yesterday, and I am satisfied that all hope is gone. There are
thirty thousand dollars to be provided to-morrow. Our balance is but
five thousand, even if all the bills maturing to-day have been
paid."

"Which they have, I presume, as no protests have come in," remarked
the president.

"But what is the sum of five thousand dollars set off against thirty
thousand? It is as nothing."

"Surely, gentlemen are not prepared to give up in this way," said
the president, earnestly. "A failure will be a most disastrous
thing, and we shall all be deeply sufferers in the community if it
takes place. We must make efforts and sacrifices to carry it
through. Here are twelve of us; can we not, on our individual
credit, raise the sum required? I, for one, will issue my notes
to-morrow for twenty thousand dollars. If the other directors will
come forward in the same spirit, we may exchange the bills among
each other, and by endorsing them mutually, get them through the
various banks where we have friends or influence, and thus save the
institution. Gentlemen, are you prepared to meet me in this thing?"

Two or three responded affirmatively. Some positively declined; and
others wanted time to think of it.

"If we pause to think, all is ruined," said Mr. Lawrence, excited.
"We must act at once, and promptly."

But each member of the board remained firm to the first expression.