The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-12
FORCED TO MOVE.


OFFICE of John @. Royce, vice president
the new crowd halted. Royce was not
IN. A nervous clerk told J. L. Raines
the new president, that Mr.. Royce was
on his way to the building. Nervously
Royce.s secretary invited the men 10
take seats. They preferred to stand.
Royce Didn't Hurry.
1t was nearly $3.50 when Royce en-
tered his office. He was greeted by
Mr. Royce" said Raines. I'VE have
come to make formal demand for the
stuff
u am very sorry, gentlemen, but ]
VII! have to refuse" said Royce, as he
! coolIy lighted a fresh cigar and began
to remove his coat. Six seconds later
| Royce began to feel change of heart.
Ihen we turn the matter over to the
| United states marshal replied Raines,
as ne handed Royce a copy of the new
boards credentials. AS Raines STEP
| PED aside, big Jack Harrison edged
! through the door,
we don,t want any fooling or quib-
ping, j. 5. Dean was telling the vice
president.
Royce protested.
Il want time to consult nv lawyers
ne sa1d, L don't know about this mat
ter Maybe it's all right. 1 can't say.
put want to look these things over
LOOK them over LATER was the very
INFORMAL manner in which Harrison adj
dressed the Aetna official. Il must per-
form my duty Here is the courts or
der. Now | make formal demand for
the keys, books, records, desks and
other properties
We also want the combinations 10
the safes and the cash. said J. w.
Bergman, who is a banker and knows
the value of money in handling a $751;
000, 900 concern.
"Ali right, all right gentlemen" re-
sponded Royce, here you are.'' And for
an hour Royce was busy giving a clerk
keys combinations, records and other
property of Importance to the new
board.
Attorney Is Ousted.
1t was all settled so far as the. vice
presidents office was concerned. But
there were other parties to see. Hur-
riedly Harrison and Dean climbed the
steps to the second floor. On the glass
panel of an oak door was the sign,
"A. B. Quinton, attorney Unceremon-
iously the marshal and Dean entered
the office.
Good morning, gentlemen" said
QuInton, as he stood in the middle of
the floor and smiled on the visitors
just as pleasantly as man knows how
to smile when he sees a lifelong job
following him out the door and down
the iron steps. Come right in And
again the Aetna lawyer tried to smile.
at ALL said Harrison, as he reached
to his inside pocket and produced a
copy of the courts order. 1--WE have
come to take over these offices and
will have to ask you to turn things
over and get out
You don't mean you want me to
walk right out of here?" asked Quin-
ton, as his face paled. This matter
will keep awhile, 1 guess?"
mo, the court says to take imme- |
date possession and that's what we
want. There's been enough time lost |
already"
Wei, I just want to tell you" be-
ban Quinton, 81 have a contract with |
the association for this years services |
as attorney. I also have office rent |
here of year. These matters will |
have to be looked after"
THAT will be attended to later" said |
Dean. Right now we want possess |
sion.'
That was all so far as Quinton was
He contended that the |
FTeeholder's Insurance company held |
a lease on the second floor of the |
building and insisted on his right to |
leave his personal effects in their pos
session until he could make other ar
This didn't please the |
new crowd a bit. They wanted the !
old officers to walk right out of the |
building, carrying their personal eff
fects in their arms and to politely for
get the matter. There was no misun- /
derstanding this matter and each per-
son who was disposed to argue the
question was given a clear understand
ing by the marshal.
Busily the clerks were hunting keys
books, balancing cash and listing
property. Suddenly the days routine
had been forgotten by the office force
and in half daZed sort of way they
began to realize that moving day was
at hand.
Watson Retires Gracefully
While the office force was breath
lessly bowling to the every wish of
their new bosses, Director w. T. Wat
son walked into the building. It was
evident from his appearance that he
came up town expecting a quiet morn
ing. Less than ten seconds after he
stepped into the directors room, the
former assistant bank examiner was
that he could walk out in
the snow and hunt new job.
Watson dropped into a chair. In
q dazed sort of way he reached for
he paper which Harrison was holding
toward him. Whether Watson ever
read the document is not known. His
face was pale and the un1ighted cigar
started toward the cuspidor, but miss
ed that receptacle by a wide margin.
Watson had nothing to say. He sur
rendered without asking a question,
stuffed the courts order in his over
coat pocket, sorted some private pa
pers and five minutes later disap-
peared.
That was the last of the officers to
be served in person. Unquestioned
possession was now in the hands of
he insurgents. AS each officer turn
I'd the key in his desk, he handed the
Dit of metal to the marshal and began
% realize that he had looked at the
associations record for the last time
IS an officer.
Out in the counting rooms, the
clerks and stenographers were too
busy to discuss the possibility or prob
ability of their future jobs.
Haven't the least idea what will