The Oakes times., 1907-08-22

ing off slowly to defer the announce
ment of suspension, 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 rap
idly 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 re-
ceiving the money and opening new ac-
counts. Ridgley had devised the scheme
as reprisal against Morrow. His son
had been Daisy's favored suitor until
Degnon had stepped in and cut him
out. Ridgley had not forgiven the
banker for the fancied slight and, with
his usual business instinct, was making
his revenge profitable.
1t was nearly noon when clerk
dashed out Of the Provident and hur-
ried into the First National. In mo-
ment he came out again, accompanied
by Ridgley himself. They were making
their way to the Provident through the
crowd when suddenly Ridgley stopped
at the edge Of the excavation.
One Of the laborers, an italian, was
working with crowbar at the bottom
Of the pit, seeking to dislodge 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 crowded
around the opening. The italian was
waving his permit, blandly confident
Of his rights, and in his excitement
Ridgley could not make himself un-
derstood. At last the Italian seemed
to comprehend and, dropping back in
to the pit, seized pickax and smashed
through the obstruction, proudly hand
ing out bulky cylinder, now gaping
wide to show its load of crisp bills.
mo TAXA da mon'," explained the
Italian. "Hones' man. Yer homes
man. No TAXA do mon'."
In 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, being
paid out over and over again. Half
dozen men in the crowd began to ex-
plain how the bank was profiting by
the evasion Of interest, and Ridgley
retired hurriedly. With the crowd in
its present temper he was not anxious
to be within its reach. A little talk
would precipitate a riot.
But Degnon had planned skillfully,
and his orators talked just enough to
check the run on the Union. There
were muttered threats, but the drain
was stopped, and back flow of de-
positors was started toward the I'm
ion. Ridgley's reprisal had proved a
boomerang.
That evening Degnon explained to
Daisy and her father his inspiration.
Il was looking over the installation
in the First National" he told them,
"and I saw that there was pipe of
the pneumatic system that led out of
the building.
Il thought it odd at the time, and
when you spoke Of the relations be-
tween the two banks I realized the
game. They could shift the money
back and forth as it was needed, and
no one was the wiser. got a permit
to open the street and drove crowbar
through the pipe. That was ALL"
II should like to give something to
that Italian foreman" said Daisy.
"You might give him a kiss,' sug-
gested Degnon. "At college I was one
Of the stars of the dramatic club"
"You were the foreman?" cried
Daisy. "You shall have a dozen
Kisses" And she made no protest at
DepnOn'S DrOmnt collection