American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-09-26
VOL. XIV.


stretched forth my hand to take the gif
| it felt cold, and l awoke.
l started up in astonishment, for the
shutters of my window were wide oper
and the lower sash raised, and l could
look out upon the night sky. l knew
had fastened the shutters before going
to bed; but had scarcely time to think
floor shook, and man sprang out through
the open window.
The keys!
| bounded out of bed, ran to the win
dow, and, imperfectly appareled as l was,
| jumped out into the garden-fOr my
room was rear one on the ground floor
and with few bounds reached the
| fence, and climbed over into the quiet
| street.
The night was still and pretty cool. /
stood moment to listen for the foot
steps of the robber, when, in the light of
a street lamp, / saw a man deliberately
approaching me. As he neared me,
perceived with astonishnfent, not I'M
mixed with dread, that he was the
mysterious man / had seen at the bank
the day before.
Whats the matter?" he asked.
"Some one has been in my ROOM"
"Well?"
The town clock struck very dismally.
ucy We tdkcu Tie Dduk Keys, L Ssilu,
forgetting that l was revealing a secret.
i must hurry to the bank"
"Better get your clothes on first"
"But the bank will be robbed if | de-
lay
He stood in my way and said authorita-
lively:
60 back and dress; I'll watch the
bank"
Without stopping to ask myself who
this man might be, l fastened back to my
room to obey his suggestion; and, hastily
creeping into my clothes, L lighted a
candle and knelt down to examine my
trunk, which was open and the contents
of which were somewhat disOrdered. l
thrust my hand down among the books
and clothes, and, to my joy, found the
keys in their place.
bly,.
"Why ?" asked a voice at my ear.
started up and found the mysterious
stranger near me. He had boldly en-
tered my apartment without an invita-
ton. L was too bewildered at first to
realize the extent of his audacity, and l
replied to his question:
He didn't get the keys, after all"
"That's lucky" he said.
To ascertain if anything else had been
stolen, began to move the contents of
the trunk about and suddenly discovered
a roll of bank notes which l knew did
not belong to me. UTTERED an eXclama-
ton of surprise.
whats the matter now" asked my
strange visitor.
why, the thief has dropped some of
his own money in my trunk" l said,
holding the notes up to view.
The strange man looked at the money
and then at me. The look he gave me
was keen and sharp, and heseemed to be
reading the thoughts of my heart. Then
his manner suddenly changed, and he
seemed like an enemy transformed into
q friend.
"Look here" he said, with an air that
inspired me with confidence, Just sit on
the bed there, hold on to that money and |
give me your candle a moment"
/ instinctively obeyed, and he took the |
candle and examined the floor carefully |
in the vicinity of my trunk. He espe-
cially looked behind 1t, and saw him
snatch something up and |
put it in his pocket.
whats thatg" innocently asked.
1t was strange never once suspected
him of being burglar.
Young man." he said, arising and |
coming near me, "look at mer' and he |
held the candle SO that it shOne full upon
his face. do look like man who
would lie?"
/ had to confess now that he did not,
which was the truth; and, in any event,
should have felt some hesitation about
calling a muscular-looking man a liar
while alone with him at that hour of the
night;
tell you that the interests ofjustice-mark
my words, the interests of justice-de-
mand that you should keep that money
ill it is called for; and that you should
not breathe a word of what has hap
pened tonight until l see you again that
you go to the bank and go about your
luties as usual in the morning. Will
you, on your honor, grant the three re-
quests, ask no questions, and trust in
ne."
"I will"
"Then 1 will rely upon you. Now
close your window and go to bed Re
Not a wordi Goodnight"
He went to the window, sprang nimbly
)ut, and was alone.
| carefully closed and fastened the
looked at the bank keys again,
% assure myself that they were safe, then
the notes. One thousand dol
arsl 1t was SO like dream. l blew
nut my candle and went to bed; but l
aid awake till daylight, thinking of
ucSc strange eVcntS.
arose early, ate very little breakfast,
Mysterious MANN whom l felt a strange
went to the bank and set
bout my usual duties.
The bank was opened for business
very morning at nine O'Clock, but |
vent at eight, as l generally found a
.OOd hours work to do before opening.
The cashier always arrived at nine,
and the President looked in
bout eleven.
On this occasion, however, / had
carcely entered the bank when the door
vas thrust open at my heels and the
PRESIDENT and cashier stepped in. They
ooked grave, and l plainly saw that
Omething was wrong.
William" said the President, stcrnly,
IS he pointed to the cashiers chair,
take seat there. have something to
ay to you"
sat down, wondering what was COM
ng- They remained standing.
80 WIFI said the old cashier, while
ancied could see the tears stand in his
bought itw
Why, Henry, what is wronggn /
sked.
Its all found out, )" he responded. $50,
or your own sake, / hope you will not
assemble. Confess, return the money
nd escape prison"
"Why, what do you mean?" ! asked
% In short" said the President, speak
ny more harshly than the cashier, "you
ave robbed this bank of fifty thousand
dollars, and you know it, Now, tell
where the money is, restore it and you
nay go. No equivOcatiOn"