The Press., 1914-09-30

there being no other banker Ill the town, they had taken steps to have one establish himself there. These persons welcomed me. opened accounts Wltn me and averred that if would do liberal business and not be scared al trif1es would soon do all the buslnesS of the town.
 I saw at once that Redtield was not pleased at the appearance or q FlNal and took secret means to dtscre0lt me. He kept the best and safest accounts while the weakest came to me. But by adhering rigidly to fixed principles of banking and acting on the supposl- tiop that there was business enough for both of us I got my share or the new deposits, which were 1ncreaslhs' and occasionally one of RedneldS GUS toners would fall to me. But. as nad maintained, there was business enough for hoth. and at the end of five years RedfieId had more than held his own. while I had obtained solid footing.
 Bankers, like sea captains. must ex- pect storms. I managed my aHalrS with this in view; but. as in the case of A sailor. much depends upon the facility with which he can get Ill sa1l' so the bankers safety depends upon his ability to get in his loans. If the captain keeps his sails furled he will make no headway. and if the banker keeps his money in his vaults he Will make no money. When the panic Of 1907 came on was in as good. if not better, condition than the average banker to meet the storm.
 It looked at one time during that panic as if the financial structure O1 the United States vrGs about to col lapse. confess was in great feal that 1t would carry me down with il and bury me under it's ruins. Every day more money was withdrawn from | circulation and locked up. l got in al the loans I could and sold at great sacrifice all my private property. This fund turned into gold. took 1t to m! home and concealed it under a board in the floor. proposed to keep 1t tt enable me to pass crisis.
 The financial barometer-the New York stock market-continued to fall and money grew proportiOnately scarce One morning l heard that run haC been started on Redfeld's bank. anC as the day wore on the line before th' paving teller's window increased There was nothing like run on III! | bank. but during the day the amour drawn was three times the usual .av craze.
 The next day the line leading to tn paying teller's window of Redield' bank was increased, and at noon Red field came to my bank and told me tha he must either have help or close hi doors. He asked for 1t on the grOun' that if he went under the panic woul extend to me and I would be carries down with him.
 told him that I did not think s' That there would be a run on my ban I was willing to admit. but my fntell gent depositors would not draw thei money. and I could pay all the rest.
 Then" he said. II am ruined. l al too old to begin again. especially wit a debt hanging over my head. If had $2O,O00 or $3O.OOO to tide me ove the rest of the day could pu through. for tomorrow I am promise payment on sale of bonds hay made
 It was then 12 o'clock. l told Ret field that I would consider the matte of helping him and let him know by if not earlier. He went back to til hungry crowd before his bank. and calling nn auto cab. went home. TheI I found my wife and told her that was called upon to save Redfeld. wit the strong probability of going und' myself later. If gave him the go I had in reserve he would pull throug But my trouble waS still to come, an without the funds l had sacrificed ID property to provide knew l could n' meet a run.
 My wife thought a long while befoI replying. When she did Sll" said:
 Give it to him. He k an old ma and to break down would kill him. have little doubt that in saving hi you will go under. But we are con paratively young and can begin again
 "Remember." said. "beginring ag;li is hard thing to do"
 So it is. but when or another mu perish I prefer to give way to tt other"
 Without replying. 1 took up Il board concealing my treasure and Wi about to put the g0lG in h sHtch"l whe my wife stopped me.
 Go back to the bank" she sai and let me attend to this. You a needed there. and can convey th gold to MT. Redfield.:
 There were the shining gold plec that l had accumulated slowly and