The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-09

unimpeachable. We have done a good
deal in this direction during the last !
few years, and there are many noble
families to whom we have advanced
large sums upon the security of their
pictures, libraries or plate.
yesterday morning 1 was seated in
my office at the bank when a card was
brought in to me by one of. the clerks,
I started when I saw the name, for it
was that of none other than-well, per-
haps even to you 1 had better say no
more than that it was a name which is
household word all over the earth
one of the highest, noblest, most ex-
allied names in England. I was over
whelmed by the honor and attempted,
when he entered, to say SO, but he
plunged at once into business with the
air of man who wishes to hurry
quickly thru disagreeable task.
"'Mr. Holder said he, II have
been informed that you are in the habit
of advancing money!
"'The firm do so when the security
is good,' I answered. r
'''It is absolutely essential to me-,
J said he, that I should have 100000 at
! once. I could, Of course, borrow so trl-
| fling sum ten times over from my
friends, but I much prefer to make it
matter of business, and to carry out
! the business myself. In my position
you can readily understand that it is
unwise to place ones self under obi
cations
I" For how long, may I ask, do you
want this SUMO asked.
*" Next Monday I have large sum
due to me, and I shall then most GER
tainly repay what you advance, with
whatever interest you think it right
to charge. But it is very essential to
me that the money should be paid at
once'
"'I should be happy to advance it
without further parley from my own
private purse said I, were it not that
the strain would be rather more, than
it could bear. If, on the other hand,
l am to do it in the name of the firm,
then, in justice to my partner, must
insist that, even in your case, every
business-ike precaution should be
taken.'
"'I should much prefer to have it
So, said he, raising up square, black
morocco case which he had laid beside
his chair. you have doubtless heard
Of the Beryl coronet?'
:! & One Of the most, precious public
possessions of the EMPIRE said I.
Precisely He opened the case
and there, imbedded in soft, fesh-col-
ored velvet, lay the magnificent piece
of jewelry which he had named. There
are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said
he, and the price Of the gold chasing
! is incalculable. The lowest estimate
would put the worth of the coronet at
double the sum which I have asked. ]
am prepared to leave it with you as my
security
81 took the precious case. into my
hands and looked in some perplexity
from it to my illustrious client.
"EYou doubt it's value?' he asked.
, Not at all. i only. doubt
'The propriety Of my leaving it
You may set your mind at rest about
that. I should not dream of doing 81
were it no absolutely certain that
should be able in four days to reclaim
it. It is pure matter of form. Is thu
security suffcient9'
"tAmple.'
"'You understand, Mr.. Holder, tina
I am giving you a strong proof of tn
confidence which have in you, founded
upon all that have heard Of you.
l rely upon you not only to be discree
: and to refrain from all gossip upon tn
: matter, but, above all, to preserve thi
0 coronet with every possible precaution
$ because I need not say that a grea
: public scandal would be caused if an.
+; harm were to befall it. Any injury t.
9 it would be almost as serious as it
0 complete loss, for there are no beryl
8 in the world to match these, and
Q would be impossible to replace then
g I leave it with you, however, with ever
confidence, and shall call for it i
q person on Monday morning.
: "Seeing that my client was anxiou
IS to leave, I said no more; but, calling flo
my cashier, ordered him to pay owe
r, fifty 1000 notes. When was alon
3. once more, however, with the preciou
g case lying upon the table in front o
l. me, I could not but think with som
misgivings Of the immense responsible
o ity which it entailed upon me. Their
II could be no doubt that, as it was
e national possession, horrible scands
Vt would ensue if any misfortune shout
e occur to it. I already regretted havin
4 ever consented to take charge Of i
Q However, it was too late to alter tn
/ matter now, so I locked it up In my pr
is vate safe and turned once more to m
work. -
10 "When evening came felt. that
70 would be an imprudence to leave S
"a precious a thing in the office benin
L.. me. Bankers safes had been force
+ before now, and why should not min
T. be7 If so, how terrible would be til
y position in which I should find myself
a. I determined, therefore, that for tn
le next few days I would always carry til
II case backward and forward with m
"a so that it might never be really out {
my reach. With this intention, Gale