Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-15
How Our Bank Was Robbed.

One bright morning, n few years ago,
great excitement prevailed in the London
office of the City and Provincial bank
| Qimited). Yet the bank had just declared
II fat dividend of fifteen per cent for the
half year. Shareholders were contented,
and good Mammon seemed to cast fa-
vorable eye on the welfare of the old and
thriving corporation. However, mutin-
GUS feeling of discomfort was plainly visible
upon the faces of the thirty old employees,
who swarmed like bees into the hive every
weekday morning for the purpose of
manufacturing the golden produce that
delights the souls of distributing directors
and radiant proprictors. The shoe pinched
somewhere. Where was it?
The following notice, circulated for the
perusal of each clerk, contained the secret
of the unwonted gloom:
Every gentleman will be required to
remain at the banking house two Sundays
in the year, to assist in guarding the
premises. BY order,
j. SPoFFoRTH, Secretary.
Here was n revolution-a coup u etdt
indeed! Six days we should labor, but
the seventh certainly did not belong TO the
City and Provincial bank. The gliding OF
Il little extra pay might have made the pill
easier 10 swallow. but on this point the
notice was discreetly reticent. In the end,
after few DAYS of conjecture and excite
ment, every one quietly resigned himself
to his fate. as black and white slaves are
bound to do all over the world.
| had been ten wears in the bank. and
received Il salary which. though not mar
nificent, was sufficient TO support in COM
fort Young wife; and very happy were
we in our snug retreat at Wood Green.
OF course, we both thought it extremely
hard to be separated even for two SUNDAYS
in year. still we soon saw there was
nothing for it but submission.
Now, though l, in common with others,
rebelled against this forcible seizure of
SUNDAYS rest, vet it must be owned there
was some reason for extraordinary innoya-
tion. The strono-rooms of two neiohbor-
ino establishments had been attempted
within a fortnight, and a boy CARRYING
bonds on Broad street had been deceived
away and the securities stolen. But.
worst of all. some pilferinp had been oono
on for months in our own bank. StampS
had disappeared to an ALARMING extent
Clerks had missed money from their coats.
and now and then the garments them
selves had been spirited away. Traps had
been carefully laid. and a detective spoken
with; but as vet the rogue was not dis
covered, and an uneasy feeling was rife
among all.
The bank boasted of four porters or
MESSENGERS. one of whom-the chief
lived rent free in premises that nearly
adioined the building. He was long,
lean man named Bennett, with IL parch-
ment face and ooatee beard Some people
said he was civil, others servile: ut all
events he was quiet, well up to his work
and hioh in favor with the authorities. o.
the remaining three, one had been gro
ccr's bov. and the other was a lout pu
into a green coat and brass buttons, botl
honest creatures, but of no Importance il
this narrative, The fourth was an cx
policeman named Lance. blunt, pleasan
man.
After eight weeks had passed since the
official notification, it came round to m,
turn to keep guard. During the weei
preceding the mystery had become still
more intensified by the unaccountable dis
appearance of a twenty pound note. an,
matters beran to assume a very prly
aspect.
On arriving Mt the bank the door WA
opened bv the nioht watchmnn. an oil,
pcnsioned soldier, Who, for one pound
week remained in the buildinU all niobt
and vanisl ed with the early morninG a,
the arrival of the porters to omen the doors
A few minutes ai,crward Bennett wake,
in. nccompanied to nv iov. Inv honest MI
Lance. whose wonderful stories fondl
hoped would helm TO relieve the tedium n
a long. dull day: then. without more ado
proceeded to make nv first round
Preceded nv Bennett with a liobtn
taper. marched mn stairs. throuoh ever
, room and Office. across perilous plank
and nm danoerous ladders. till we uaine
the tran.door which opened on 10 The root
then down AGAIN tn the lowest ,hvss r
coal cellar and strone-room. looking i
vain for some concealed CIV Fawke,
who however was ronsnicuons for hi
absence
Vorv p,inp,alv did examina and tr
tbo drawer which had ,lro.dv beon t,n
nored win nc knew il contained h1
ssidoY stan,ns l,roe spm of rold m
notes Mt secmed firm and safe an
would take a deal q, work Rennett r,
marked. holding his taper close TO tb
lock. Lance. too. had n GOOD look at i
t and EXPRESSED the same sagacious opinio
AS his colleague.
Our first visit ended-aoJ was exncc
; ed to patrol at least three times in the da
the two porters went down to breakfns
and | adjourned to the managers room
leaving the door partly open SO as to b
able to see all round the bank. liz
cigar. and esconcino myself comfortnbl
in the managerial arm chair. proposed +
0 stav the two hours which interviewed b,
, tween the cessation of the church bells AN
luncheon time. Suddenly old Lance ~
| reared at the half opened door, and spolii
, in this wise:
'Scuse me, sir, but I've been n pleac,