The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-06
HOW 1sE SAVED HIMSELF.
Check Drawn by n millionaire which
Was not iIonored.
(Chieago Record.)

Chicago Record.)
1t isn't often that n reporter is OH
chunlmy terms with q real live Million
aire, but there are times when even tina
sort of luck happens, and on the occa-
sion referred to this Washington re-
porter was not only chummmy with the
millionaire but he was drinking cham
paigne with him.
1t wss. indeed, an suspicious mo-
ment
Need it be mentioned who was paying
for the same?
AS the conservation ran smoothly
along, the reporter asked the million
aire if he had ever been held UP or
otherwise despoilcd of his hard-earned
savings.
do you know" said the rich man,
seriously, that there Is q good deal OF
discomfort on that scope in the posses
sion of great wealth? l presume I am
worth q couple Of millions. which, Of
course, in a general way. is supposed o
be twenty or more, and 1t is at hat
fgur that ! pose In the minds OF those
cranks who make men sign big checks
at pistol points, OF make them whack
up the cash on pain OF dynaniting.
Five years ago, when / made u million
on u lucky rise. 1t occurred to me that 1
might be made a 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 ~. L ulu Wy business Ill ttrec
banks and carried blank checks on them
all. Well, one day 1t came, and sitting
In my private office two men popped
down on INC, and before l could make
any cutlery or even get out OF my chair
they had me corerd with their revolt
vcrs. My office force consisted only of
Il typewriter n stenographer, and he
was out for IN hour. so the thieves had
1t all to themselves. Indeed, they had
been waiting for the chance, because
my Stenographer took an hour off every
day at the same time, and they had
the fact. In n event, there ! was. nc
there they were, and with the door lock-
ed and with two guns staring at me, /
had little chance to do otherwise than
as l was hidden. I tried to parley, but
they would not permit my monkeying
n so they informed me-, neither would
they give me ninety days, as 1t was IL
strictly cash transaction, and I'd better
hurry. They ran through my desk II
safe and foundn no money, and at once
n check, putting the amount
of their own free Will at s11, 432. 55. so
that they would not overdraw my ac-
nor excite suspicion by making an
amount in round mber ! had 500, 900
or more 10 my crdit. and told them so,
but they were afraid ! was putting up n
job on them, and said that they weren't
hogs. and would be satisfied with the
amount they a selected. I drew up
the check n signed 1t as they uggest
ed. and then one of them took il and
said he would go to the bank and see
about 1t, while the other would remain
and see TO me. j hadn't quite expected
this. and didn't know what might han
pen, but | braced myself and waited.
The mar with the check locked the door
and as the bank was only half a block
away he said he would be back in ten
minutes. 1t wasn't that long, but II
seemed to me like n month. and when
heard the key rafting in the door I
became so nervous / could hardly sit in
my chair. When the door opened. how
ever. l was easy in n minute. for In
stead Of the thief were two bank detec-
tives, II before the gentleman waiting
with me could offer an objection 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.
The bank clerk knew something was
crooked when he saw tina big check,
and without any disturbance at all he
gave the tip to the men to watch. and
they had the fellow at the window before
he knew he was even suspected. The
rest of it was easy, for my office KEY.
with its number, was IN his pocket. and
they had had experience enough to know
wha the layout was and how to finish
the game to win"
I.-