The Prescott daily news. (Prescott, Ark.) 1907-1941, 1914-02-13
AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD
BY FRANK n. MELOON.

AS We scanned the yellow sheet,
only that moment torn from the grimy
envelope, Chase Precott groaned
aloud. Although he was not man
given to despairing, he could see plain
ly that the words spelled probable
ruin. AS acting president of the Wyo-
ming Ranking company, with branches
in Fremont and Casper. the RESPONSE
bility of the twin institutions lay on
the shoulders of the one-time cashier:
from The president, whose recovery
from 4 dangerous fever seemed i'm
probable, he could expect neither aid
nor aGyice. The telegram read;
Fremont, Wyo., Sept 23-Chase
Prescott, The Muddy River House,
Casper: Run on bank certain tomor.
row. Twenty-Five thousand necessary
by noon. Come at once yourself. ar
ranging for special train to follow
Dick Noses"
That's a pleasant message to re-
ceive on the eve of ones marriage!"
he exclaimed. Il wonder what Ina
would say to that. Lucky we ar
ranged to be married at her home in
Fremont"
Chase Prescott glanced at his
watch, noting that the hour was eight
o'clock. He stepped quickly to the
telephone booth, giving his orders
clearly and briefly to his associates
of the Casper National, closing by tell
ing them that he was about to leave
for fremont on the 9:15 p. m train
Have the money on board the spe.
cial as early as you cG- morrow
morning" he admonished. we must
take no chanes. If il wasn't for that
confounded new tine lock. Id OPP
the safe tonight, get the coin to Ere
mont. and have it in the bank there
by the time we open for business TO.
morrow morning"
Once in Fremont, Chase Prescott
FASTENED to meet Dick Moses. pay
ing teller of the Fremont National, and
a brother of the sirl who was to be-
come his wife on the morrow The
subs ance of the Information conveyed
by lick Moses was that dsgruntltd
depositor had started in circulation a
story that the Fremont National WAS
on it's last legs; the news had spread
quickly, and but for the fact that the
bank closed it's doors daily at three
o'clock, would have meant ruin that
day On the morrow the bank doors
would swing back on their heavy
hinges at $3.50 o'clock. The amount
good, possibly, for three hours run
anyway. not for more than that
Everything depended. therefore, on
the timely arrival of the special from
Casper
The officials went to the bank in {
body the next morning. A crowd was
already gathered about the building
For an hour there was steady out
flow of carefully counted money
through the little wicker over which
was the sign Deposits and With
drawals" Chase Prescott stood by
the big plate glass window, watching
the crowd outside.
A messenger boy from the nearby
telegraph office came running into
the bank. all out OF breath. Has
tily Chase Prescott tore open the en-
velope. 1t read:
Casper, Wyo., Sept. 24,--Chast
Prescott, the Fremont National, Ere
mont: Special has left here witt
! twenty-five thousand in currency
Should be in Fremont. barring acct
dents, by l1:30.-William."
The face of Dick Moses paled as
the pile of currency at his right hant
dwir died
Again the messenger boy from the
| telegraph Office was seen running
through the crowd. elbowing his way
vigorously This time the scrap Of
yellow paper was crushed in Chase
Prescott's hand. 1t told of washout
IL miles away There had been a dan
burst, it said; the money was being
brought on by wagon, and would be