Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-19
HOW HE SAVED HIMSELF
A Check on a Bank Drawn by Mil
llonaire Which Was Not Honored.

|
lionaire Which Was Not Honored.
1t isn't often that a reporter is ON
chummy terms with a real live mil
l1onaire, but there are times when
even that sort of luck happens. and ON
the occasion referred to this Washing
to reporter was not only chummy with
the millionaire but he was drinking
champagne with him.
1t was, indeed, an suspicious mo-
ment
Need it be mentioned who was pay
ing for the same?
AS the conversation ran smoothly
along, the reporter asked the million
aire if he had ever been held up or
otherwise despOiled of his hard-earned
savings.
DO you know" said the rich man,
seriously, that there is a good deal
of discomfort on that score in the DOS
session of great wealth? I presume |
am worth couple Of millions, which,
OF course, in a general way is supposed
to be twenty or more, and it is at that
figure that | pose in the minds Of those
crankS who make men sign big checks
at pistol points, or make them Whack
up the cash en- pain of dynamiting.
Five years ago, when | maue a million
on a lucky rise, it occurred to me that
| might be made victim, and as one
precaution | instructed my bankers to
pay no check of mine that called for
more than 500, and to arrest the party
presenting it. I 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
men popped down on me, and before
| could make any Outcry or even get
out of my chair they had me covered
with their revolvers. My Office force
consisted only of typewriter and
stenographer, and he was out for an
hour, so the thieves had it all to them
selves. Indeed, they had been waiting
for the chance, because my steno-
grapher 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 any monkeying, so
they informed me, neither would they
give me ninety days, as it was strict
ly cash transaction, and I'd letter
hurry. They ran through my desk and
safe and found no money, and at once
demanded check, putting the amount
of their own free will at 81 ,432.55. SO
that they would not overdraw my ac-
count nor excite suspicion by making
an amount in round numbers, | had
10000 or more to my credit, and told
them so, but they were afraid | was
fed with the amount they had selected,
NUtting up job on them, and said tina
they weren't hogs, and would be sails
I 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 to see about it, while the other
would remain and see to me. ] hadn't
quite expected this, and didn't know
what might happen, but I braced my
self and waited. The man with the
check locked the door, ard as the bank
was only half block away he said he
would be back in ten minutes,
It wasn't that long but it seemed to
me like a month, and when / heard the
key rafting in the door | became so
nervous | could hardly sit in my chair,
When the door opened, however, | was
easy in a minute, for instead of the
thief were two bank detectives, and be-
fore the gentleman waiting with me
could offer an objection they lad 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.
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 watch, and
they had the fellow at the window be-
fore he knew he was even suspected.
The rest Of = was easy, for my office
key with it's number was in his pocket,
and they mad had experience enough
to know what the layout was and how
to finish the game to win