How Hartley, Frank & Co. Suspended

It was in May, 1863. I had been up in Pennsylvania on a visit to some relatives of my wife’s, and returned on Saturday afternoon. I called at my office in Wall Street, and found both my partners in high glee. Business had been even more profitable than usual during my temporary absence; and so rapidly was our reputation for skill and straightforward dealing rising and extending, that telegrams had that very afternoon been received from one of the departments at Washington, urging my immediate visit there, in order to undertake some financial negotiations, requiring more than ordinary tact and management. It was already late. Both my partners were anxious to get away—one to attend a rowing-match, the other to take his young wife out riding. But a few words could be exchanged in reference to the Washington enterprise, and scarcely a word was said in relation to business matters in general. They hurried up-town; and I went over to Brooklyn to dine, and pack a fresh valise, so as to leave for Washington by the 9.13 P. M. train.

Through one of our messenger-boys from the office, I had secured a state-room in the sleeping-car, and, on reaching the train, walked through the entire length of it to find that my state-room was at the very rear end of the last car. The couch in it had not yet been made up; but on the seats were sitting two gentlemen, with heads bowed down, in earnest, whispered conversation. I peered through the narrow door in the dim light of the car, to make sure that it was letter K—the letter of my room—and, not desiring to sit down then, was quietly stepping back into the passage-way, intending to pass out on to the… Read More