Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-10-27
HOW HE SAVED HIMSELF,
WHY A MILLIoNAIRE's CHECK WAS NOT
HoN0RED.

It isn't often that reporter Is on
chummy terms with real live million
aire, 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 champagne with him.
It was, indeed, an auspicious moment.
Need II be mentioned who was paying
for the same?
As the conversation ran smoothly
along, the reporter asked the millionaire
II he had ever been held up or otherwise
despoied of his hsrd-earned savings.
ADO YOU know" said the rich man Sc
riously, "that there Is a good deal OF
discomfort on that score In the posses
sion OF great wealth. | presume | am
worth a couple OF millions, which, OF
course, In general way Is supposed t.
| be twenty or more, and IL Is at that
figure that pose in the minds OF those
cranks who make men sign big checks al
pistol points, or make them whack NJ
the cash on pain Of dynamiting.
Five wears ago, when made mil
| lion on lucky rise, IL occurred TO me
that might be made victim, and as
one precautiou | instructed my bankers
TO pay no check of mine that called for
more than 500, and to arrest the party
presenting 1t. did my business in three
banks and carried blank checks on them
all. Well, one day IL came, and sitting
In my private office two men popped
down on me, and before | could make
anv outcry or even get out Of my chair
they had me covered with their re-
vOlvcrs.
"My Office force consisted only OF =
typewriter and stenographer, and he was
out for a hour, so the thieves had 1t 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.
''ln any event there | was and there
they were and with the door locked and
two guns staring me at me, | had little
chance 10 do otherwise than | was bid
den. tried 10 parley, but they would
not permit any monkeying, so they in
formed me, neither would they give me
| 30 DAYS, as il was strictly cash trans
action, and I'd better 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 sll, 1872 80, 30 that they would
not overdraw my account, nor excite
suspicion by making an amount In round
numbers.
II had $40. 900 or more TO my credit,
and told them so, but they were afraid !
was putting up job on them, and said
they weren't hogs, and would be satisfied
with the amount SELECTED. | drew up
the check and signed it as they suggest
ed. and then one OF them took IL and said
ne would go TO the bank and see about IL
while the other would remain and see TO
me.
II hadn't quite expected this, and
didn't know what might happen, but |
braced myself and waited. The man
with the check locked the door, and az
the bank was only half block away
he said he would be back in ten minutes.
| II wasn't that long, but II seemed TO me
! like month, and when ! heard the key
rattling in the door became so nervous
could hardly sit in my chair.
when the door opened, however, |
WAS easy III miuulc' loI lustoau VI t''
thief were two bank detectives, and be
fore the gentleman waiting with me
could offer an objection they had him
collared.n
"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 before he
knew he was even suspected. The rest
OF il was easy, for my Office key with It,
number was in his pocket, and they had
had experience enough to know what
the layout was and how to finish the
game 10 win. Washington Star.