The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-08-01

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1t wanted about twenty minutes to our
usual hour of closing the bank, and had
just finished my work. Had such not been
the case, 1 should in all probability have
sent one of the clerks in my place.
There was nothing, however, to prevent
me from doing as the president requested;
I therefore lighted dark lantern, and we
all three descended the steps leading to the
vault.
The specie and valuables of the bank
were kept in an immense iron safe which
was placed in stone chamber. The walls
Of this chamber were of extraordinary
thickness and the entrance to it was
through massive iron door, which was
secured by thick bar of iron fastened by
an immense paddock.
BY this means the specie Of the bank was
doubly protected, for even supposing that
a robber should succeed in obtaining an er-
trance into the stone vault, he would still
have to force the immense safe, matter Of
unless he happened to possess
the secret, which was turning tho handle
around exactly seven times. Once more
or less would be of no avail.
unlocked the paddock, leaving the key
in the lock, and we all entered the stone
vault. The Rev. Mr.. Elliot appeared to be
strangely interested in the place. He gazed
around him in seeming wonder he meas
ured the thickness Of the walls, and the
length and breadth of the stone room.
every secure very secure, indeed ~ he
murmured. "You can set bank robbers
at defiance with room like this, Mr.. Brain
tree"
eyes, sir I believe we can. For even If
any one should succeed in getting into the
stone vault they would have still the safe
to force" '
"True, very true" responded the rever-
ened gentleman, "but notice one peculi-
arity about your safe," he added, glancing
toward it as he spoke, "you have no lock
on it,"
at is not necessary" returned Mr..
Baintree, "for unless person happened
to know the secret Of opening the door, ]
would defy him to open it. You see," ad.
ded the president, suiting the action to the
word, "in order to effect an entrance, it
is necessary to turn the handle around ex.
actly seven times"
After the seventh time, Mr.. Baintree gave
a strong pull and the heavy door slowly
turned on it's hinges. The reverend gen.
tleman glanced inside with excusabls curl
osity. 7'"'
"Very curious very curious indeed" he
murmured. "How wonderful is the inge
nuity of manp' '" ''
At that moment Mr.. Braintree called the
clergyman to see something else in the
stone vault and they both moved away tt
the extreme end Of the apartment.
On glancing into the safe noticed that
two ledgers were out of their places.
entered the safe to place them II
their respective cases, when either the cler
gyman or Mr.. Baintree brsuhing past th'
safe, unconsoiously knocked against the
door, as he did so, which gave it an impetul
that closed it on me, the bolts shot noise
lessly into their sockets and was prison
or.
There was an acoustic phenomenon con
nected with this safe which never heart
explained, and that was, any one shut in
side could hear every word that was utter
ed in the vault, while no noise that h
might make could reach those outside.
was aware Of this popularity and kneN
that it was utterly useless for me to cal
| out. fg rrr ttH.Hf ..-
The only hope had was, that when MI
Baintree missed me he would surmis
where was. But in a few moments thi
allusion was dispelled. fHT
"Why, where can Mr.. Archer be ?
/ heard Mr.. Baintree observe. "0h II II
member now, he had an engagement afte
banking hours, and suppose he has gon
to keep ii, but think he might have lei
the lantern with me. But we can find ou
way out easy enough" | .
heard them leave the vault, the iror
bar put in its place, and the key turned !
the paddock. .b... .,f.-5 i.
/ realized the fact that there was Il
hope for me. was prisoner and that
had to remain until Monday morning. \
Itwas no pleasant thing to contemplat
remaining shut up there for forty-tw
hours without food or water but there wa
| no help for it, for / knew that all Il
screaming in tho world would only be 1
much breath wasted / therefore determb