dge Bigelow and his true friend, who was standing beside
him, though invisible in this thing to all other eyes, firm as a rocky
pillar. No more endorsements were given, and the paper bearing his name
was by this time nearly all paid.

"Right, so far," said Mr. Wallingford, at the expiration of the time
in which most of the paper bearing Judge Bigelow's name reached its
maturity. "And now for the next safe move in this difficult game, where
the odds are still against us. You must get out of this Bank."

The Judge looked gravely opposed.

"It may awaken suspicion that something is wrong, and create a run upon
the Bank, which would be ruin."

"Can you exercise a controlling influence in the position you hold? Can
you be true, as President of the Clinton Bank, to the public interest
you represent?"

"I cannot. They have made of me an automaton."

"Very well. That settles the question. You cannot honorably hold your
place a single day. There is only one safe step, and that is to resign."

"But the loose way in which I held office will be exposed to my
successor."

"That is not the question to consider, Judge--but the right. Still, so
far as this fear is concerned, don't let it trouble you. The choice of
successor will fall upon some one quite as facile to the wishes of Ralph
Dewey & Company as you have been."

The good counsels of Mr. Wallingford prevailed. At the next meeting of
the Board of Directors, the resignation of Judge Bigelow was presented.
Dewey had been notified two days before of what was coming, and was
prepared for it. He moved, promptly, that the resignation be accepted.
As soon as the motion was carried, he offered the name of Joshua Kling,
the present Cashier, for the consideration of the Board, and urged his
remarkable fitness. Of course, Mr. Joshua Kling was elected; and
his place filled by one of the tellers. To complete the work, strong
complimentary resolutions, in which deep regret at the resignation
of Judge Bigelow was expressed, were passed by the Board. In the next
week's paper, the following notice of this change in the officers of the
Bank appeared:

"_Resignation of Judge Bigelow._--In consequence of the pressure of
professional engagements, our highly esteemed citizen Judge Bigelow,
has found it necessary to give up the office of President in the
Clinton Bank, which he has held with so much honor to himself since the
institution commenced business. He is succeeded by Joshua Kling,