New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-08
THE EXTINCTION BANK.

40 r,erelv docentions is a fairly searching ques-
zion. still. shall answer you if YOU VIII agree
that what say shall be in confidence.
Agreed"
"Franklv then" said Hardy, some OF them
,re and some are not. You see puohc hFP-
ootist IS in a peculiar position. profess TO use
.,,h,oo, and could If | pleased take one about
with me. But the British public pronounce tha'
,oups,on. and will have none Of II. On the other
,ard ,hev are disappointed If don't give some
remarkable manifestation every night 1t does
not FOLLOW that can find a subject, 50 l have 10
ne provided against emergencies
"Uas your emergency man. II | may be al
,owad the expression. performing tonight!
u don't mind admitting that he was saiu
Hardy. with an ingenious smile
"1hon guess he was the man who sang
ron,ic song and pretended to feed oaoE'
.you've hit IT," assented Hardy placidly'
"Then YOU were hard pressed to-mgh'
"1 uas but need no; have heeen." said ne !
Told YOU two Of our difficulties. We are not al
,owed our own medium, and sometimes cannot
chance on another There is still d th'ru n"lu
shin. Sometimes the man is there ana can
make use OF him"
why not?'
Because man may be an eXceNen' suoJe'''
snA ohtec, n be exhibited On public platform.
Suppose he is the vicar. Yon can't make MN
sing a comic song before his congregation
could compel him 10 do il. but me a''eNuaN0eS
would drop IF in consequence.
81 think they might" | assenied laughing. AT
,eos, v,u could MT eNpec; the Wears to come
But is our vicar suhje.t?'
"Not tina, l know" said Hardy, slowly as ne III
sro,her cigar. But there was most interest
,ns suhiect present tonight If could only nave
used him"
really" said. how exciting! Who was he?'
Never saw him in my life before replied ne
careessly. but can tel YOU this: had the ut
most difficulty to prevent him from oerayihs
himself tonight l really had TO forbid MN 10
move. or he would have come to me on the pia'-
form. and then You would have seen something
And to think YOU will never see him again
"Asto that II | wanted to see him could BRING
him here n five minutes, or as quick as ne cou'u
come. don't know where he lives you know.
81 simply don't believe it," I answered or
rather he is. I suppose one Of your emergencies
for which you have provided
Hardy laughed.
"vv dear Anstruther. have not trouble enough
over my performances all day without arranging
others at night? Do you think I would not
rather have quiet talk about old times than
amend a night in bamboozling YOU? Besides. YOU
introduced the subject yourself
$50 did" assented, alphabetically. but
CAM believe
II don't want you 10 believe; only tell you
.hat could order that man 10 come here II l
like. get him to do what Ike, and send him back
again to bed without mis- knowing in the morning
what had happened to him
We'll. do 1t. then"
ITO obl!ge you I don't mind trying. Mind l
shall not put much pressure on him lie is an
old man. and. Il ne is FAR away won't come SV"'
II he does come. that you may not say went TO
fetch him. lock me in the bedroom for twenty
minutes If h ~ not here by then he is too lar
of 10 come"
examined 4Ae bedroom It had 10 door ex-
rept that into the passage. thought escape by
the window WIS Impossible. for knew the hotel
well; but 10 make sure l rang for the waiter after
locking Hardy in and gave him half crown to
watch the window outside for twenty minutes.
] listened at the door myself and could hear
Hardy moving and breathing in the room.
kept my eye on my watch. Ten minutes
e,apsed. and was getting tired Of waiting. You
have no idea how long ten minutes Is when YOU
want IL over. In a quarter Of an hour Aeard
Hardys voice at the door
"Anstruther. let ne out; he's coming now.
Wen see him IN the si,ting-room"
Iopened his door. and We Wen, into the sitting
room | was somewhat alarmed but HARDY
seemed 20 take II as a matter II course.
Mind | don't know the man But as You
Know every one IN EN.ngt ~ YOU must tel me
what 70 ask him.
Scarcely We're the words ont - his mouth when
the door opened and an elderly gentleman en-
tered lie walked To chair as II nothing I'M
usual we're happening. ana seated himself say
ans:
~ m, Ne,."
should have said that 1--we AT Exnston. and
am confidential manager To the nrm ~ Rrnfrcw.
Crnwford i.cltrh n c. a wcll-kuowu though not
hng.es,ablsh,d clearinghouse. My position de-
pcnds on tho goodwill OF the partners, hu, had
every reason 60 rely on H. Imagine, them my
horror when fn the Interesting subject on whom
Hardy and ! were experimenting. recognized
the well-kn0wn form Of Mr.. Scptmus Renfrew,
the senior partncr-in fact the creator of the
bt siness He was looking az me with as little con-
Germ as II We had been in the bank parlor to-
eAther but to my delight. he seemed not t. rec
ogn!ze me | returned his look but did not dare
70 utter a word. Ruin stared me In The face II
tomorrow h. recognized that ne had been made
the victim Of a freak of mine and l heartily
wished had never challenged Hardy 10 this
senseless trial Of his skill
He however. had no fears He came up to me
and whispered:
What shall ask him? What's his name?"
The position was most embarrassing. There sat
my employer gazing a, me placidly. He seemed
quite collected in full possession Of his faculties
With mixture Of shyness and alarm. had u
name him and PROFOUND question At last he
turned 10 Hardy
you sent for NEWLY"
"Confound II. man. whispered Hardy, cant
you answer? His name and question"
collected myself. Eyideatly Mr. Renfrew did
not recognize me. and II could only be due 10
Hardy's influence that he did not. II might cease
II delayed longer 50 ! answered quickly.
"Septimus Renfrew. ASK him how he began
banking"