Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-02
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Value of Bluff.
fOriRiual1

w iltA was a OOA GSd ii SlSGl
sire for 4 military education, but. as
had not the influence needed in those
days to secure one. went to work in
4 bank. The president, civil war vet
eran, noticing that l had military
tastes. talked TO me a great deal about
his campaigns. What Il commander
needs he said. "is resource-a keen
sight to see his requirements in things
about him. l knew Il general who once,
seeing a man fishing on cotton bale,
ceived the idea of making Il floating
bridge of the bales
/ had been in the bank two years
when through the failure of another
bank IL run was started on ours. l was
thea eighteen years old, but precOciOus.
When the bank had stood Il two days
run. il was evident il could not pull
through a third. The night before that
dreaded third day the directors met at
the bank. | was perched on Il high
stool where / could hear them talk. but
heard no feasible plan for the morrow.
1t occurred to me TO try Il bluff game.
l would not have dared to propose it
TO the managers and would have been
laughed at if | had. Putting OH my
hat | went outside and, pushing my
way through the crowd. gained the
street, where | hailed cab. As | got
in / instructed the coachman TO drive
off at gallop. He did so, and we were
watched by the crowd, many of whom
knew | was an employee of the con-
Germ.
The driver pulled up after we had
gone about Il mile and asked for in
structiOns. We were standing in front
of Il coal yard. and in the Office was Il
light. | got out of the carriage. went
TO the office and found q man working
over his books.
Have you any nut coalT' 1 asked.
Yes
Amy sacks?'
Yes
Il want five sacks of nut coal"
"All right. I'll send it in the morn
ing. What address,
Il want it now
Now? This is no time to do bust
ness"
l argued with him till he consented
TO fill five gunny sacks with nut coal,
which | directed him to charge to the
president of the bank-fOr | had no
mOney--and, taking three sacks into
the carriage. leaving the other two on
the box with the driver. / directed him
10 drive back to the bank. When |
reached it called to Il policeman, who !
was there to keep the crowd in order, !
aS t-inor him N rH tho IIp |
called others. and in few minutes
three men in uniform surrounded the |
carriage. Then we Iugged the five sacks |
of coal into the bank. When l had !
dumped the last sack on the floor |
went into the presidents room, where |
the meeting was still in session. and |
asked him for 50 to pay the hackman. |
He looked at me surprised and asked |
where | had been, whereupon | told !
him the story.
l never saw such a change in a mans !
face in my life. You little brick he |
exclaimed, taking me by the hand |
You may save this bank. and if you |
do Drive right away again and bring |
five more sacks. Here is a ten dollar |
bill. Want any more? No? Well. so !
ahead. and the Lord be with you
/ found the coal office where / had !
been closed and had TO get a coal dealer
ont of his bed for the next lot. but | !
secured them and took five more bags
back TO the bank. reaching it about |
o'clock in the morning. More NAN half
the crowd had gone by this time. hav-
ing had confidence restored by the first
five bags of coal. After / had got the
second lot inside. the directors adjourn
ed the meeting and. lei 10y the presi-
dent, went ont chatting merrily. wear
ing every appearance of having got in
gold enough To last month.
The next morning the bank opened
rs usual. but people who had been
there the night before mingled with the
crowd, spreading the report that ten
sacks of gold had gone in and that the
bank was all right. Many left the line
leading to the cashiers window. and
before noon. there were not a dozen
people waiting to draw their accounts.
The bank was saved.
After 3 o'clock | was sent for to 20
into the presidents office. Most of the
directors were there. and every man in
turn insisted upon shaking hands with
me. Then the president made me the
following address:
Young man. you were cut out for Il
and a general you shall be;
1t least, you shall have the fitting for
1ne. A man. or. rather. n boy. who
,an stop run on 4 bank with nut coal
would know enough i'm war TO make
, retreat leaving Quaker guns in posi-
8