0O Of India stock and sent my
check for that amount, on his OVID bank,
payable to the order Of the manager. I
received the stock. instantly sold it and
replaced the money to my credit, and
the next day sent off an order for el0, 900
Gas stock and repeated the operation
until I had made the impression want
ed to make on the mind Of the manager,
80 that when I returned to London for
my decisive interview and sent in my
card he would at once recognize the
name, T. A Warren. as the multimil
Eonaire American who had been send.
Ing him 10000 checks from Paris.
After the events narrated in the last
chapter I returned to London. arrived
early in the morning, and meeting my
companions we had long and anxious
talk over my near approaching and all
important interview with that great sir
of the London world, the manager of
the Bank Of England. Happy for us if,
In that interview, the manager had ask
ed for the customary references or had
used ordinary business precaution ana
investigated me, or indeed had acted as
any ordinary business man would have
done under ordinary circumstances.
Our known conclusions were that the
fact that was already depositor, to
gether with the impression made by the
letters and my e10, 900 checks, would
put the thing through. Yet we Of course
felt that a thousand things could arise
to block our way effectually. A look. Il
word, shadow or a smile in my face
might ruin all, but still, after providi.A;
30 far as possible for every contingency,
after planning what was to be said or left
unsaid at the interview, after my COM
panions filing me full of advice, We
felt, after all, that everything must be
left to my discretion to cay and to act
as thought best
This council Of war was held in my
room in the Grosvenor. had arrived
from Paris at o'clock Mac and I
breakfasted together at 8. George join
ed US at 8, and we talked until 10, and
then we set out together for the bank
Arriving there, they remained outside
watching for my temperance. Enter
ing the bank, sent in my card-F. A.
Warren-by liveried flunky and was
Immediately ushered into the managers
parlor. He has long since gone over to
the majority, SO here Twill not so much
as name or describe him. Sufficient to
say that as soon as set eyes upon him
thought that we would have no partic-
ular difficulty in carrying out our plans.
The manager, who had been told that
was railroad contractor, expressed
himself highly gratified to have me do
my business through the bank and said
they would do all in their power to ac-
commodate me. told him that of course
was financing large sums and would
require more or less discounts before the
year was out. Then came away, and
meeting my two friends outside of the
bank in answer to their eager inquiries
as to what had transpired told them
that SO far as the bank officials were con-
cerned our way to the vaults Of the bank
was wide open.
So ended the last scene of act /.
The next day I went to the Continental