The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1901-04-13

TumOr through the crowd. The heavy
doors opened and a boy came out. He
was but a young clerk, and could have
known but little Of the affairs Of The
bank. lie said nothing as he pushed
his way through the mass Of despond-
ent humanity. The failure Of the
bank meant loss of employment 70
him, and the gloom on his face was
transferred to every other face IN all
the great struggling crowd.
They say it's a bad 'un," said one
man to a little woman beside him.
Don't suppose we will ever 1T any
thing"
''Ob, John!" sighed the woman.
The rumoF that It was a lad failure
few with lightning rapidit.y throug gh
the crowd. Men cursed and women
cried, and then another man came
from out the great doors. Though
the crowd through which he pushed
his way knew him rot, he was a 81 ate
official. He had no interest in he
failure Of the bank save an official one;
lac would lose nothing by the clos. ng
of its doors, and he could well afford
the smile upon his face, q smile tnat
brought momentary comfort to ma ay
sad hearts.
lie said not a word as he pushed mis-
way through the crowd, but from mis-
path there sped the rumor that rhe
failure was not . bad one, that the 0rn-
barrassment would probably be Int
temporary, that depOsitors worId
probably receive dollar for dollar.
Such was the effect of a smile that as
not meant to cheer.
But the failure was bad o.e.
Banker Noyes was ruined man. Ev, ~
dollar that he had in the world wouId
not be sufficient to give to his deposit
Ors 2j cents on the dollar of their
deposits, and he knew it.
In the announcement Of the failure
in the late afternoon papers was the
statement that the bankrupt banl ar
would say nothing for publication.
There was not an afternoon paper in
the city that contained a line from
him.
The morning dailies, attempting TO
profit by the failure of their afternoon
contemporaries, were making every
possible effort to secure the desired in
terview. Three of the best men ON
the staH of the morning Times had
tried and failed. The banker had de-
MED every newspaper man an inter
view. He had nothing TO say 70 the
press.
We've got to get that interview
with Noyes," said the city editor of
the Times when the last of the three
men to whom he had given the as
signment reported failure. "Is there
anyone on the stan who knows b IN
personality"
81 do" said Chalmers. 81 live in the
same suburb with him, have been in
his home hundreds Of times. and in
terviewed him on an important pr
sonal subject about one month age
"Can you see him." asked the C "
editor.
Il can try" replied Chalmers.
"Can you get him to talk if you see
him"
Il think can"
1T is lO:3O now. II will take an
hour for you 10 get to his house, for he
is at home. If you can get anything.
put it on the wire Don't try to get
back with it il the telegraph office Is
open"
Chalmers jumped for his coat add
hat. and made for the door.
"I'Il put you on a salary il you 81. c-
coed" shouted the city editor after
him, as he rushed out of the door ~
the city room"
To Chalmers that promise was suHi-
cientinducement. he would have ma lie
Banker Noyes talk il he had
had to do so at the point Of a rev.I- I
yer. He knew the house of the banl .r
as we'll as he knew his own. He Iln.w
Just where the bankrupt man slept: he
knew the manner in which the double
entrance doors in the front Of the
house opened.
Durfng the ri5a NJ an hour to she
suburb in which the banker Iiv.d
Chalmers did sone ropid tbiplzinr.a,d
bv the time he reacbe5 the bonse he
was prrpared for Ms campaigp. lie
was su,,II man and he Intended r. 4
iDg sdvantoge Of his sizs and the dark-
ness Of the Bipht.
ArriviDo n, ~. b,rs. b. r.,e, ,b.