09 February 2010

The Czar can!

Russia; during the reign of Czar Nicolas:

The son of a close friend was appointed as paymaster of a Border Fortress.
As treasurer he was responsible for the Army payroll... The great sum of money available tempted him to take some to pay for his gambling... Soon he had borrowed and lost most of the Army payroll, and was unable to repay it! It was beyond all he possessed!

Learning that an auditor was coming; fearing that his thief would be found out; he took the the cowards way out, when he decided to commit suicide... He wrote a note explaining the dilemma, then choose to shoot him self at the stroke of midnight! Stating " Who can save me, and pay this great amount?"

It just so happened, that Czar Nicholas made a surprise visit to the fort that very night... Seeing the light in the tower,he went to investigate... There he found the sleeping young man with the pistol and note beside him...

After reading the note, he decided not to wake and have the young man arrested, rather he wrote across the note; " Nicholas Can! "

The next day money bags arrived with just the right amount to cover the debt...