Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-04-26

E@S Some years ago
me and the gen.
tleman who was at that time connected
with me in business-he's met with re-
verses since and at present isn't able to
go out-was looking around for a job,
being at the time rather hard up, as
you might say. We struck a small
country town. amt going to give it
away by telling where it was or what
the name of it was. There was one
bank there. The president was a rich
old duffer; owned the mills, owned the
bank, owned most of the town. There
wasn't no other officer but the cashier,
and they had boy who used to sweep
ont and run errands.
The door was chilled iron, about the
neatest stuff 1 ever worked on. went
on steady enough; only stopped when
Jim which, as l said, wasn't his real
name-whistled outside, the watchman
toddled by. By and by, when I'd got
pretty near enough, | heard Jim-so to
speak-whistle again. l stopped, and
and I'm blowed if they didn't come
right up the bank steps, and heard
key in the lock- l was so dumbfound-
ed when heard that that you could
have slipped the bracelets right on me.
| picked up my lantern, and I'll be
hanged if didn't let the slide slip down
and throw the light right on to the
door, and there was the president. In
stead of calling for help, as l supposed
lie would, he took a step inside the door
and shaded his eyes with his hand and
looked at me. l knowed l ought to
knock him down and cut out, but I'm
blest If l could, 1 was that surprised.
Who are your says he.
who are you?" says 1, thinking that
was an innocent remark as he COM
menced it and a-trying all the time to
collect myself.
I'm the president of the bank" says
he. kinder short; something the mat
ter with the lock?"
By George, the idea came to me then.
Yes, sir" says L, touching my cap.
Mr.. Jennings, he telegraphed this
morning as the lock was out of order
and he couldn't get in, and I'm come
on to open it for him."
Il told Jennings a week ago." saws
he, "that he ought to get the lock fixed.
Where is hep
Hes been a-writing letters, and he's
gone up to his house to get another
letter he wanted for to answer
We'll. why don't you go right onY'
says he.
I've got almost through" says |,
land | didn't want to finish up and
open the vault till there was somebody
here"
THAT'S very creditable to you," says
he. "a very proper sentiment, my man.
You can't" he goes on, coming round
by the door, ''be too particular about
avoiding the very suspicion of evil"
No. SIR" says l, kinder modest like.
What do you suppose is the matter
with the lockY' says he.
Il don't rightly know yet" says 1,
but l rather think it's little on ac-
count of not being oiled enough. These
ere locks ought to be oiled about once
a year."
WELL" says he, you might as well
go right on, now am here. will stay
till Jennings comes. Can't 1 help you
hold your lantern, or something of
that sortY'
The thought came to me like flash,
and turned around and says:
How do l know you're the presi
dent? 1 amt ever seen you afore, and
you may be a-trying to crack this bank
for all know"
That's a very proper inquiry, my
man." says he, "and shows a most re-
markable degree of discretion. 1 con-
fess that 1 should not have thought of
the position in which was placing you.
However, / can easily convince you
that it's all right Do you know what !
the presidents name is?'
mo, L don't" says l, sorter surly.
"Well, you'll find it on that BILL" said
be, taking bill out of his pocket. "And
you see the same name on these LET.
ters," and he took some letters from
his coat.
/ suppose ought have gone right on
then, but was beginning to feel inter-
ested in making him prove who he
was, so l says:
''You might have got them letters to
put up job on me-"
You're very honest man." says he,
'one among thousand Don't think
I'm at all offended at your persistence.
10. my good fellow. like it, like it,"
Ind he laid his hand on my shoulder.
Now. here" says he. taking bundle
If his pocket, lis a package of $4,000
n bonds. A burglar wouldn't be apt to
AIRY these around with him. would
le? | bought them in the city yester-
lay. and stopped here tonight ON
ny way home to place them in the
Tault. and may add that your simple
ind manly honesty has so touched me
hat would willingly leave them in
rour hands for safe keeping. You
leedn't blush at my praise"