Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 7, 1928 — page 75: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FAIR EXCHANGE. 215 that reporter’s palm was greased by In- terstate!’’ The directors joined him at the win- dow. ‘The doors of the bank had not opened as yet. In front of the building Was an ever-increasing crowd of peo- ple, depositors of the bank. They were waiting for the doors to open to de- mand immediate payment of their ac- counts. “We're ruined!” moaned Hannibal. “Shut up!’ exclaimed Hilton ir- ritably. He turned to Burroughs. “You beat it for the depot and get the nine thirty train for Omaha. Explain the situation to the Federal Reserve there and have them bring over enough cash to tide us over. Understand?” Burroughs did not answer. “Just look at them coming!” groaned Louderback. “And _ see; there’s MacReady, our biggest depos- itor!” “Think we better open up?” asked Hannibal. “Of course we'll have to,” growled Hilton. ‘‘ We may be able to stay them when we explain that the thief = got away with ten thousand. “Of course all we got to go on is what Brewer told the constable. The bookkeepers haven't finished checking up yet. “ But even at that, people will prob- ably lose confidence in the bank—and it’s all on account of that old fogy. Imagine the fun they'll poke at the bank—being held up by a bottle of water! I tell you—” “For pity’s sake—look!” broke in Louderback. He pointed down. “ It’s the colonel or [I’m crazy as a loon!” IV. SLOWLY, painfully, the colonel hob- bled down the street toward the bank. At his side was his daughter, Patricia, a pretty, blond girl. She clung to his arm and whispered encouragertient fo him as they pushed through the throng in front of the building. As they made their way toward the entrance to the bank, some of the men in the crowd started making remarks. “How about a little water this morning, colonel?” jeered one. gd Hope you didn’t give him all our money?” growled another. The colonel ignored them. He reached the doors of the bank and then, with the help of Patricia, he managed to stand up on a projecting window ledge. He stood there in full view of the crowd, mopping the perspiration from his brow. Above, at the windows of the direc- tors’ room, Louderback, Hannibal, and Hilton glared down at him. The colonel cleared his throat. “Folks,” he said, “ I reckon you-all are heah to take yo’ money out of the bank.” “ You’re darn tootin’ we are!” yelled a man at the edge of the crowd. “And why should you-all want to be doin’ that?” demanded the colonel. “We don’t think your bank can stand for losing no hundred thousand dollars, that’s why,’ answered some one, W rathfully. “Friends, will you please let me ex- plain,” said the colonel. “This heah is the way it all happened: A man comes in the bank yesterday. He comes in my office when I’m alone and shows me a bottle. “He said that it contained nitro- glycerin and that he would blow up the bank if I didn’t get ten thousand dollars —mark that, folks, only ten thousand —and give it to him.” “And the bottle only had water in it!’ came a jeering voice. “Yessiree, you are right!’ exclaimed the colonel. His face broke into a smile. “And the money I gave him was only counterfeit!” Gasps of astonishment broke from his auditors. Burroughs on the window sill gave a loud whistle. “You see,” went on the colonel, “ I Eomicbooks