Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-10-10


out connecting them in any way with
the mysterious populations.
Banker Burnley could gain admit
ance to his private Office from his
apartments over the bank without
entering the main door, and so wOr-
ried was he over his mysterious losses
that on several occasions he rose in
the night, and, stealing softly down
stairs, waited in the hope of catching
the thief.
AS the mystery deepened he grew
careworn, haggard and pale, and his
dreams were filled with haunting
visions of masked robbers.
During all this time Edward Rad
cliffe worked diligently at his book
keeping, happy in the knowledge
that Edna Burnley still loved him,
and would wait patiently until such
time as he could make her home.
They had a rendezvous in a dense
grove of trees on the outside of the
village, and met there frequently.
On one particularly dark night
they met as usual, and, after strolling
about the grove and talking as lovers
will, turned their steps homeward.
AS they neared the bank building
the town clock chimed twelve.
81 had no idea it was so late ~ said
Edna apprehensively. "Papa would
be furious if he knew | stayed out so
late. l shall have to steal in very
quietly, for since these mysterious
rObberies he has been very restless at
night and frequently gets up and
wanders about the house."
BY this time they had reached the
gate by which admittance could be
gained to the little garden surround
ing the bank, and softly unlatching
it, Radcliffe led the way to the side
door.
AS he paused for a minute on the
step to bid the beautiful girl "GOod-
night" light suddenly flashed
through the window of the bankers
private Office overlooking the garden,
and they saw outlined against the
+ curtain the from of man.
: "Ha ~ exclaimed Radcliffe, in a
startled whisper, "what does that
: mean--a man in your fathers private
e office ?"
at is the robber !" gasped Edna
g clinging to his arm and beginning tC
tremble.
n "Open the door," whispered Rad
: cliffe, "and I'll capture the villain p
d "No, mop persisted Edna. "Tht
h robber is evidently a desperate vii
e lain, and he may be armed"
y Nonsense! !" retorted Radcliffe
opening the door. eff l capture hin
L it will place your father under obi
L cations to me, and he may consent t,
q our marriage"
q The door which opened out of tn
e little entry into the private Office wa
ajar, and pushing it open Radcliffe
10 peered in.
y At the same instant a bright ligh
was flashed in his eyes and he starte,
'e back, for confronting him was banke
i Burnley himself, clutching in on
l. hand roll of notes, and in the othe
I, a dark lantern.
;, Finally the banker turned sharply
E. and walkingtoan old-fashionedhors
Il hair-cOvered lounge which stoo
against the wall at one end of tn
3 room, drew back the heavy cushiO
er and placed the roll of notes CAREFUL
III in the cavity. Then replacing tt
cushion, he pushed back the slide
IL his lantern and started toward Il
h door, on the threshold of which stOC
OF Radcliffe, with Edna peering over h
I'll shoulder.
OF The whole proceeding had been
strange and mysterious that Radclit
us fundamentally drew back as Il
banker approached, and an apolog
81 for his intrusion trembled on his liz
ne The hanging light in the ent
ct' threw its reflection on the banker
hg face as he drew near, and Radcli
De noticed that although his late Ell
ployer's eyes were wide open, tn
IN had a fixed and meaningless stare.
ks "Sleepwalking, by JOvep' he eiaC
'as lated, and clutched the somnamt
lists arm.
I'm Hap cried the banker, with
rs, start; and reeling, he would ha
KS fallen had not Radcliffe support
zen him. "What does this mean? Wh'
lel am I?".
yer "Walking in your sleep, papa,"
'ne terposed Edna, stepping forward a