Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-29
HOW HE SAVED HIMSELF.
A Check ON a Bank Drawn by Mill
IfOnaire Which Was Not HOnOred.

A Cheek ON n Bank Drawn by n Mil
Iionaire Which Was Not HonOred.
1t isn't often that a Star reporter is on
chummy terms with real live millionaire,
but there are times when even that sort of
luck happens, and on the occasion referred
to this reporter was not only chummy with
the millionaire, but he was drinking cham
payne with him.
1t was, indeed, an suspicious moment
Need 1. be mentioned who was paying
for the same?
AS the conversation ran smoothly along,
the reporter asked the millionaire if he had
ever been held up or otherwise despoiled of
his hard-earned savings.
do you know" said the rich man, Sc
riously. that there is a good deal of dis
comfort on that score in the possession of
great wealth? l presume l am worth a
couple of millions, which, of course in q
general way is supposed to be twenty or
more, and it is at that figure that l pose in
the minds Of those cranks who make men
sign big checks at pistol points, or make
them whack up the cash OIL pain of dyna-
hitting. Five years ago, when I made
million on a lucky rise. it occurred to me
that might be made victim, and as
precaution l instructed my bankers to pay
no check of mine that called for more than
SlOO and to arrest the party presenting it.
l did my business in three banks and car
lied blank checks on them all. Well, ole
day 1t came, and sitting in my private
office two men popped down on me, and be-
fore l could make any outcry even get
out of my chair they had me covered with
their revolvers. My office force consisted
only of typewriter and stenographer, ard
he was out for an hour, so the thieves had
II all TO themselves. Indeed they had been
waiting for the chance. because my STEM
ographer took an hour off every day at the
same time. and they had evidently ac-
Quainted themselves with the fact In any
/ hn,,
and with the door locked and two guns
staring at me. l had little chance to do
otherwise than as l was hidden. / tried to
pariey. but they would not permit any
monkeyinS, so they informed me. neither
would they give ne nine'y days, as it was
a strictly cash transac ton, and I'd better
hurry. They ran through my desk and
safe and found no money, and at once de-
mandad check, putting the amount of
their own free will at S11, 1890. SO that
they would not overdraw my account nor
excite suspicion by making an amount in
round numbers. l had $4,000 or more to
my credit and told them SO, but they were
afraid l was putting up a job on them,
and said that they weren't hogs, and would
be satisfied with the amount they had Sc
lected L drew up the check and signed it
as they suggested, and then one of them
took 1t and said he would go to the bank
and see about it while the other would re-
main and see to me- 1 hadn't quite ex-
pected this. and didn't know what might
happen, but l braced myself and waited.
The man with the check locked 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 SEEM
ed to me like month, and when 1 heard
that Key rafting in the door 1 became SO
nervous I could hardly sit in my chair
When the door opened. however, 1 was easy
IN a minute, for instead of the thief were
Two bank deteo tlves. and before the gen
tleman waiting with me could offer an OBJ
lection they had him collared"
But how did they get on?' inquired the
reporter, whose wits were slightly dulled
by the novelty of his contents
Easy responded the millionaire sThe
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 watch and they had the fellow
at the window before he knew he was
even suspected. The rest of it was easy,
TOT my ONCE key with its number was in
ms pocket and they had had experience
enough to know what the layout was and
how to finish the game to VIM