Smyrna times., 1903-04-08
THE BOONTONN BANK.
Can you Keep a set of books?"

'Can you keep set OF bOOkS?"
81 ought to! spent two years in a
business cOlleger
"Can you sign check and draw notes
and figure interest and discounts. and
all that sort of thing?"
81 should hope so. Why?"
Because l can't, and one of us will
have to-"
"What do you mean?"
II am going to start bank. Yes
my soma bank, right here in this
miserable Boomtown, in the State of
Washington, Tom said. I'm going to.
be the President and you're going TO
be the cashier"
Il thought it took money to run a
bank, replied Walter.
Well, it does ordinarily. But not
the kind I'm going to run. NV
brother will put up the building and
provide burglar proof safe! You and
will take peoples m )ney, put it in
side, lock it up and let them check it
out as they want it.
aren't yOu going to have anv
capital?"
''I've got about $50 or S75."
That's good deal of dough for the
yeast-it strikes mer'
DO you think so? Wait and seer'
but how are you going to make
any money? By lending your de-
posits-I s'pose."
"NOt a cent! IdOn't propose to take
any such risksr'
"Well-I'm stumped! 1 never was
IN the banking business but they never
explained that sort of scheme to us in
the college. "
"ell' Walter, you're young" said
Tom, "but there are lots of old fellows
that wouldn't get onto this idea! 1t
takes brain to work out such schemesp' |
Il should think SOL 1t must be aw-
full deep"
Yes it is, but it's perfectly simpIel
Were just going to seize strategic
position and hold the fort for surrender
on favorable terms. If this town ever
gets to be city there's got to be
bank here, has mt there?"
"Of course"
well, can't you see that if we get
one started, we can either sell out or
force a partnership"
The contract for the building was
let. The safe was ordered. The work
was pushed with all possible expedi-
ton, for the population of the town
was increasing rapidly. Operations
involving the expenditure of large
amounts ofmOney were going forward.
There were strangers trying to ret
drafts cashed. Every one was wishing
for some sort of banking facilities.
With feverish haste Tom and Walter
goaded the carpenters forward. The
building grew apace. The safe ar
rived. The beautiful gilt sign was
painted and hung. The day for the
opening was set.
At nine O'Clock the two bankers. in
a state of considerable excitement
raised the curtain and took their posi-
hons behind the counter. The streets
were full of people hurrying in every ,
direction. Indian boys were racing
ponies up and down the roads.
As the President and Cashier looked
out OF the windows like two spiders d,
watching for bottle flies, they saw that d,
every now and then some passerby
would look up at the gilded sign and ,
smile.
An hour went by. 1t hung heavily
On their hands. They were losing ,
heart I
Il begin to feel like one of those ,
wax figures in millinery store" Tom +,
said. X
My legs ache, believe I'll sit
down, Walter replied.
But at that instant man stoned.
looked at the sign, and then hesitat-
ngly stepped inside.
rs this bank?" he asked, looking
'pprehensively around. II
Yes, sir, ," Tom replied.
Private or National?" "
Private" b
"Whose?" "
'Fancher Brothers"
How much capital?" y
Ahls was question that Tom had
lot anticipated, and was speechless.
Not a dollar, said Walter. p,
Not a dollar?" G
No, sir. We're here for. .the con g.
'enlence of the public. The Corker- c,