The Great Half Crown Hunt.

Otago Witness, Issue 2309, 2 June 1898, Page 52

The Great Half Crown Hunt.

Book-keeping has been reduced to such an execfc science in thsJbig metropolitan banks that the clerks are expected to strike a correct balance at the close of each day's work, no matter if the transactions have run into millions. When the books fail to balance the whole force of the bank is put to work to dincover the error, and no clerk starts for home until it is discovered; whether ib amounts to a penny or a thousand pounds. Generally a quarter of an hour will bring the mistake to light, but sometimes the hunt is kept up until late id the night.

Such a search was being conducted ia a certain big bank. Just 2s 6d was missing. At 6 o'clock not a trace of the errant sum had been discovered. Dinner was sent in for the whole force from au adjoining "restaurant, and after half an hour's rest the search was again taken up. Midnight came, but still no clue, so sandwiches and coffee were served. •• Halloa!" said' a clerk. "The Blank National^ people are working to-night, too. I gue3s they're in the same box."

Sure enough, the windows of- the bank acros3 the street were brilliantly lighted. The incident was soon forgotten when the wearying hunt after the elusive half crown was resumed. Shortly after 1 o'clock in the morning, as they were about to give up i'or the night, a loud rapping was heard at the front door of the bank.

"Halloa! halloa! What's tha matter?" called the cashier through the keyhole.

" Matter, you chumps ! Why, we've got you? 2s 6d ! Come along home to bed ! "

Outside stood the crowd of clerks from tho neighbouring bank. It appeared that in making a cash transaction one of the banks had paid the other 2s 6d too much As a result half a hundred men bad worked tor nine hours, and the search was only ended then because a bright clerk, noticing a light in tho bank opposite, shrewdly guessed the cause, hunted up the cash slip, ana discovered the error.