The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-27

ont to dine at his home close by, While Ben.
nett was left on guard below. As he closed
the door benin him, my eyes shut and I fell
asleep, but only in few moments % be re-
awakened by his voice again addressing me:
don't think I'll go out to dinner, sir .
said ne, gazing at me with strange express
why not ~ quoth /, drowsily.
MsWel, sir, ! don't feel very bright to-day,
I'd rather stop indoors; 'and If you'd he 60
kind as not to mention to Bennett IS I've
come back. But you don't look very wei
yourself, sir, just now?
Lance, that stout has made me most con-
foundedly sleepy"
g swell have q bit Of q nap, sir Ill see the
place is all right-onlyI don't want Bennett
to know I'm here"
aAll right,"I replied, rather shortly, for
wanted to be left to myself; yet was some-.
what surprised at his wish for concealment in
SC trivial q matter.
close the door, and once more drifted into a
heavy but pleasant slumber. Soon was q
dentzen OF dreamland, and a sharer In it's
grotesqIe and fantastic imaginings. I
thought was clinging to the telegraph wires
that stretch like webs over London, and per-
forming thereon athletic feats In impossible
positions; then few through the air toward
my home at Wood Green spinning ., as went.
o thread Of WIRE by which to retprn-a use
less precaution, as was at once transported
TO Inc Desert of Sahara, where found myself
on cameps back careering across the burn
ing plain. But in my dreams the face of the
camel was the face ofthe policeman Lance.
seemed to be borne past us on the wind. The
pace began to slacken; and, as spurred ON
my steed to fresh exertions, I seemed to feel
Inc prick OF the rOwels in my own flesh It
became sharper and more painful; and gradu
ally camel, desert, CHASE, faded from nv
vision, and the bank once again dawned on
my awakening senses. But, though nv
aerial steed and his surroundings had an dis.
appeared, the spur unaccountably enough re-
NAMED, as my neither limbs were painfully
reminding me.
It was no dream this time-I WIGS wide
awake. Quickly glancing round, discover
ed Lance crouching down beside my chair,
and vigorously applying a pin 20 the cali OF
my leg. To this proceeding I was about TO
enter an indignant protest, when significant
gesture warned me to remain mute. His
face was white with unwonted excitement, as
ne rose noiselessly to his feet, and beckonine,
me to small aperture in the wall used for
inc transmission OF books and papers between
manager and clerks, babe me look upon 4
spectacle that made each Individual hair upon
my head to stand erect. The drawer contain
ing the stamps and gold was being hammered
with before my very eyes in broad daylight.
STOPPING down with his back toward US MAS
man softly but swiftly forcing the lock with
chisel. But the man-the thief-who was
he? knew at glance that long, lean form.
1t was Bennett We both shrank back.
FAKE Oft your boots, sir" he whispered, in
allow voice. noticed that his own feetsyere
sheeless. "Creep round outside the counter
and wait till give the word-then over and
help me. $1,000,
l nodded assent; and then I saw Lance
crawl out upon his hands and knees into the
office behind the shelter of long high desk.
at the end Of which he would be within few
feet OF Bennett. I crept away to the other
entrance OF the managers room, which led
into large space appropriated t. the public,
and, gliding noiselessy along, arrived where
| knew must be opposite the thief at his
work. Click, click, went the chisel against
the brass lock. It was apparently work Of
time and difficulty, though the sound of crush
ing woodwork betokened the near accomp
lishment OF the deed. How long the time
seemed! Had Lance been able to get close
to him undiscovered?
grating work. So netimes it stopped for a
moment, and then knew that the man was
watching the door of the managers room to
see thatl was safe under the influence of the
narcotic administered in my pint of stont.
Click, click, crunchi And the whole lock sp-
peared to come away, the drawer being at the
same time drawn softly open. ST.
Now" thought I, "here goes
Not yet! could hear the mellow chiEk Of
the small bags Of gold IS they were huTsiedly
transferred to the mans pockets; tt..ss5ii the
stiff rustic of many sheets of stamps told OF a
like destination. I listened breathlessly. Sud
denly there was yell of min gIed fright and
rage, and vauliing at one bound across the
counter, saw Bennett falling backward, his
throat clutched by the practiced hand OF the
eH-policeman, who held ON with a will, hay
ing sprung upon him silently from behind.
The half-strangled man struggled like fend,
dealing me several ugly kicks with his long
legs as attacked him from the front. But
the odds were too many, and furthermore he
was taken by surprise In few moments he
was overpowered, and his hands and feet were
securely fastened. Not a word had been ut
tered since the commencement of the conflict,
but now Lance looked up and said in stern
voice:
"Got the scoundrel at last-next things
pleaceman. Will you go, sir, Or shall ="
Here there was fierce attempt to free him
self by the PROSTATE thief.
Perhaps I'd better stop with him. contin-
ued Lance, you'll get 8 constable in min
ute at the station in Old Jury ~
SEEING my hat, was off in 2 twinkling,
and returned in double-quick time to the
bank, accompanied by stnlwart member Of
the cits police. A few moments saw the pc-
liceman. myself, and our chopfallen prisoner
marching quietly to the station, where
made the charge, and left him to the solitude
OF cell till Monday morning On my return
to the bank, the night watchman had srriy-
ed, and prepared to go home.
why, Lance, you must have suspected
the beggar before this!" exclaimed.
"Pve thought it sometimes, sir" he laugh
ed. "Knew 1 should cop him some day"
Then, with frown. "Mean, sneaking scamp!
believe he meant to try to put it on to me or
the watchman here"
well, alps we'll that ends well, Lance and
It was clever catch of yours. We have a
| nice story for Mr.. Spoforth tomorrow. Good
| night" ,a .......-.. ..
+ Goodnight, Sir" s ..-- .- g. F.
[ When walked into the bank next morniu z
found the story was already known. Little
knots of men were eagerly discussing the
event, and as we'll as Lance soon became the
entire OF an animated crowd. At eleven
O'Clock I was summoned to the board-roon,
to the Committee of Directors, who compG-
mented me upon the capture, as If I, and no:
Lance, had been the hero of the day. In the
| morning newspapers there was o graphic ae-
count of the "Great Bank Robbery" concoct-
ed by some ubiquitous penny-a-liner, which
my wife read and re-read with mingled pleas
ure and alarm. Bennett was eventually sen
fenced to eighteen months imprisonment,
! which we all considered far too lenient
judgement. The ex.policeman came in for
the head-messenger's berth, with house
rent free and a nresent of .fiftv pounds In