The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-23
The EVENING STORY
RIdgley's Rcprisal.
(By Edna kerry


rs the on the bank serious p
asked Degnon. Your father looks
very badly"
Il am afraid that it is serious" she
answered. She was engaged to Deg
non and trusted his discretion.
II saw the evening papers" he said.
but 1 thought that it was just sem
sa as playing "a up OF an III incident
Il wish you would" she said. Il
seem so helpless. 1 think he would
like to talk it over with a man.
The banker looked up YEARLY as
this clean-cut young chap. who had
come to Midvale to take charge of the
electric plant. Degnon went directly
to the matter at issue.
Il have come to see If / can be OF
any service" he began. 81 have some
$4,000 that 1 can get hold of by to-
morrow"
TOO little, but I thank you, my
bank.
us there no way out?" persisted
Degnon. "Just how does the matter
stand 2"
TT is plot of Ridgley's." began the
banker. ut cannot be proven, but he
practically owns the Provident Saw
ings bank as well as the First Ma
tional."
THAT is news to me- said Degnon.
"And to most others. For some rea-
son Ridgley does not want his con-
nection with the Provident bank
known. Now, just at present there is
a heavy demand for money on short
time loans. The high rates of inter-
est have led both the Provident and
my own bank, the Union, to send all
of our surplus to the city banks.
of business by starting a run. He
knows that there is not enough money
in either bank to meet a run, but the
First National will help the Provident.
call the money on deposit in the CITY,"
II think L see,'' unused Degnon.
Both banks need money The Provi-
dent can get it from its sister bank,
ability to pay depositors. They turn
shaky about your bank and go to the
rival institution"
That's part of the scheme. The
rest is this: Next week the interest ac-
crues. If there is a run and the money
is withdrawn this interest is lost to
the depositor. The First National will
get the use of the money until the
scare is over. They announced tonight
that their interest would be paid.
When the scare is over they will cut
off the interest and send the money
back to their savings bank, while, in
the meantime, the standing of my
bank is lost"
There is just one thing to be DONE"
said Degnon, producing blank form.
Put electricity into your bank"
How will that help?" asked the
banker. ut is sign of enterprise,
but 1 am afraid in a few days shall
have no bank to light"
Degnon smiled.
81 have an idea," he explained. az
think it is good one"
With trembling hand, Morrow sign
ed the contract and Degnon rose to go
night to Daisy and explain that he had
to see some one on business on his way
home, hence his haste.
The some one" was the mayors
secretary, and as a result of the visit
a permit was issued the following
morning as soon as the office opened,
to tear UP the street for the purpose of
installing the light service in the Union
bank.
Already a little knot of depositors
had gathered in front of the two saw
ings banks when the construction
gang put in an appearance. The First
n in which Ridgley was silent
~ interested, occupied a corner build
ing, and the Union, Morrow's bank,
adjoined it. Ridgley's savings bank,
the Provident, stood diagonalIy OPP
posite. and it was in front of the
Provident that the men began to dig
to tap the main feeder. The men
worked stolidly on, unmindful of the
excitement around them. At the
Union, Morrow was paying off slowly
to defer the announcement of suspen-
sion. in the hope that help might
come. At the Provident, on the other
hand, an extra force kept the line
moving briskly, paying off as rapidly
as the money could be counted out.
Clerks were busy bringing up
money from the vaults downstairs and
over in the First National, other
clerks were receiving the money and
opening new accounts. Ridgley had
devised the scheme as reprisal against
Morrow. His son had been Daisy's |
favored sutton until Degnon had step
ped in and cut him out. Ridgley had
fancied Slight. and with his usual |
business instinct was making his re-
venge profitable.
1t was nearly noon when a clerk
dashed out of the Provident and hur-
ried into the First National. In
he came out again accom-
panied by Ridgley himself. They |
were making their way to the Provi- |
dent through the crowd when sud-
now gaping wide to show it's load of |
the excavation.
One of the laborers, an italian, was |
with crowbar at the bottom |
of the pit seeking to dis1odge the bar |
from some obstruction it had encoun- |
tered. Ridgley shouted excitedly to |
the man, who smiled pleasantly into |
his face and began to climb out of the |
pit.
The crowd left the line and crowd |
ed around the opening. The italian |
was waving his permit. blandly con- |
fdcnt of his rights; and in his excite |
ment Ridgley could not make himself |
At last the italian SEEM |
ed to comprehend and dropping back |
into the pit seized the pickaxe and |
through the obstruction, |
proudly handed out a bulky cylinder, |
now gaping wide to SOW it's load of |
crisp bills.
mo TAXA da mon','' explained the
italian. Homes man. Yer homes |
man. No TAXA da mon'."
In a flash, the crowd understood |
The Provident was meeting the run by |
paying out money sent under the |
street from the First National The |
money was making an endless chain, |