The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-30
In II Financial Dilemma.

DO you KNOW said the rich man
seriously to Washington Star repre-
sentative, that there Is q good deal of
discomfort on that score in the poss s.
sion of great wealth? ! presume l am
worth couple of millions, which. of
course, in general way is supposed to
ne twenty or more. and Il Is al that
hgure that pose in the minds of those
crahks who make men sign big checks
| al pistol points or make them whack M
the cash on pain of dynamlting. Five
years ago when ! made a million on n
lucky rise. ii occurred to me that |
might he made victim, and as one
| precaution I instructed my bankers to
pay no check OF mine that callsd for
more than 500. and to arrest the party
presenting II. ] did my business in
three banks, and carried blank checks
on them all
Well, one day it came, and sitting
IN my private office two M popped
down on me, and before / could make
any cutlery or even get out Of my chair
theN had me covered with their re-
VoNers My Office force consisted only
or typewriter and stenographer and
lie was out for an hour. SO the thieves
had II all to themselves. Indeed. they
mad be5n waiting for the chance. because
my stenographer took an hour off every
Gay at the same time, and they had evil
dently acquainted themselves with the
| iact. In any event there ! was. and
|
| en ana two guns staring at me | had
| little chance to do otherwise than as
was hidden. l tIted TO parley. but
they would not permit any monkeying,
so they informed me, neither would they
give me ninety days. as 1t was a strictly
cash transaction, and I'd better hurry.
Ihey ran through my desk and safe
ana round no money, and at once de
| inandsd check. putting the amount
| OF their own free will at sll. %. go
Y hoy Al
count nor eNcNe suspicion by making
an amount of round numbers. | had
sZV.uVO or more To my credit and told
them SO, but they were afraid | was
putting up job on them. and said that
they weren't hogs, and would b salts
ned with the amount they had selected
drew up the cheek and signed /.
as they suggested. and then one of thsn
took 1t and said he would so to the bank
ana see about it, while the other man
would remain and see to me. | hadn't
quite EXPECTED this, and didn't know
what might happen bu; I braced my
| self and waited. The man with tho
check locked the door. and as the banl,
was only half block away he said he
wasn't that long, but it seemed TO me
IKE a month and when ] heard that
key rafting in the door ] became s6
nervous ! could hardly sit in my chair
| men the door opened. however. l was
easy In minute, for ad of the thief
| theFe Were Two bank detectives, and be-
lore the gentleman waiting with me
could offer an objection they had him
| collar=d"
But how did they get on?" inquired
me reporter, whose wits were slightly
dulled by the novelty of the story.
Easy" responded the millionaire. The
bank clerk knew there was something
crooked when he saw thar big check
and without any disturbance at all ne
gave the tip to the men on watch, and
they had the fellow at the window he
LOT, lore ne knew he was even suspected.
me rest OF IL was easy, for my Office key
with IT'S number was in his pocket ana
,hey had had experience enough TO
know what the layout was and how to
finish the game to win"