Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-05-27
MY, ,hIAKOTA, WEDNESDAY, NAY q, 1885.

q AKOTA, WEDNESDAY
80 up to hA house to- get another let.
he wanted to answer"
Well, why don't You go right on ?"
80 he.
I've got almost through says !,
nd didn't want to finish up and
In the vault till there was somebody
~"
That's very creditable to you," says
"A very proper sentiment, my
IN. You cant" he goes on. coming
tgand by the door, ''be too particular
ont avoiding the very suspicion Of
Nc. sir," says I, kinder modest like.
What do you suppose is the matter
"a the lock 2" says he.
4 don't rightly know yet" says L;
S2t ! rather think its little wore on
1tount Of not being oiled enough.
ose ere locks ought to be oiled about
cpe : year"
Well says he, @you might - we'll
kt On, now am here; ! will stay
TIL Jennings comes. Cant I help your
Hold your lantern, or something Of
that sort?"
The thought came TO mo like fash,
and turned around and says:
"How do know you're the Pres
ident2 amt ever seen you afore, and
you may be a-trying to crack the bank
for all know"
That's very proper inquiry, my
man." says he, "and shows a most re-
markable degree of direction. con-
fess that I should have thought of the
position in which was placing You.
However, can easily convince you
that it's all right. Do you know what
the Presidents name is?"
"No, I don't" says I, sorter surly.
"Well, you'll find it on that bill"
said he, taking bill out of his pocket,
"and you see the same name on these
letters" and he took some letters from
his coat.
suppose I ought to have gone right
on then, but I was beginning to feel
interested in making him prove who he
was. so says: "You might have got
them letters to put up q job on me-"
you're a very honest man" says he,
zone among thousand. Don't think
| I'm at all offended at your persistence.
No my good fellow. like it, like it, !"
and he laid his hand on my shoulder.
"Now, here" says he, taking a bundle
out of his pocket, "is package of $lO.-
600 in bonds. A burglar wouldn't be
apt to carry those around with him,
would he? l bought them in the city
yesterday, and / stopped here tonight
on my way home to place them in the
vault, and, ! may add. that your simple
and manly honesty has so touched me
that I would willingly leave them in
your hands for safe keeping. You
needn't blush at my praise"
suppose did turn sorter red when
/ see them bonds.
"Are you satisfied now ?" said he.
told him was thoroughly. and so
was. So ! picked up my drill again
and give him the lantern to hold, so
that could see the door. I heard
Jim, as I call him, outside once or
twice, and ! like to have burat out
laughing, thinking how he must be
wondering what was going on inside. I
worked away and kept explaining to
him what was a-trying to do. He
was very much interested in mechanics,
he said, and he knowed as was man
mp in my business by the way 1 went
to work. He asked me about what
wages / got, and how ] liked my bust
ness. and said he'd took quito fancy to
me. l turned around once in q while
and looked at him a-setting up there as
solemn as billed owl, with dark lam
tern in his blessed hand, and I'm
blamed il didn't think l should have
to holler right out.
got through the lock pretty soon.
and put in my wire and opened it.
Then he took hold of the door and
opened the vault.
"lll put my bonds in" says he. "and
go home You can lock up and wait
till Mr.. Jennings comes. I don't sup
pose you will try to fix the lock to-
night?"
told him shouldn't do anything
more with it now, as we could get in
before morning.
"Well. I'll bid you good night, my
man." says he, as ! swung the door to
again.
just then I heard Jim, by name,
whistle, and I guessed the watchman
was a-coming mp the street.
aAh," says l, you might speak to
the watchman, if you see him. and tell
him to keep an extra lookout to-
night"
II will" says he, and we both went
to the front door.
"There comes the watchman up the
street" says ].
"Watchmau. this man has been fixing
the bank lock, and I want you to keep
: sharp lookout tonight. He will stay
here until Mr.. jennings return"
"Good night, again" says he, and we
shook hands, and he went up the
street.
saw Jim, so-called, in the shadow
on the other side Of the street, as I
stood on the step with the watchman.
"Well,' says ] to the watchman, "I'll
60 and pick up my tools and get ready
to 60"
/ went back into the bank, and il
didn't take long to throw the door
open and stuff them bonds into the bag.
There WAS some boxes lying around
and safe, ! should rather have liked
to tackle, but it seemed like tempting
Providence after the luck we'd had. /
looked ct my watch and see it was just
1915. There was an express went
through at 1880. ] tucked my tools
with the bag on top of the bonds and
walked out to the front door. The
watchman was on the steps.
II don't believe I'll wait for Mr.. Jen-
nings," says ]. II suppose it will be all
right il I give You this key"
"That's Ill right" says the watchman.
Il won't go away very far from the
bank, says /.
No, wouldn't" says he, ''I1l stay
right about here al night"
Good night" says /, and ] shook
hands with him, and me and Jim
which wasn't his right name, you
understand took the 1890 express,
and the best part of that job was We
p - a -