The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-12-05
A CLEVER CATCH.
Or How Our Bank Was Robbed.
BY T. s. G.

VI now our BANK was tIODDou.
BY T. 8. G..
One bright morning, few years ago, grea
excitement prevailed in the London Office G
the City and Provincial Bank (Limited). Ye
tie bank had just declared fat dividend q
fifteen per cent. for the half ear. Sharehold
ers were contented. and god Mammon SCENE.
to cast favorable eye on the welfare of tn
old aud thriving corpOrati IN. However,
mutinous feeling OF discomfort was plainl,
visible upon the faces Of the thirty old EN-
plOyes " no swarmed like tees ictO the hiy,
every week day morning, for the purpose 0
manufacturing the golden produc-s that de
lighteth the souls OF distributing directors an(
radiant proprietors. The shoe pinched some
where. Where was il?
The following notice, circulated for tht
perusal OF each cltl X, contained the secret O
Inc unwOnted gloon:
Every gentlema: will be required to remain
at the banking house two Sundays III the year
10 assist III guarding the premises.
by order, j. SPoFFoKTH, Secretary"
Here was a revolution-a coup ID etat indeed
Six days we should labor, but The seventh Ger
talnly did not belong TO the City and PiOvin
cla Bank. The gliding Of a little extra pay
III HhNC AldOC tiiO pm CusICi W swallow
but ON this point The notice was discreetl,
reiiceDt. In the eud, after few days Of con.
lecture aud excitement, every one quietly re.
signed himself to his fate. as black aud white
slaves arc bound to do all the world over
hau been len Years in the rank, ard re
ceived a salary which, though not utagniti
cent, was sufficient TO support in comfort a
.oung wife; and very happy we were in our
snug retreat at Wood Green. OF course we
M n lIh nAly how 70 I,a
rated even for two Sundays in year: still,
We sOoE saw there was nothing for it but sub
II sSiUn.
Now, though /, in common with others, re-
celiee against The forcihle seizure OF SUNDAY :
rest, yet it must be owned there was some
reason for The extraordinary innovation. Tire
OF two neig Aborng establish
ments had been attempted within fortnight,
and i boy carrying bonds in Broad Street hao
been decoyed away aud the securities stolen.
6ut worst Of all some pllering had been 90
ing on for months in our own bank
Stamps had disappeared to an alarming extent,
CleraS had missed money from their coats, and
now and then the garments the mseyes were
spirted away. Traps had been carefully laid.
I'D detective spok with; but as yet the
rogue was not discovered. and the uneasy
feeling was rife among us all.
The bank boosted of four porters or mes
free in premises that nearly adjoined the
building. He was long, lean han named
Bennett, with parchment face and goat. e
oeard. Some VI Ope said he WAS civil, others
servlle; at all events he was quiet, well up to
his work, and high in favor with the autnori.
lies. Of the The remaining three, one had
oeen grocer's hoy, and the other was q
country lout put into green coat and brass
buttons. both honest creatures. but Of no i'm.
nnrtQOc khiQ Thu
III eA-policeman named Lance, blunt, pleas
mt man, much gwen to relating queer stories
Of his former life. aud not avcrse 10 q pot OF
beer for his trouble.
After eight weeks are passed since the Of.
tical no ificatiOn, il came round to my turn to
Aeep guard.
During the week preceding the mystery had
oecolne stlll more iulch,,flru by The lilac
rountable disappearance of $50 note. and
matters began To assume worry grave aspect.
On arriving It the hank, the door was
open, by the night watchman, an old pens ion
u soiulvr, who, tor II week, remained IN
he building oil nj ght, and vanished with The
.arly morning, on the arrival OF the porters
% open the doors. A few minutes afterward
Bennett walked ID, accompani. d. to my Joy.
" on st old Lance, whose wonderful stories
{ fonoly hoped would help to relieve the te.
iium Of long, dull day; then, without more
do, proceed to make my first round
Preceded by Bennett with a lighted taper.
| marched up stairs, through every room
aud office, across pcriious Tlanks and w
dangerous ,dders, till We game the trap.
ioor which opened OIL TO the roof, then down
gain 10 the lowest abysses Of coal celer and
'lr'ng room, looking in vain for some con.
.ealrd Guy Fawkt-, who, however, Wa, con.
.picuous :or bis absence.
Very minutely did examine and try the
irawer, which had already been tempered
Nth. as knew it contained. besides stamps,
large sum IN gold and les. Nit seem
: firm aud sale, and would taxi "a deal q
york as Bcnnett remarked, holding his Ia
Der lose 10 the lcck. Lance, too, had a
good look att, and EXPRESSED the same aga
ious opinion rs his colleague.
Our tirst visit enoed-aDd was expected 10
oalroi at least three times in the dsy-iae
40 porters went 10 breakfast, and / adjourn.
to the managers roJm. leaving tn. door
astly open. So as TO bc q Die to s.e all round
tie bank lit cigar, aud, rnsconcipg my.
ell Comfortably in the managerial armchair.
prepared 10 stay The two hours which inter
srn.d between the cessation Of the churc. :
Ills and luncheon-iiDe. Suddenly old
Lance appeared ut the half-opened door, and
poke in this wise:
~'Scasc me. sir. hut I've been pleacemsn.
and don't think that l''ck's sli right"
Winch lock. Lance.' said
THAT there drawer with the stamps, sir"
We'll. let as look again
SO laying. We both went to the counter
~aIch contained the drawer. ana Lance point
81 out some small scratches Oh the lock. and
I, light indenistion In tie woodwork eur.
II.
-rh its chisel, If die for IT," said the ex.
o 'eesnag.
by Iovel you don't mean i,v,
"Sure OF IL. SIR
We'll. lcts have Bennett up stairs, and
sear Wi a he thinks OF it,
Angry ut being disturbed at his breakfast.
nc head porter csme gTumblipg TO the place
: here | -iood, ald bending DOM tD the lock
mpatiently inquired IL it Was not deal morr
ik-ls the cAsiicr scratched 1t in the course
d business After few minutes further i'm
'p-stion. he looked UP with a knowing emile
II believe Lance Is right now: 1T looks go
.nss something about this -
Pc, hsps so,s' said /; what do you think.
-ancr.7
Well. re looks honest erough-but locks
sin't always q guide said the man. au,,.,ly
Zen III sta,t, in the hank tn night. and
&c II can trap my gentleman tx .iaimec
3cn1eif, 4 ycaTi i-aye me The kew
i cant do hal I replied but | shall; r.
e0Ft The 9scs 10 the manager the frs. thing iu
he Taurni go
A. yys' like. sir he assented reIuc.zutry
q m-zl
A-ain | retreated into nv den. this time
: I tie prussd consciousness of hayif., er,u-
ming Important to rclzfe Ehen Noasta4 IN ,rf,
az 1suif Sc the stream 81 huss workers
snce Tnsrc setting wfrh hooks and rzs,.y.
and fiihy lDcre generally One-Dsy. r.o
,sExfs CSC consume dozen 10 The las; half