Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-29

no denials. That he also refused to make
any combinations almost escaped atten-
ton The story flew about that he kept
silence out Of a mistaken but rather me
feeling of loyalty to an old college frieno.
Late evening had come before the negro
porter and bootblack in the hotel had man.
aged to concentrate his slow intellect upon
the general subject of all gossip. and 1t was
he who started the actual panic. he mao
$40 on deposit at the bank, and when ne
realized that those $4s had, maybe gone
a-glimmering, he sprang from his STAND
and ran through the hotel hallway with q
yell. He darted out across the street ana
up the steps of the bank building. There
he formed the nucleus of what for time
promised to grow into a mob. 1t was mid
night before this crowd had entirely dis
persed.
The sheriff slept In his clothes.
~.
When the clerks appeared next morning
to get matters ready at the bank for the
days business a great crowd already filled
the street A tendency toward violence had
undoubtedly grown with the numbers or
the gathering, and the news that Tolands
landlady had said he had not appeared at
all started a movement which might have
resulted in a senseless burst of rage against
the mere bank building had 1t not been
for the fact that the weary-eyed sherin had
sworn in dozen deputies whom he placed
cleverly among the crowd The newspapers
said that q run upon the bank would I'M
questionably begin the moment its doors
opened for the days business, and Nlat
there would be given at the opera hous>
that night a show of which the editors
had heard strange and disconcerting things.
At 0:45 the negro bootblack lost his self
control again and began to act wildly In
the street. This created great excitement
and served to concentrate the crowd until,
five minutes before 10, 1t had become dan
I,,,
also served another purpose in that it so
thoroughly absorbed attention that the
train from Shoechester arrived almost
without being noticed. From 1t Toland
stepped. There were two men with him.
strong, heavy-browed men. carrying
weghty gripsacks. They reached the fur
Their borders of the crowd just as an ex-
cited man standing there cried:
Hes skipped. He'll never show up again.
Where's Toland?'
IF you will let me through" said Toland
very courteously and with a good-natured
although. apparently. slightly puzzled smile
upon his face. Il shall soon be where L
ought to be-there in the bank. 1t is al
most time to open up for business or l
should stop to ask what all this means;
but l will learn that later. Thank YOU" he
added as the astonished man stopped shout
ing and made way for him.
Slowly but steadily he worked his way,
with his two attendants and their heavy
bags to the banks door. The sheriff, with
a
rival, and in an instant was at Toland's
side with two of his most reliable and mus
cular deputies. There was time for ques-
tioning or answering, but he placed his
men so that they could most easily keep
the crowd away from direct contact with
the banks doors.
This episode caused a desperate gable of
talk The crowd fell back and people be-
gan TO wonder If they had not allowed
themselves to be worried about nothing
At two minutes of ten the crowd was
becoming even more excited than 1t had
been before Toland's arrival The clocks
hands pointed to one minute of ten The
sheriff saw the necessity for getting those
who actually would have business to do
with the bank in line. and with much diff
Guilty and in the midst of much confusion
managed to do so after a fashion. The
clock began to strike. 1t had fine, deep
tone.
The crowd waited breathlessly. With
the fral stroke the banks doors opened.
Behind the paying teller's grating Toland
stood, with on either side of him one Of
the strange and silent men who had
rived with him. The line surged into the
bank.
biggest factory in Knowareton. His hands
shook. but the rich color in his face was "a
much an embarrassed blush at meeting
Toland's eye as it was a flush of anxiety.
Good morning." Mr.. Miller" said To-
land calmly. Lovely morning, isn't 1t?
Want some money? Yes, sir!'
He took the check extended by the
speechless Miller and examined it keenly.
close out your account with Good
What will you have 1t in? Gold? Gold
certificates? Silver"
Miller murmured, almost inarticulately.
Gold certificates" assented Toland.
Quite right
He began instantly to count great bun
dies of the handsome yellow backs
Here you are Mr.. Miller" he said. ge-
ialI fniG in
book, please"
Brown" he said then to the clerk at
his side. and in a voice which was audible
in the remotest corner of the room, mark
Mr.. Miler's account closed. And never,
in any circumstances. Brown, accept any
deposit from Mr. Miller again. Next,
please"
There was a long intake of breath by
more than one man in the lire behind, and
the amazed Miller paused at the side with
his mouth slightly open. The man who
had succeeded him at the window almost
mechanically passed in his book, with a
check Toland compared the amount which
the check called for with the amount cred
tied to Mr.. Dodge upon the book. Again he
turned to the clerk as he handed the
money to the depositor and said:
Close b. r. Dodge's account Brown.
Deposits from Mr.. Dodge will not be &C
cepted in the future
Mr. Dodge took his money. but he gasped
as he took it. He was the richest grocer
In all Knowareton.
Abraham Jacobs the wealthy 'clothier, fol-
lowed Dodge.
Full amount for Mr.. Jacobs" said To-
land, briskly. No more deposits from Mr..
Jacobs. Brown. Close his account"
Jacobs positively shrank 1t must be re-
membered that this was the only bank in
Knowareton and that, therefore, for a bust
ness man to be denied the privilege of de-
posting there would seriously Inconvenience
him.
Wait a secondt, Walt a secondti' Jacobs
cried. But Toland was already reckoning
over his head to the next In line. This man
wore a look as he elbowed Jacobs out Of
place in which apology had almost the bet
ter of anxiety.
Once more there was the swift COMPARE
SON. and again. in spite of the nervous pro-
test of the ex-depositor there rang out the
firm instruction to the clerk to add another
name to what seemed to be the black list
of the bank
The next man hestated hemmed and
hawed and changed his feet as he took his
Mace before the little wicket.
IF ! take all my money out Tor a day
or two Mr. Toland-" he began, and Toland
did not give him time to finish.
Certainly said he. You can take all
vour money out for all time. Glad to ac-
commodate you. Brown. full amount for