The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-27
VICTIM TO CALAMITY.
How Politeness Cost a Detroit Man
S2,4Oo.
Detroit News

2AEsLFA ~A4tGt HdliriAtS UA tue par
of Charles w. Fox Of 415 West bOule-
featuring firm Of Fox Brothers & Co.,
cost him mis- chance Of drawing $500
out Of the City Savings bank, just be-
fore it closed its doors Monday morn
Ing.
Rumor having reached him that the
band had betrayed signs of being
weak in the legs. Mr.. Fox. with sa-
gacity characteristic Of the name,
came down town early Monday morn
ing. intent upon withdrawing a $1,500
account Of his own and N Of $500 de-
posted in the name Of mis- 12-year-Old
daughter. COnstantia.
With the hour Of opening Mr.. Fox
was at the bank, but found a few
others ahead Of him, and was obliged
to take his place in line.
Scarcely had he done so than an old
lady, a thin black shawl drawn about
her shTunken figure, came feebly up
the steps into the bank.
She was trembling. whether from
anxiety or cold Mr.. Fox did not know,
and as she stood there with half help
less indecisiOn, she appealed To his
sympathies. Other people were COM
ing now. rudely indifferent to the old
lady and threatening 70 usurp her
place. Mr.. Fox looked at the buffeted
old lady, then at the window where
the teller was paying out money
There was nO'sign on the teller's face
that the bank was in imminent dan
ger Of failure. IT would evidently last
for an hour at least. Telling himself
this he turned to the old lady. trying
TO keep her place behind him, and
raising his hat, said:
Take nv place. madam"
And while she murmured her trem-
bling thanks. Mr.. Fox helped her with
q strong arm to change places with
him.
There were only two or three ahead
Of them. and these we're speedily being
disposed Of by the teller.
Presently it was the old Iady's turn.
With mingled trepidatiOn and relief
she pressed TO the window and laying
her bank book on the ledge told the
teller she wanted 10 draw what she
had on deposit. 1t was a small ac-
count. $35. but it vas ali the money she
had in the world, and she elutched it
gratefully when the teller counted it
out TO her.
Gently helping her to one side, Mr..
Fox, crowded from the rear by other
eager ones. moved up to the window TO
take out his savings and those of his
child. The words he started to speak
were stopped at his lips by a sudden
action Of the teller.
The hank is closed, the teller an
nounced, as with a quick movement
he shut the window in Mr. Fox's face.
For a second Mr.. Fox stared at the
~inscrutable window. while those behind
him stood in stony silence.
The old lady for whom Mr.. Fox had
sacrificed the chance Of saving his
money. stood a little at one side, tuck
ing away in a worn, black purse, that
which she had so nearly lost.
Pm 50 sorry sir" said she, touch
ing him on the arm. 1T wasn't right
Of me to take your place"
Never mind" he answered. Don't
distress yourself. 1 should feel much
worse had I not given YOU my place. ="
When Mr.. Fox went home and told
what had happened, little Constantia
was quite overwhelmed. She be-
lieved that ruin, utter and absolute.
had come to them.
VIII we have TO sell the furniture
aud everything else, and viii I have
to 60 TO work? she asked.
NO. dear" replied her father, pick
ing her up and kissing her.
When the window Of the bank
bAUoEu Gu NHAA lhtf ~ aifs EVA ; race
his surprise was NOT greater than that
OF most of the employees Of the bank,
it is said.
It is related by one of them that
though they had heard disquieting
rumOrs for some time that Vice
President Andrews was walking close
TO a financial precipice. they felt con-
fdent he could keep himself from
falling over.
Why" said one of them. the boys
in the bank placed such reliance in An
dreWs and in what he did and said.
that if he had told them the ceiling
was studded with diamonds they would
have looked Up expecting to see them
sparkling there. Cashier Andrews was
the only one Of US who did not appear
to feel that way For three months we
had noticed that something seemed 10
be worrying him. he was frightfuiIy
nervous. n was continually smoking
cigars as though to quiet himself"