The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-10-27

myself. 4 shall give myself up. and as
our relations. in the language of the
president, have been personally pleas
ant | will save you the expense of 4
trial by pleading guilty The maxi
mum sentence for my offense under
the laws of the state is ten years in
the penitentiary. With the communal
ton off for good behavior it will be
about eight and a half years. 1t will
be dull. but shall not be idle. | have
never had leisure to cultivate the
graces of the mind. l have a taste for
music. l will cultivate it. l will learn
modern language or two. When
have served my term and am clear Of
the law will come out of prison thir-
tynine years old, with cultivated
mind and comfortable fortune of
$25O.OOO awaiting me. can afford to
go away. to travel in foreign countries
and enjoy life. Of course lose the i'll
terest on my $25O.OO0 Willie l am in
prison. but if l were to live on air and
go naked and save all my salary |
wouldn't have one-fiftieth as much at
the age of thirty-nine. On the whole |
think l have made a good speculation
Don't yOu?"
The opinions of the directors We're
not very coherent just at this moment
They made various appeals to him, on
the confidence they had had in him. on
the good name he bore. on the dishon-
or he would incur. etc. but he re-
sponded that all these had not helped
him to an increase in salary and re-
lentlessly quoted the language of the
presidents note to him that their re-
lations were purely a business affair on
both sides" Finally he said:
Our relations have been personally
pleasant, and have no uncomfortable
desire to spend the next eight and
half years in Jail. l will make you Il
proposition. If you will sign bond
not to prosecute me and publish in the
daily papers set of resolutions setting
forth that. whereas your valued and
trusted employee, John Smith. by the
receipt of a legacy from a deceased rel
alive has been relieved of the neceS-
sity of further service. resolved. that
you part with him with extreme re-
greet, etc.-if you do this | will bring
back $12o,O00 and content myself with
the other S125,O00. The interest will
make up a good part of the loss to
me-"
1t was hard to give up S125O0O and
hitch it to Il set of resolutions compli-
meGting the thief but it was choice
between getting half the loaf or notn-
ing. Was the satisfaction of sending
him to prison for eight and a half
years worth $4,000 a year to them?
They figured on it and agreed that II
wasn't.
They accepted his proposition. drew
up the bond and signed it.
You can get the resolutions in shape
by tomorrow he said, land have
them ready when bring the money
1t would scarcely be delicate for me to
be present when they are adopted"
Couldn't you bring it today. Mr.
Smith," asked the president. in a per-
spiration.
mo. | haven't time to go after it.
The work at my desk always keeps me
busy until the hour for closing the
bank You will have to trust me till
tomorrow. and as by signing the bond
you have committed yourselves to the
OF Il felony | guess can
trust yoG-even as a purely business
affair"
They We're all on hand early next
lay. Smith. the cashier said mot with.
but some surprise ut hearing the preSj-
lent inquire for him as Mr." Smith. |
had gone out TO get his lunch !
He was asked for half Il dozen
times before he came Every few min.
uteS the door of the directors room
would open. perspiring face would |