The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-11-12
IN A FINANCIAL DILEMMA.
A Rich Man Talks of His Very Many
Troubles,

Troubles
'Do you know" said a rich man, Sc
ricusly, to Star representative, that
there is a good deal of discomfort on
that score in the possession of great
wealth? + presume | am worth a
couple of millions, which, of course, in
T. general way, is supposed to be twen-
ty or more, and it is at that figure the
| pose in the minds of those cranks
who make men sign big checks at pis-
tol points, or make them whack up the
cash on pain of dynamite. Five years
ago, when | made million on lucky
rise, it occurred to me that l might pc
made victim, and as one precaution l
instructed my bankers to pay no checks
of mine that called for more than $100,
and to arrest the party presenting it.
l did my business in three banks and
carried blank checks on them all.
"Well, one dey it came, and sitting in
my private office two men popped down
on me, and before could make any out
cry, or even get out OF. my chair. they
had me covered with their revolvers.
| My office force consisted only of type
| writer and stenographer, and he was
| cut for an hour, SO the thieves had it
ali to themselves. Irdeed, they had
been waiting for the chance, because
| my stenographer took an hour off
| every day at the same time, and they
had evidently acquainted themselves
| with the fact. In any event, there
| was and there they were, and with the
| door locked and two guns staring at
me had little chance to do otherwise
| than as was hidden. tried to parley,
but they would not permit my monkey
ing, so they informed me, neither would
they give me 80 days, as it was strictly
a cash transaction, and I'd better hurry.
They ran through my desk and safe and
found no money, and at once demanded
Ii check. putting the amount of their
own free will at s11 1926, so that they
would not overdraw my account nor ex-
cite suspicion by making an amount in
round numbers. l had 900 or more
to my credit and told them so, but they
were afraid l was putting up job on
them, and said that they weren't hogs.
and would be satisfied with the amount
they had selected.
II drew up the check and signed it
as they suggested, and then one of them
took it and said he would go to the bank
and see about it, while the other would
remain and see to me. l hadn't quite
expected this, and didn't know what
might happen, but I braced myself and
| ho =, l. II. u
the door and as the bank was only half
block away he said he would be back
in ten minutes. 1t wasn't that long,
but it seemed to me like month, and
when l heard the key rattling in the
door l could hardly sit in my chair.
When the door opened, however, was
easy in a minute, for, instead of the
thief there were two bank detectives
and before the gentleman waiting with
me could offer an objection they had
him collared."
But how did they get on?" inquired
the reporter, whose wits were slightly
dulled by the novelty of the story.
Easy" responded the millionaire.
''The bank clerk knew something was
crooked when he saw that big check,
and without any disturbance at all he
gave the tip to the men on the watch
and they had the fellow at the window
before he knew he was even suspected
The rest of it was easy, for my office
key, with it's number, was in his pocket,
and they had had experience enough
to know what the layout was and how
ID finish the game to win" n."-Washing.
ton Star.