The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-08-14
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Two days after the Adelantado
cleared for the banana coast: or, to be
more accurate, in the forenoon of
the second day, the unimpetuous rou-
tine of the business quarter of New Or
leans was rudely disturbed by the
shock of genuine sensation.
At ten o'clock, Mr.. Galbraith, presi-
dent of the Bayou state bank, entered
his private office in the rear of the
main banking apartment, opened his
desk, and addressed himself to the
business of the day. Principally at ten
five the stenographer, whose desk was
in the anteroom, brought in the mail;
five minutes later the cashier entered
for his morning conference with his
superior; and at half-past the hour
the president was left alone to read his
correspondence.
Mr.. Galbraith was serious minded
man whose hobby was method; and it
was his custom to give himself quiet
half-hour of inviolable seclusion each
morning in which to read and consider
his letters. During this interval the
stenographer, acting as usher, was in
structed to deny his chief to callers of
whatsoever degree. Wherefore, when
the door of the private office opened
at twenty minutes of eleven to admit
a stranger, the president was Justly
annoyed.
"Well, sir?" he said, with an accent
irritant, taking the intruder's meas
ure in swift glance shot beneath his
bushy white eyebrows.
The visitor was young man not
over thirty, of prepossessing appear
ance, with figure rather slight for
his stature; fair, with blue eyes, and
a curling brown beard and mustache,
the former trimmed to point. So
much the president was able to remark
at a glance, and to remember after
wards.
"Well sir!" he repeated, when the
stranger stopped to carefully close
the door, IF you have business with
me, shall have to ask you to excuse me
for few minutes. Be good enough to
take a seat in the ante-room till l ring.
Mcfarland should have told YOU"
The young man drew up chair and
sat down, ignoring the request as if he
had not heard it. Now Mr.. Andrew
Galbraith's temper was ordinarily the
temper of an elderly gentleman with
long upper lip, worn clean shaver,
but such deliberate infraction of his
rules was not to be borne patiently,
and he got up to ring for the janitor.
| !, lo1I
push, he found himself looking into
the muzzle of revolver in the hands
of the intruder, and so was fain to fall
back into his chair, gasping:
"Wha-what do you mean, sir! Who
are you and what do you want?" he
stammered.
The reply was most succinct and to
the point.
II am poor man, and want money.
If you call for help, shall shoot you"
"You would murder me?" The pres
ident's hands were clutching the arms
of the chair, and he was fighting des-
perately for courage and presence of
mind in his extremity.
Not willingly, assure you; but
most certainly, if you attempt to give
the alarm. But there is no occasion for
needless anxiety. It is merely ques-
ton of money, and if you are amenable
to reason your life is not in danger"
IF Im-but I'm not amenable to
your reasons, sir!" exclaimed the pres
ident, recovering somewhat from the
first shock of terrified bewilderment.
II refuse to listen to them. I'll not
have anything to do with you. Go
away"
The young man smiled in a way to
show his teeth.
keep your temper, Mr.. Galbraith,"
he said, coolly. II say you shall listen
first and obey afterward. Otherwise
you die. Which is it to be? Choose
quickly-time is precious"
The president yielded the first point,
but ungraciously, as one under strict
compulsion.
well, we'll, then; out with it. What
have you to say for yourself?''
This. You are rich; you represent
the existing order of things. I am
poor, and I stand for my necessity,
which is above any man-made law or
custom. You have more money than
you know what to do with; have not
enough to buy the next meal, which is
already twenty-four hours overdue. I
came here this morning with my life
in my hand to invite you to share with
me a portion of that which is yours
only by the right of possession. If you
do it, we'll and good; if not, you die. Do
I make myself sufficiently clear?'' i,
! The president glanced furtively at
j the clock It was nearly eleven, and
M'Farland would surely come in on the