The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-12-05

surprised.
"Who are you" says he.
"Who are your says /, thinking that /
was an innocent remark as he com
menced It. and a-trying all the time to
collect myself.
I'm president of the bank" says he,
kinder short; something the matter
with the lock?"
BY George! the idea came to me then. |
eyes, sir" says 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"
81 told Jennings q week ago." says
he, that he ought to get that 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"
well, why don't you so right onw
says he.
eve got almost through" says I,
"and / 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
mo, sir" says I, kinder modest like
"What do you suppose is the matter
with the lock?" says he.
Il don't rightly know yet" says I;
''but l rather think it's a little wore
on account of not being oiled enough.
These ere locks ought to be oiled about
once year"
well" says he, you might as well
go right on, now I'm here; l will stay
till Jennings comes. Can't help you
hold your lantern, or something of
that sort"
The thought came to me like a fash,
and turned around and says:
How do I know you're the Presi-
dent? I amt ever seen you afore, and
you may be a-trying to crack this
bank, for all know"
That's a very proper inquiry, ny
man" says he, "and shows a most re-
markable degree Of discretion. l con
fess that should not have thought Of
the position in which l was placing
you. However, I can easily convince
you that it's all right Do you know
what the Presidents name is?'
mo, don't" says I, sorter surly.
, "Well, you'll find it on that BILL" said
he, taking a bill out OF his pocket; "and
t you see the same name on these let
{ ters," and he took some letters from
his coat
t l suppose that I ought to have gone
right on then, but l was beginning to
. feel interested in making him prove
who he was, so 1 says:
"You might have got them letters to
t put up job on me-"
a You're a very honest man." says he
< 'one among a thousand Don't think
n I'm at all offended at your persistence
e No, my good fellow, l like it. [ like it, ,
S and he laid his hand on my shoulder
e Now, here" says he, taking bundl,
l. out Of his pocket is a package Of $40.
); 600 in bonds. A burglar wouldn't b.
d apt to carry those around with him
h would he? 1 bought them in the cit,
il yesterday and I stopped here to-nigh
e on my way home to place them in tn
e vault, and, may add that your simpl
a and manly honesty has so touched m
p that 1 would willingly leave them i
re your hands for safe keeping. Yo
N needn't blush at my praise"
+. l suppose / did turn sorter red whe
1r l see them bonds.
If Are you satisfied now? saws he.
ly 1 told him 1 was thoroughly, and S
- was. So I picked up my drill again
ne and gave him the lantern to hold s
IN that l could see the door l hear
OF jim, as l call him, outside once
so twice, and l like to have burst OF
ID, laughing, thinking how he must |
it. wondering what was going on insid
1T / worked away and kept explaining
l him what l was a-trying to Go. Il
M was very much interested in mecha
on les, he said and knoWed as 1 was
hi man as was up in my business by II
nd way went to work lie asked II
de about what wages / got, and how
Int liked my business, and said he toC
81 quite n fancy to me- turned ROM
1 once in a while and looked at hi
in G-setting up there as solemn as a bill,