The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-13

There was no further trouble, and the
Grants dismissed the subject from their
minds. Once, late in the afternoon, as
ward passed through the room, Ulysses
Grant, Jr., asked. Everything all
right" and Ward replied cheer
lily: "All right now. but that night
after dinner, messenger came to
young Grant from Ward, saying that
Tappan had drawn again, and that it
would be necessary to borrow $500, 600.
III try for $250,000 and you do the
same"
Mr.. Grant was a little irritated at the
demand, and for moment thought of
making no further attempt to held the
Marine Bank out of it's distress, How
ever, after thought, he concluded 10
make the attempt, and taking a; list
of negotiable securities (which Ward
had sent by the messenger, he went to
Jay Gould, and presented the matter
Mr.. Gould CURLY replied: Y don tlike
lending on those securities" ard young
Grant concluded to do no more horrow-
ing for the Marine Bank. He went to
). b. Elkins, however, and explained
the situation. Mr. Elkins who ewas
senator Chaffee's attorney seemed
ntue bit puzzled over the case. Il don't
understand this. Suppose we go over
to Brooklyn and see ward"
ward was out, but they decided 10
wait for him, although it was nearly
nnldnlght. The servants were directed
by Mrs. Ward to set out some cake and
Wine, and the two men remained seat
ed IN the dining room till after mid
night, waiting with growing anxiety for
ward. 1t was well toward L in I the
morning When Ward suddenly and
noiselessly entered by a side door. He
was calm and self-sustained. He ex-
plained his absence by SAYING he had
peen to see some capitalists. Ee said
ne had not been able to raise any mon
ey, but did not seem specially Clisap-
pointed at his own partners failure to
borrow the sums needed All agreed
That the Marine Bank must needs take
care of itself. Mr.. Elkins, however. as
attorney for Senator Chaffee, who was
one of the largest investors ii in the
Grant * Ward business, demanded. on
his clients behalf, to be secured. Ward
said, Very we'll" but added, Il don't
see the need, when Senator Chaffee can
nave his money any time on demand"
Mr.. Elkins insisted and Ward prom
ised to be at the Office early the next
morning to turn over sufficient securi-
ties to cover the whole amount of the
senator's investment. Early the next
morning Mr.. Elkins and young Ulysses
fastened to the office. Ward was not
there
Where is Ward?" asked Grant Of
Spencer, the cashier
II don't know" replied Spencer, IT
came by the house this morning, and
when | rang the bell, Mrs. Ward came
down, much excited, and said Ferdi-
nand had gone out early, leaving a note
to the effect that the bank would fail
that day, and that he would not be
home. She seemed afraid that he was
about to commit suiside, and wanted
me to go and look for him." 1aq
Colonel Fred Grant came out of an
inner office at this moment, and said
that Mr.. Fish had been IN, much ex
cited, to say that the Grant & Ward
accounts were all overdraWn. and that
he would not certify or pay any more
of the firms checks. .,
Young Ulysses was amazed THAT
can't be-" he said. We have over $780,,
900 on deposit here. Is not that the
sum, Mr.. SDeneer?' sa aar 90
The cashier brought the book; $500 900
was the exact amount
Young Grant went on; 1T is impos-
sible that our account is overdfawn.
Wards account may be, but the firms
cash is, according to Spencer's books,
Make test of it, said MI. EiIxins.
Draw a check for cash, and send one
of your people over TO the bank Let
him find out the balance of Grant e.
Wards account and also Wards per-
sonal account 20
This was done, and in a. short time
the messenger returned to say that tho
ofiicers Of the bank, by order Of Mr..
Fish, refused to pay the check, and
stated that they could not honor any
more Grant q Ward checks
This was startling news, but even
then young Grant did not realize his,fulI
import. He knew of but. one interest
that was suffering at this time-that OF
Mr.. Chaffee; and when Mr. Klkins in
sisted on being secured, there was but
one thing to do to carry out Wards
promise of the night before, and open
the strong box in which millions OF Sc
eurltles had been deposited. Ward held
the key of this box, but the moment
demanded heroic measures. The box
was forced open and found to. contain
only papers of doubtful value amount
ing on their face to less than 100000
While the others still stood aghast
at this discovery, Spencer, who had
been listening at a ticker. announced
its fateful Voice 1.-THE Marine, Bank
has closed its doors With profound
conviction in his face, he turned to
young Grant, This carries Grant &
Ward down also. aaHtR'
Il don't see that replied Grant.
The loss of 100000 will cramp us but
it won't break u.s.
He was soon undeceived Instead of
being worth $4,000, COO with an, enor-
nous bank account, he and his friends
found themselves without a dollar and
with a flood of demands pouring in
upon them. Not merely this. but ex-
cited investors clamored to be, secured.
They claimed that they had gone into
the speculation because Of Gen? Grants
influence in getting government con-
tracts.
Just when meters We're at the worst.
Gen. Grant hobbled slowly into the
room. He was still disabled from a
fall on the ice some months preceding.
and used his crutches We'll Buck
how is it2'' he cheerfully asked s9.F
the son, his head still ringing with
the blow which had fallen upon him.
replied harshly, and without any soft
enug words: Grant & Ward have
falied' and Ward has fed. 'e eyEs
For 2 few seconds the old Warrior
raced the people of the office, ffs keen
eyes piercing to the bottom of his. sons
anger and despair. Then he turned
slowly and without a CULVER OF. a mus
cle' and without a single word LEFT tha
room and assembled slowly to his own
once, TO be seen no more in the office
Of Grant & Ward.