The Patriot and the Banker by Ambrose Bierce

A PATRIOT who had taken office poor and retired rich was introduced at a bank where he desired to open an account.
"With pleasure," said the Honest Banker; "we shall be glad to do business with you; but first you must make yourself an honest man by restoring what you stole from the Government."
"Good heavens!" cried the Patriot; "if I do that, I shall have nothing to deposit with you."
"I don't see that," the Honest Banker replied. "We are not the whole American people."
"Ah, I understand," said the Patriot, musing. "At what sum do you estimate this bank's proportion of the country's loss by me?"
"About a dollar," answered the Honest Banker.
And with a proud consciousness of serving his country wisely and well he charged that sum to the account.

Ambrose Bierce aka "Bitter Bierce"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrose_Bierce

Fantastic Fables by Ambrose Bierce 1898



One of Bierce's more famous stories to which I recall reading in the 8th grade is "An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge." The Twilight Zone aired the following episode on February 28, 1964 putting a cinematic backdrop to Bierce's well written story.



No subtitles, but also no sound as this uploader chose to put a haunting soundtrack over the original film.