The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-12-18

up on a forged check or some other
act of carelessness. He went his way
without fighting back. If he lost his
place, it meant poverty to himself and
wife in their old age. He was prompt,
careful and systematic, and the plans
of his enemies were defeated.
The seventh year was drawing to
close when old John was caught up.
A stranger presented a check which
he hesitated to pay and about which
he consulted the cashier. Later on the
cashier stated that he had ordered it
to be held pending examination. Old
John said that he had been ordered to
pay it at once. The check was paid,
and, being spurious, the bank was $500
out of pocket. 1t was a question of
veracity between cashier and teller,
and it was decided within the bank
that the cashier had the better of it.
Just then, too, old Fosdick slipped in a
wrong figure in making up his days
account, and, though it made only q
difference of cents in the total, it
seemed to prove that old age and care
lessness had untitled him for his posi-
ton. The president being in Europe,
the board took the case under advise
ment, and "by ORDER the old man was
fired out into the world to begin life
anew. There were resolutions, of
course and one of them was to the
effect that the bank presented him
with the sum of $100 for long and
faithful services. He put on his hat
without protest, and he left the bank
without taking the money. At his
humble home an old and anxious wife
met him and, wifelike, gave him sym
pathy and encouragement first of all.
"Never mind, John; never mind" she
kept saying. 1--WE have a few dollars
ahead, and you are only % years old,
and something good is sure to turn up.
You have fought too long to give up
now"
But the weeks went by, and nothing
turned up The business world has
very little use for an old man who has
no capital. John Fosdick's savings
were gradually used up, the generosity
of his few friends exhausted, and there
came a day when the question of food
and fuel became a serious one. He
was not one to sponge or turn beggar.
If the world would not let him earn
his food, at least he would go out of it
and hope that his going would open
the hearts of men toward his widow.
After bordering for. an hour he started
out with the firm intention of drown
ing himself in the river. 1t was blus-
tering November day, and as he passed
the bank with bowed head, bent Shout
ders and well worn garments even
those who had deprived him of his
place felt a touch of sympathy. He
was making for the suburbs and a
highway bridge and wondering how
long it would take to drown and what
men would say of him when dead when
he caught sight of men and horses
skulking behind an abandoned factory.
1t was singular, bound on such mis-
sion as he was, that he should have
seen or wondered and specialized on
why those men and horses were there,
but he had scarcely passed the old fac
tory when he suddenly turned about
and ran for the business part of the
town with speed that astonished him
self.
In the vaults of the First National
bank was sum close upon 100000,
deposited there temporarily by rail-
road company. Outside the vault was
big safe containing $4,000 more. 1t
was a quiet afternoon, with few people
moving about. Over 100 of the men
living in town had gone over to the
new town Of Prairie Flower at an auc-
ton of real estate. There hadn't been
a better opportunity for years to make
a dash at the bank. 1t was civilized
young city, but within striking dis.
lance of No Mans Land and a hun
dred desperate outlaws. OF sudden
old John Fosdick, bareheaded and his
gray hair flying, burst into the bank.
He was speechless with his running,
but he did not try to use his voice. He
dashed open the gate and seized the
heavy doors of the safe and closed
them with a bang. Several employees
tried to seize him, thinking he had
gone crazy, but he shook them OF,
and just as firing and yelling were
heard on the street he slammed the
doors of the vault He had only turn
ed from it when four border ruftians
dashed into the bank, each with PTS
toll in hand, while three others re-
NAMED outside and fired at every Pc
destrian in sight.
"Hands up and money out! shouted
one of the three who entered the bank,
and in an instant every official and
employee was covered.
The cashier wilted, and the others
followed suit, but old John Fosdick
stood up gamely under the deadly re-
yolvers and quietly said:
Gentlemen, this bank is closed FOR
the day"
"Open the safe and vaults or I'll
blow your brains out!'
81 have key to neither.
"You liarl Take thati''
The old man sank with bullet IN
his brain, and the white faced cashier
would have opened safe and vault
with his own hands but for the arrival
of assistance. A few citizens had gath
cred and killed one of the watchers