The Worthington advance., 1878-11-28

ne O2nK II nt cigar. Auus ,enecOnclnH my /
eli comfortably in the managerial arm.cbair.
to stay tho two hours which inter.
cncd between the cessation of the church. |
,ells :, and luncheon.time.. Suddenly old |
4ance appeared at the half-opencd door, and |
poke in this wise: |7''l''E
!, ,""''Scuse me, sir, but I've been pleaceman.
md don't think that locks all right,
(which lock, Lance?" said I - |
"That there drawer with the stamps. sir"
! "Well. let US look again.f' ~.
So saying, we both went to the counter
vhlch contained tue drawer, and Lance point |
ID out some small scratches ou the lock, and
| slight indentation in the woodwork SUR |
WHAT'S 4 ;shisel if die for itn' aid the e.
'By Jove! You don't mean it!'
"Sure OF it, sir"
'sWell, let's have Bennett 10 stsirx. and
hear what he thinks of it," 80.
Angry at being disturbed at his breakfast.
The head porter came grumblipg to the place
where stood, and bending down to the lock,
mpatiently:mquired If it was not deal more
likely the cashier scratched it in the course
ofbusiness After few minutes further in
spection, he looked up with knowing smile
II believe Lance Is right now; it 10 ,ks SO
fresh, I shouldn't wonder il the 'watchman
knew something about this"
Isds9E.9 ;rs9'Ee9ps So" said l.; "vh's>d0 you Think
"Well, he looks honest enough-but looks
ain't always a guide" said the man. Quietly:
"rhen I'll stop in the bank tonight, and
see il can trap my gentleman" exclaimed
Bennett, is'if you'll leave me the key"
II can't do that" replied, "buti shall re-
port the fact to the manager the first thing in
the morning.
and they both returned to their long-neglect-
ed meal.
Again retreated into my den, this time
with the proud consciousness of having some-
thing important to relate when Monday morn
ing should see the stream Of busy workers
once more settling with books and papers
and and flihy luere generally one-nay; E., two
inch, read "Byles On Bills" nearly through, in
default OF morcc heerfui literature, and am
afraid tiny doze must have ensued, as was
awakened by Bennett's voice close to me ask
ing what ! would take for luncheon. Me
chanically fixed upon the hacSncyed chop,
and with it a pint OF stout, to be fetched from
the only eating house that dcigned to open for
couple Of hours on Sunday. While he was
gone took the opportunity OF making my
second round, and found nothing but peace
everywhere, with the slight exception Of be-
ing startled by the sudden appearance of the
bank cat from the cavernous depths of the
enormous coal-ccllar. Eventually returned
n
smoking upon the table, flanked by a pewter
pot Of foaming stout, which, on tasting. l
found unusually soft and crcamy-indeed,
fanciea could detect peculiar aroma in the
grateful beverage, which seemed to make it
more than ordinarily pslatable; anyhow,
thoroughly enjoyed the rcpast, and when an
intensely sluabcrous sensation crept through
all my veins, my strongest effort Of will prov
ed insufficient to keep me awake. While
was still struggling against the impulse,
Lance came to inform ME that he was going
out 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 fell
awakened by his voice again addressing me-
~ don't think I'll 60 out to dinner, sir"
said he, gazing ut me with a strange express
sion. -.
"Why not?" quoth l, drowsly.
q" Well, sir, I don't feel very bright o-dav
ia rather stop indoors; and if you'd he 60
kind as not to mention to Bennett as Tye
yourself, sir, just now"'
Lance, that stout has made me most con
foundcdly sleepy!'
"Well have bit Of nap, sir. I'll see the
place is all right-.only I don't want Bennett
to know l1, here"
"A!l risht,"I replied, rather shortly, for
wanted to b.. left to myself; yet I was some-
Sc trivial a matter.
Again saw the man pass out and partly
close the door, aud once more dritted into
heavy but pleasant slumber. Soon I was a
dcnizcn Of dreamland, ard a sharer in its
grotesque and fantastic ilnaginings.
thought was clinging to the telegraph wires
that stretch like webs over London, and per-
forming thereon athletic fcats in impossible
positions; then I flew through the air toward
my home at Wood Green, spinning, rs went,
thread Of wire by which to return-a use
less precaution, as was If once transported
to The Desert of Sahara, where l found myself
on q camel's back careernS across the burn
ing plain. But III my dreams the face Of the
camel was the face Of the ex- policeman Lance,
and ever and anon strange grating noises
seemed to be borne past us or the wind. Tie
pace began to sl.eken; and. as SPARED on
my sliced 10 fresh cxertions, seemed to feel
The prick Of the rowels in my own flesh. 1t
became sharper and more painful: and gradu.
ally camel, desert, chas', faded from my
my awakening senses. But, though my
aerial stced and his surroundings had all dis
appeared, the spur unaccountably enough re-
NAMED, a3 my neither limbs were painfully
reminding the.
1t was no dream this ti,nc-I was wide
awake. Quickly g!:neing round, I discover
ed Lance crouching down b.!;ide my clair,
and vigorously applying pm 20 the calf oi
my leg. To this proceeding | Was about to
enter all Ind! sna..t protest, when significant
gesture warned NE to remain mute. His
face was white with urwontcd excitement, is
he rose noiselsssly to his fett, and bcckoning
.E,c to a si.2 all aperture in the wall used fer
the Transmission Of books and papers between
manager and clerks, bade me look upon a
spectacle that made each Individual hair upon
my head to stand erect. The drawer contain
ing the stamps and gold was being tanpercd
with before my very eyes in broad daylight.
STOPPING down with his back toward us was
man softly but swiftly forcing the lock with
a chiscl. But the man-the thief-who was
1t was Bennett. We both shrank back.
"rake of your boots, SIR" he whispered, in
a low voice. noticed that his own feet were
sheclcss. "Crcep round outside the counter,
aud wait till give the word-thcn over and
help me.
nodded assent; and then l saw Lance
crawl out upon his hands and knees into the
office behind the shelter OF long high desk,
ut the end of which he would be within few
feet Of Bennett. crept away to the other
entrance Of the managers room, which led
into large space appropriated IT, the public,
and, gliding noiselessiy along, arrived where
knew must be opposite the thief at his
tie brass lock. 1t was apparently a work OF
time and difficulty, though the sound OF crush
ing woodwork bctokcncd the near accomp-
lishment Of the deed. How long the time
seemed! Had Lance been able to get close
to him undiscovered2
Judged So as the chiscl still continued its
grazing work. So netimcs it stopped for a
moment, and then knew that the man was
watching the door Of the managers room, to
see that was safe under the influence Of the
narcotic administered in my pint Of stout.
Click. click, crureh! And the whole lock ap-
peared to come away, the drawer being at the
same time drawn softly open.
"Now," thought !, "hcre goes"
Not yet! could hear the mellow chink OF
the small bags of gold as they were hurricdly
transferred to the mans puckets; then the
stiff rustic Of many sheets Of stamps told Of a
like destination. l listened breathlcssly. Sud
denly there was yell Of mingled fright and
rage, and vaul'ing at one bound across the
counter, I saw Bennett falling backward, his
throat clutched by the practiced hand OF the
ex-politeman, who held on with will, hav-
ing sprung upon him silently from behind.
The half-strangled man struggled like flcnd,
dealing me several ugly kicks with his long
legs as l attacked him from the front. But