Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-19
any references. but unable to stand any

any references. but unable to stand any
investigation
In conference it was determined an
account should be opened with the bank
anyway; after that was done we could
decide what use to put it to.
AS had not yet shown up in the pre-
vlous transactions l volunteered to 60
to the frcnt in this, SO I told my two
friends to go to the continent-Italy, if
they hked-I would remain in London
and manage to get the account started.
They took me at my word. and day or
two after sailed from Liverpool to Lis.
bon, and passed through it to Spain,
visiting the chief cities of that country.
Twas left alone in London and began
prospecting at once, setting all my wits
at work 10 see how / could manage to
get an introduction to the bank. OF
course one is supposed to give reference,
even it introduced. Although I had no
acquaintance with this banks methods,
yet I was confident that all those at the
top must be stupid lot of red tape
sticklers, and resolved to do my bust
ness with them alone. Twas pretty sure
that the routine of an introduction once
we'll over, SO as to give me access to the
officials, they could be easily satisfied
and made to help ON the fraud in place
of being obstacles The result proved
my surmise correct, for such a lot Of
self sufficient barnacles no institution
in the world was ever burdened with,
the manager reassuring me that their
system was SO perfect no change had
been made in its methods for a century.
1 finally made up my mind to find
some old established shopkeeper who
kept an account at the bank and secure
an introduction through him.
determined to carry out the plan at
once. The thing was first of all to find
my man, SO at 2 o'clock that afternoon
I stationed myself near the bank to
watch depositors coming out and then
follow them. Four out of five deposit
ors when they take money to the bank
come out examining their passbooks.
That afternoon I followed several. OF
these I selected three. One was an opti-
clan and electrician, an old established
firm, doing large business. Another
was an East India importing house.
The third was Green & Son, tailors.
The next day went to the optician
and purchased an expensive opera glass,
and had him engrave ON It, "To Lady
Mary, From Her Friend, and paid him
for it with e1OO note. Then I went to
the East India firm and bought costly
white silk shawl and lap robe fit for
prince, and looked ut a camel's halr
shawl at 100 guineas
had brought from America with me
a western hat. and as had resolved to
play the silver king I wore it when 60
ing around among the tradesmen. The
English had and still have absurd ideas
concerning that desirable article, "the
American silver king" The stage ar
ticle they take for the genuine and de-
voutly believe that tho pavements are
thick with them in America, all march
ing around with rolls Of 81, 900 bills in
their pockets, which they throw. out to
bootblacks and bartenders.
Therefore resolved to play this role.
After my purchase Of the shawl and
robe I drove in my brougham mp to
Green & Sons and entered, smoking q
cigar, and with my big hat pulled well
down over my eyes. Soon as saw the
elder Green felt had my man. Ger.
taiRly I had hit well, for the firm (fa-
theirs and sons) had been depoeitors in the
Bank of England for nearly century,
and had considerable wealth, but, Eng
lish fashion, stuck steadily to business.
This is firm of ultra fashionable tai
lors that, like the historic Poole next
door, charge for their reputation more
than for the fit Of their garments.
One of the firm and an attendant few
to wait upon Inc, but paying no atten-
ton to them I started ON slow march
around the establishment, examining
the array of cloths, they following at
my heels. Invent down one side and re-
turned on the other to the door. Arriv-
ing there halted, and, pointing first at
one roll of cloth and then another, said
"One suit from this, three suits from
that, two from that, . topcoat from
that. another from that, another suit
from that, one from that. Now show
me some dressing gowns The first
shown was 90 guineas. instantly said
that would do. One may be certain the
tailor and his assistant few around, one
to measure and the other to write the
measurements of this American sheep
that Providence had led astray into their
shop. When asked my name and address
I gave +. A. Warren, Golden Cross no.
tel, and then, for fear might forget
my name, made memorandum Of it
and placed it in my vest pocket.
They bowed me out, evidently greatly
impressed with my taciturnity, and e.
pecially my big hat, confident also that
they had hooked q fortune in a genuine
American silver king. entered the
brougham and drove directly to the
Golden Cross hotel, Oharing Cross, and
there registering "F. A. Warren" and
securing a room I left for my hotel
This room at the Golden Cross 1 kept
for whole year, but never slept there.
It was the only address the Bank Of
England ever had of their distinguished
customer, Mr.. Frederic Albert Warren.
did not trouble any more shout the
other two store DcOple Init locked ahout