Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-27

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He named a man, but told him that
l would make my own arrangements.
When the watchman had departed
I notified the day porter that he might
leave at o'clock, as / had work which
would detain me till about 8. Five
minutes after l was alone in the bank
and its funds were under my thumb.
The train by which I should leave
town was not due until 1880, and /
was therefore in no hurry. locked
up and went to my boarding house to
supper. At o'clock 1 returned to the
bank, pulled down the shades, lighted
the gas, and in the course of twenty
minutes had packed every dollar in
the vaults into satchel provided for
the purpose. This satchel I placed on
chair outside the railing, and had
sat down for smoke when there was
a rap at the door. I knew it was one
of our force, but hardly expected to see
the president himself
II expected it was you," he said as
he entered; "always the last to go.
You are working too hard and must
take rest. At meeting of the board
today it was decided to give you a
months leave and gift of $500 in
cash. You have been faithful and
efficient, and we wish you to know
how thoroughly you are appreciated" !"
don't remember what said in re-
ply, but do remember that something
like honor seized upon me at the idea
of my own baseness. Right there
within reach of his hand was the
money I intended to fly with, and yet
he was lavish in his praises of my in
tegrity. He remained only brief
time, and soon after bis departure l
went outside to walk about and plan q
little. I hadn't given up the idea of
robbery and flight, but still, small
voice was whispering to me. On the
first street corner I encountered q
tramp. I was very much perturbed,
but still I shall always remember what
he said. When he asked for aims l
suppose I stared at him for he added !:
ayes, I'm ashamed of myself. It's
my own fault that I'm down here. 1
let temptation get the better of me-"
That was another prick of con-
science, but he actually hurt me when
he said:
"Thanky, old man. May you never
know what it is to lose the respect of
the world"
Within twelve hours it would be
known that I was an embezzIer and On
absconder Not only that, but | was
robbing widows and orphans and help
less old men! 1t seemed to me that /
could already hear the newsboys cry
ing out the headlines of the article
telling Of my shame and dishonor. /
stood looking after the tramp as he
walked away, when a hand was laid
on my arm and turned to confront
the leading merchant of the town. l
knew him we'll and favorably, although
he had never been a patron of our in
stitution.
"Look here" he said as we walked
along arm in arm, give always done
business with Gleason because 1 found
everything all right, but I'm going TO
begin with you tomorrow. Gleason is
as good as gold himself, but l don't
fancy his new cashier. He's high
roller, l hear, and some day he may
turn up missing with all the doodle he
can carry. No fear of that in your
case"
And 1 had 100000 all packed up
and was only waiting for train time to
become the meanest and most con-
temptible robber ever heard of in the
State!
Everybody is speaking in your
praise" he continued, land you de-
serve all that is said. Just keep level
head and you'll find the road to honor
and wealth.
When he left me I had to lean
against dead wall for support. The
sound of his footsteps was still in my
ears when 1 suddenly felt that I was
saved. There had been a terrible
struggle of conscience, but right had
triumphed at last. was pulling my
self together to return to the bank
when a woman accosted me by name
and said:
"How lucky I happened to see you
I was on my way down to Blacks to
see if he wouldn't take charge of this
package till tomorrow. It's money l
got only two hours ago-$2,000."
"Come in hepe and I'll give you
receipt"
"Never mind that. We all know
and trust you"
Her parting words gave me shiver.
How little they knew me A hundred
rods away was evidence to make me
an object of contempt in the eyes of
every man, woman and child in the
community! Almost at the door of
the bank I met two business men of
high standing who were holding an
animated conversation.
"Heard the news ?" queried one as l
came up.
"What is it?"
"You remember the clerk in my
brothers Office in Philadelphia who
skipped out two years ago with $780,
600? Well, he's been overhauled.
He went to Peru, no doubt expecting
to have grand times. 1t seems that
everybody soon knew he was thief,
and he was an object of general con.
tempt. He wandered about, always
marked man, and at last was so over
come with shame and degradation
that he asked to he arrested and sent
back. He was despised, insulted and
.,lr N Il arnd and did nnt hnra ano