Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-17
StlttttO StOrp,
HOW OUR BANK WAS ROBBED

One bright morning, few years ago
crea. excitement prevailed in the London
offico Of the City and Provincial bank
Cimi,et). Yet the bank had just de-
c!srod lat dividend OF fifteen per cent.
for the h-lf vesr Shareholders were
cor,en,ed. and Msmmon seemed 10 cast
favorable eve on tho old ard thriving
corporation. HoSever. muiinous feel
iag Of disconteu, was visible upon the
faces of the thirty employees. who
swarmcd ike bees into The old hive every
week day morning. But the shoe pinched
somewhere; where was i,'
The following notice, circulated for
the perus4. OF each CLERK, contained lh"
secret OF the unwontod gloom:
Every gentleman Will be required to
remain at the Uankiug-housc TWO Sun
DAYS 10 TIE year, 10 assist 10 guarding
she pTemis s.
By order. J. SroFFoErH. Secretary.
Here was a revolution! Six days we
labored. bu, the seventh certainly cid not
belong To the CITY and Provincial bank.
The gildirg Of little extra pay would
hsye made the pin easier 10 swallow, but
or This point lhe notice was diScreetIy
sIen, IL the end alter iew days OF
conjecture and excitement, everyone qui-
e,v resigned himself to mis- fate, AS black
and white slaves are bound TO do all the
world over.
I had been ten years in the bank. and
received = salary sufficient to support in
comfort a young wife; and very happy
We were in our snug retreat st Wood
Green. OF course. We both thought !,
extremely hard 70 be separa cd even for
two Sundays in the year.
Now, though l, in common with others
reoe led against the forcible seizure ol
the Sunday rest, Yet it must be owned
there was some reason tor the innovation
The s,rong.rooms OF two neighooring es'
Adjustments mad been attempted within
A fortnight; but. worst OF all, some phi
feri,r had been going on Tor months in
our own bank. Stamps had disappeared
20 an Alarming extent. Clerks had missed
money from their coats. and now ard
then the garments themselves were spir-
tied away. Traps had been carefully
laid. and s detective spoken with; but as
vet the rogue was not discovered, and an
uneasy feeling was rife among US all.
TIE bank boasied of four porlers or
mess s,ngers, one OF whom-the chiel-
/ lived in the premises taat ne..I.y joined
the building. he was long. lean man
named Bennett, with q parchment face
snd goa,ee beard. Some called hin
civil others servile; at al events he Wa:
quiet. well up to his work, and high IL
favor with the authorities. OF the re-
msinirg three. one had been grocer'
hoy. the second was lout put into &
green cost and brass buttons, both homes
creatures, bat Of no importance IN this
narrative. The fourth was an ex-police
man named Lance, a blunt, pleasant man
Alter eight weeks had passed since th'
official notification it came ms turn IC
keen guard. During the week preceding
the mystery had become still moro inten
si6ed by the eunsccountable disappearance
OF a e2O note, a1d matters began to as
sumo a very grave aspact
On arriving At the bank, the door wa
oueped by the uiyht-watchman. an ol'
pepsioued soldier. who, tor one pound
week. remained in the building all night
and vanished with the early morning oil
tie srrivai OF the porters to open In
doors. A few moments aiterward Ben
ne,t walked IN. accompanied. to my Joy
by honest old Lance, whose wondertu
stories fondiy hoped would help rellev
the tedium Of long. dull day; then
without more ado, proceeded to max
nv first round.
Preceded by Bennett with a lighie'
taoer marched up stairs, through ever
room and Office. across perilous plank
and up dangerous ladders, till we gaine'
the lrsp-dOor which opened on to tn