Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-01-10
MisGellamenMs.
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Bank of Serepta had sent for me to come
to their room. | could think of only
three reasons for this unusual summons
i was to be discharged, or to have my
salary raised, or to have it cut down.
When | entered the room President
Packers and his colleagues scrutinized
me as If were promissory note with
only one indorser until began to feel
nervous enough to speculate whether |
mightn't have robbed the safe in ct of
temporary insanity. However, the Pres
ident soon put me at ease on this point
by throwing me into a state of great
uncertainty on another.
"Mr Saunders" began he with his
usual air of addressing mass meeting.
"Mr. Saunders, are you a person Of
prudence, .sagacity and good judg-
mentY
thought had decided these ques-
tons in the negative by accepting the
position held for the pay | received i,
but of course it wouldn't do to say so,
and l simply replied that | couldn't say.
"Or," continued tho President,
SHOULD the contingency arise, of ply
steal courage in danger 7"
| had played left half-back on light
football team against bad tempered,
heavy eleven who could not score |;
nevertheless again answered that [
couldn't say.
These noncommittal replies seemed
satisfactory, and now saw that the
object of this catechism was not to find
out if possessed the good qualities
mentioned, but to inform me indirectly
that should stand in need of them
whether possessed them or not.
President Packers went on to tell me
what was wanted. The bank had to
transmit ten thousand dollars to Shovel
Brothers, contractors employed upon a
new railroad in the northern part of the
State, that the firm might pay its labor
ers The region was desolate, and the
express company refused to make de-
livery beyond its nearest postoffice, many
miles distant. Consequently it would
be as we'll to send the amount all the
way by special messenger.
was to be that messenger-andt to
60 alone, for no unemployed men of the
necessary trustworthiness could be found
to make up guard. The Boston bank
ers, Reichsmarks, Guilders & Co we're
to send like amount in few days,
but probably by another route, so that
| should not be able to take advantage
of the protection their agent would un-
doubtedly have.
instantly accepted the commission,
moved by desire for change from the
monotonous routine Of the bank, by q
certain spice of adventure about the ex.
petition, and above all by the manifest
resolve of the directors to send me any
way.
"Tll start tomorrow morning"
Very good, Mr.. Saunders" return
cd the President. Your zeal is mos
gratifying. have only to suggest you
making any changes in your dress ant
appearance that will permit those whom
you meet from supposing you to b.
provided with any considerable sum o
money"
Next morning | was off on an early
train. The Presidents closing hint
had needed, and flattered myself thai
no one could ever imagine me banl
clerk, or clerk in any other reputable
business.
| wore a remarkable ancient suit o.
clothes, hat that would inspire dis
trust in the most guileless heart, boot
which needed backing, linen which
needed whitening--the effect of tn
whole perfected by two days beard
| carried a hollow hested valise
which appeared to have seen so man,
of its worst days that it might have re
NAMED unstolen if dropped in the mid
die Of the most poverty stricken stree
in Christendom. This receptacle
treated with the disrcspect of ma
who, knowing its padding and preten
tions, despises it for containing nothing
but paper wads and paper collars. Ye
in that forlorn valise. under deceptiv
stratum Of toilet things lay the scale
packages Of currency amounting to te
thousand dollars.
The train was through one, aud
met not single acquaintance. So
feared no embarrassing recognitiobs, an
found myself taken for just what wi
II IL,