Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-01-17


ment, 10 one had acce unless accomra-
MED by the banker or his clief clerk
There was no mode of entrance or egress
except by the iron-hound door of which
liaioldson kept the key. On examination
the place appeared secure as ever; nothing
out of order; the papers, jewels and plate
deposited tkere for many a Danish family,
were all safe in their chests, yet keys had
been found for the od-fashinned Golfers
which contained the spece--the bank had
good deal in store just then-and crowns
and dollars could not 90 without bands.
Its no ghost,' said the banker, as he
and his cllief clerk talked over the matter
in private. There is some wicked trick
playing on US. You remember what Dala
pres said, when would no, do as he wished
These French are fearfully clever in mis-
chief. ] know it is he that has first f ight-
ened the house and then robbed it. No
body has ever heard noise in the strong
room but don't you observe that the thing
in white has been always seen in that d.
reciion. can't imagine how he gets in;
but Ill match him, if you stand by me.
Tomorrow is Friday, the day on which
Grundler was condemned, a1d the clerks
say the figure is always seen that night.
Wen make believe to 60 home at the usual
hour of closing; but I'll have my pistols
here, and come back, if you'll come with
me. 1t may be cowardy, but | confess |
do not care for trying il alone; there might
be more than hu.self Wen lake no light
with US, ; know every step of the house
we'll station ourselves behind the great
pillar in the corner of the strong room, and
the first sound we hear, I'll ire in that d.
rection. Mind you bring your pistols, and
not word to the clerks"
The chief clerk promised to stand by his
principal and keep secret. The bank was
closed at the accustomed hour next eve-
ming and when all the clerks were fairly
out Of sight, Haroldson and bis confidential
clerk met at the door as appointed, re-en-
tered and locked it, found the pistols which
they had privately loaded and deposited in
the managers office, CROPPED their way to
the strong-room door, which Haroldson
pillar, pistol in hand. Itwas the only clear
night the city had seen for months and as
they stood there, the moon, which was near
the full, shone in through small narrow
window set high in thick wall and doubly
grated Just at that moment, they heard
grating noise in the corridor. then key
turned outside, and as the door of the
strong-room opened, tall figure clad all in
white glided in, and made straight up to
the Golfers. In moment the report of
Haroldson's pistol rang through the old
house, but it was followed by shrek
from well known voice; and there was a
heavy fall. Both rushed to the PROSTATE
man, but they could not di.cern his face
" For Gods sake go and strike light :"
said Haroldson and when the clerk brought
the candle, he was standing in a pool of
blood, and close to his feet lay the dead
white face of his soni 1t was Frederick
/ from whom he had got one of the good and
proper letters that very day, who had come
night after night, clad in a shroud and Sheet
and armed with bunch of skeleton keys,
, to frighten his fathers clerks and rob the
: bank.
The mode of his entrance was also visi-
BILE; one of the flags forming the floor of
the corridor was turned up, disclosing an
open CRATE, ladder of strong ropes, and a
/, passage below, which wound away under
the bank, till it terminated in sort of fis-
! sure in one of the arches OF the Alster
bridge hard By, of easy access from the ice
Oh the river Nobody had dreamed of the
existence of that passage; it must have
been constructed in the monks time, as
! some convenience to those holy brothers,
: and the memory Of it lost in course of time.
: How young Ha,oldson spent the money, or
| who wrote the letters from Copenhagen,
was never discovered. The unfortunate
banker went all the way TO inquire; but he
could only learn that his son had never
lodged at the respectable house from which
they were dated, nor been known to any of
the acquaintances mentioned in them. He
, returned to business, and tried to 60 on as
} he used TO do, but never looked himself
) again. Within six months he resigned his
managership of the bank, aud before the
close of the year, was laid beside his son.
, The husband of his eldest daughter sue
: ceeded him-a discreet man, but the bank
did rot prosper under his government /;
people somehow lost confidence ia it, after
the story Of young Haroldson. Ii that
were Delspres' revenge, or how he con-
trived to execute it, neither time nor in
quiry ever disclosed. When the French
occupied Hamburg, the Danish bank was
the first of the public funds they seized.
1 he old house was ruined in the subsequent
bombardment. and has since given way to
, timb.r stoTes.- Brother Jostdthon.