The Fugitive Office

　　A TRULY Pious1 Person who conducted a savings2 bank and lent money to

　　his sisters and his cousins and his aunts of both sexes, was

　　approached by a Tatterdemalion, who applied3 for a loan of one

　　hundred thousand dollars.

　　"What security have you to offer?" asked the Truly Pious Person.

　　"The best in the world," the applicant4 replied, confidentially5; "I

　　am about to become your son-in-law."

　　"That would indeed be gilt-edged," said the banker, gravely; "but

　　what claim have you to the hand of my daughter?"

　　"One that cannot be lightly denied," said the Tatterdemalion. "I

　　am about to become worth one hundred thousand dollars."

　　Unable to detect a weak point in this scheme of mutual6 advantage,

　　the financier gave the promoter in disguise an order for the money,

　　and wrote a note to his wife directing her to count out the girl.