Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12
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Agricultural Department were lunChnS in
a downtown cafe the other day. when the
talk turned To the general subject of graft
and bribery
"I am reminded" said one of them. of
the story of an individual who was well
known in the west about decade ago
as man of unimpeachable honesty and
sterling integrity. And it wasn't just be-
lief or = general impression. but a matter
OF cold, hard fact. as the circumstances had
proved more than once.
1T happened that about the time l men
ton a big eastern corporation which han
died millions of dollars worth of goods an
nually wanted a man for position of the
highest trust, and after searching the coun-
try over lighted on the gentleman in ques-
ton. He accepted the position. delighted
with the honor done him, but only held II
for a month. when he handed in his reSig-
nation AS he had given splendid satlstdc-
tion In the short time he was pressed by
his employers for an expana ton. This he
finally gave AS follows:
'.'I had only held this place three days
when a well known individual came to see
me. and after plcdsing my honor to Sc
crccy offered mo a bride of $looD to do
certain thing that would have been faith
less to my trust. | had him shown out of
the office. The next day representative
of his raised the rendered bride to $4,000.
l refused Indignantly. Several days later
the offer was raised to $4,000, and some
time after it was increased to $4,000 Still
refused with
Last week the well-known Individual
himself again to me. and offered
to make the bride S1D,OO in cash and
100000 in stock. and | refused the offer
and resigned
And why did you resign asked his
former employers, gazing DIT him in admi-
ration,
Gentlemen said the man of unim-
pea chable honesty and sterling integrity
* a lt.,N-a hoy hog
never been Il spot on my name. and bribery
and graft and have been strangers ali
my life Such viii continue to he the case.
Gentlemen. | resigned because that last of
fer was simply near my price"
They were gathered around the nineteenth
hole after completin an interesting game
of golf. one of the players called the
head steward and remarked very audiby:
Steward, l am going to to New Bruins
wick next week. and If l get some salmon
will send you one, and / want you to pre-
pare it and serve 1t to the club mess in your
very best style
All of the group but one Immediately sat
up and smacked their lips In anticipa ton
of the coming treat The steward turned
to go, when he stopped by the man
who seemingly hadn't heard. who. in the
same tone the expectant angler, re-
marked: Steward, l am going to Montan a
next week, and if l get buffalo I'll
send YOU d rump, and | want you to pre-
pare it and serve IL to the club mess in
your very best style"
Then there was a laugh. But, just the
same, the salmon came.
No IL is on the blacklist of the treasury.
No vaults and safes of Importance must go
by that number in the great financial insti-
tuition Of the government. if it be help
ed. No one would think for minute That
It is because there is any superstition in the
minds of the officers of the treasury. There
are other reasons, at least so 1t is stated
Some new vaults were put in the treasury
recently They were installed in the cash
room There was no way to avoid giving
Dne of them the number Il. The vault pick
ed out was one that is of little Importance
from financial point. Consequently there
was not so much objection. although the
number IS looked al with aversion by some
of the clerks
A week ago Charles II. Treat
United States treasurer, gave orders that
all the safes should be numbered. The
locksmth who knows the history and mech
anism of each vault and safe started the
work, beginning with No. l and going IN
rotation through the treasurer's office. Up
in the office of the sinking fund for the
District of Columbia the safe was number
ed II, and the clerk there breathed easy be-
cause he had missed Is.
locksmith with a creepy feeling. when he
expressed gratitude that he had missed the
awful number.
I'm sorry to say that the next safe In
line is that of Mr. Sample. chief of the divi-
sion of issue" said the gloomy-lookng lock-
smith and he descended to the basement
to the office of the man who handles the
millions Of dollars printed by the govern
ment, one of the seals being affixed by his
clerks. At least every paper bill printed
must go through his hands.
MI. Sample. the treasurer has sent me
down to number your safes. You have two
here. l believe"
Yes. this one right back of my desk and
the one in the issue ROOM
According to the rotation I have taken
this one back of you will be No. 13.'
Mr.. Sample looked up quickly while the
locksmith turned his head away TO hide the
signs Of his feelings of regret that he was
forced 10 infiict prospective trouble on a
good friend.
We'll, see here" said Mr.. Sample, after
some serious thought, you know. of course,
that l haven't bit of superstition in me
and that / don't a thing about this
number, but l can't afford to have No. II
placed on a safe back of my chair. l Will
lose hours of time being forced to listen TO
jokes and jokers. and will have to politely
stand here and listen to what is said No
1t won't go here and he walked out to see
the treasurer.
AS a result of the visit the safe back of
his desk IL No. IA, and the other one in his
room No II. There is no No. Is In the
treasUrer's office.
y y x \
Members of the detective force were puz-
zled a few days ago when a colored girl
who had been arrested and accused of theft
made a confession of guilt and 1t later de-
veloped that she was innocent.
why should she have made such CON
fess!on when she knew she had not COM
mitted the theft?' inquired one detective OF
another.
Probably because OF the manner In
which she questioned was the re-
Spouse.
Not al all said the officer who had ar
rested her, when She arrested she
was merely told of the charge against her.
and she promptly admitted that she had
taken an article Of jewelry.''
1t WAS explained that the girl had fol-
lowed up her confession with a statement
giving the exact location of the hiding place