St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-05-17

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was always a matter Of uncertainty
Doubtless a relic of some idler, wh'
had loved and ridden away. In som,
points he resembled mastiff, brin
died in color, with a head large il
proportion to his body, but in tn
black muzzle cut squarely off he ha,
decidedly the wicked look of bull
dog. Full Of kindness and an unmis
taxable appreciation of fun up to ,
certain point, still his calm dignit,
and active watchfulness BODIED ill t,
the evilly inclined. OF whatever
breed, or cross Of blood, he evidentl.
came of an iron race, and as a dos
was without a peer, for his tidelit.
and courage never wavered while
life abode with him.
When Robert assumed charge o.
the bank it was considered by the out
side worl Id to be perfectly safe, bur
he had inward misgivings as to the
previous management, knowing wei
the incompetcncy Of the cashier who
had welded its resources. The ignor
ant class of the miners had been very
slow in trusting their gold to Other
hands than their own, having great
er confidence in the conventional
stocking. But after Roberts arrival
he seeming to have gained the hearty
respect Of these people, they came
and laid their precious gold dust pom
rously on the counter in great con
fidence, gradually coming to look on
the pile of shining dollars behind the
glass bars as their very own, in
charge of some one whom they trust.
ed
The board of directors had great
confidence in this new man, whom
they had put in charge, and felt that
they were not only incompetent but
very pigmies to deal with the errors
which their negligence or misman-
agement had caused. and were per-
fectly willing to shield themselves be-
hind this man as their representative.
Not only had the bank been grossly
misrepresented, but before six
months had passed, Robert saw that
the affairs were hopelessly involved,
and inevitable ruin staring them in
the face. AS he discovered the alarm
ing and monstrous frauds, which had
been perpetrated from time to time,
his establishment changed to sicken-
ing dread.
By this time he had come to know
the excitable, suspicious medley of
humanity which made up the census
returns of this district, and shrank
from the bare thought of what their
frenzy and acts of violence might be
when the true state of affairs was
made known to them, holding him, as
he knew, individually, in their trust
ing ignorance, as alone responsible
for the safety of their treasures.
For seven months he had striven
with these financial difficulties, and
at last, near the end of October, this
man of business knew for dismal
certainty that the time had come
for decision. Unless prompt meas
ures were adopted all would be lost.
The black clouds which had been
threatening for so long were ready to
burst.
Before leaving home on this fatal
he confded to his wife the
dread that had been growing on him
all these long months, and of the
blow that was likely soon to fall.
She, in this threatened disaster,
with true natural womanliness,
thought only of the peril of the man
whom she loved. When alone in the
necessity of some confdant, she took
her heart-siclness to Joy, her wise
and trusted counselor. He raised his
great eyes to her in sympathy, and
the staggering of his great body
spoke world of comfort.
eve must be brave. dear old boy,
and everything will come out all
right" Was it her tone or manner,
or shall we say that he understood?
For he rose with deliberation evident
[y impressed that all could not be
we'll that his mistress should be so
troubled; and was alert on the in
slant in every muscle for her defense,
and the full tones of low growl gave
to any trespasser on the
of that quiet home.
When Robert set out for the bank
that morning he knew that he was
about to engage in a hard battle. The
board of directors were to meet in
The little Office adjoining, at nine, an
hour before the usual opening. And
what would they decide upon? He
knew that there was but one hopeless
chance to continue, and that was to
make them all feel, shareholders and
1epositors, that each individually had
IN equal share in success or failure
n order to avoid a panic, and conse-
4uent run on the bank. But he had
doubts of being able to persuade |
;hese giants of Importance" to face
he risk of informing the miners of
his situation. He knew what ought |
70 be done, and had the courage and
to do it promptly, but his
oower was defined by the board, and
II this great calamity, he could only
nope that they would confess their
guilt of the past and bravely stand
~ the simple truth until the storm
vas passed. But they, in their cow
,rdly weakness and incompetency,
thought to put. off the evil day, and |
lecided to do the very worst thing
and that was to close the
loors, until such time as they could |
all in their resources. Temporary |
was the official term
on the minutes. How it came
@ be known at the Golden Ledge that
he bank was not to open no one was
.ver able to tell. But like the NUT
ar;nrS If thunder which crows 1o,,7