The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-17
WOES OF a PATRIOT.
HIS Effort to Protect the Gold Reserve
Cost Him an Even Tenner.

His Effort to Protect the Gold Reserve
Cost Him an Even Tenner.
From the Chicago Record
Conversation had turned on the sub
ject of legal tender and somebody had
remarked the United States green
backs were very scarce. From this the
little group of smokers began to open
their pocketbooks.
Here's one." said Smiley Williams,
holding up bill with the Enthusiastically
heavy green markings on the back. 1t
was for SO.
Say. that's at premium did you
know that?"
NO"
We'll, il. is. You see, those bond fell
lows take it, draw gold with il and then
use the gold to buy bonds with
Well" said Mr.. Smiley Williams, in
a half tone of emphasis and half of
settled conviction. they won't buy any
gold with this-see?''
What are you going to do with it?
Put il in a stocking?"
mo; next time i pass the subtreasury
I'm going to trade IL for a silver certifi-
cate and then blow the certificate
The government, then, can tuck the bill
away so no bond investor can get hold
of it,"
You're putting youself to a dickens
of lot of trouble" observed one of the
party.
well, all I'VE got to say is If there
was more of this kind Of patriotism and
less of Observation-Disclosures lingo. 1t
would be a blamed sight better coun-
try" and Smiley looked so unconscious
ly virtuous that everybody laughed.
But Smiley stuck to his idea. About
noon the next day he climbed to the
second floor of the old federal ruin and
stuck his head into the guarded steel
and-glass window of the subtreasury' s
paying teller.
Say, want to give you a SO green
| back for a silver certificate; you can
| tuck the greenback away"
But we don't make change" said the
teller scarcely stopping to look up.
This isn't change, though" persisted
| Williams" i want to put this bill out
| of the reach of the treasury-reserve
| drainers."
It's against the rules-we can't do
it," replied the teller with a shake of
the head.
Smiley Redeemed uncomfortably, and
as the color crept up behind his ears
he began to get mad.
well, say" planking down the SIC
bill, IF you don't care to keep your
gold you might as well redeem this for
| me-
The teller picked up the bill, pulled IL
| between his thumb and finger, held II
| to the light critically and smiled lit
| tie.
II don't know who you are" he said
| quietly, but you've brought me a very
| clever counterfeit"
The bars, the stacks of bills and the
teller seemed to reel before Smileys
| eyes.
"C-c-ounterfeit!" he grasped. incredu-
| ously.
Yes"
Wen. gi-give it back. then" STAN
me go Smiley.
! "lc moment" replied the teller.
! TIL, turning to a stamp at one side
/ the teller placed the bill under ii and
struck the machine two or three SHARP
blows. When Smiley got the bill back
there cut through il, was the word
| "counterfeit' visible ten feet away.
Well, the special officer had to put
Smiley out into the corridor again, and
he had hard work to do it.
| Somehow the whole story leaked out
| and for a week Smiley's life has beer
| made miserable.
| I'm get even, though" he says; III
get even with the government IL
have to hold up a mail carrier to do il.
It's rougher on Smiley than on the
| ordinary customer who gets a bill
marked" said Cashier Jacob c. Pratt
but II makes anybody mad enough
who sees his seemingly good bill de
stroyed right before his eyes. Women
do under such circumstances. 1t Il
pretty hard on some OF them, too, fol
they need the money"