Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-12-17

want II and ! must have Ii tonight,
You can sigH note with me for the
amount we will go to the bank and
get the money, leaving the note in the
place of It. In the morning before
the bank opens the note will be taken
up, nothing done that has not been
straight, busine.slike, and honorable
but you will be richer by Sc, $50. Now
If you can find any moral flaw in this
simple little matter of business, you
have sharper perspective powers than
have"
Bob's reason began 10 look plausible
1t was quite true, as he said, that the
board Of directors would willingly
loan him $1,000; but, after all, this
business was little irregular and !
didn't feel quite right about it.
"Time is passing" said Bob, CLAN
cling at his watch, "aud If you can't
favor me in this little matter of busi-
ness must try elsewhere. lam going
10 have the money tonight, sure, and
If you won't help me there are others
who will. Why, Tom" said he earn
estly, chow can you hesitate one mo-
ment! "You have my positive assur-
snce that everything is all right. I
only ask you 10 do tonight what you
wouldn't hesitate moment in doing
tomorrow. Then think of your duty
to yourself-to Nell"
"Say no more said" said I, "you
shall have the money"
Bob and hurried TO the bank, and
after going through the form of draw
Ing up and signing the necessary note,
1 went to the vault to get the money.
A queer, nameless feeling crept over
me as approached the door and seized
the handle TO work the combination.
10 my great surprise, TO my horror l
may say. found that the combination
was completely obiterated from my
mind. couldn't remember a turn
nor figure. Twas as utterly helpless
as If had never seen combination
lock in my life. . .--.. -.-
l shut my eyes and rubbed my fore
head. 1t was no use. The combins-
ton wouldn't come. 1t was some
thing that never had occurred before,
the combination being always go ready
in my mind that I worked it almost
mechanically. But tonight it was no
go. Some influence had SO upset my
mind that the combination was entirely
wiped out of it.
Hurry up, Tom" said Bob, "and
let's get through with this business"
"But 1 can't" said 1, helplessly;
"1've actually forgotten the combina-
ton"
"Come, come, Tom, said Bob, "that
won't do, you know. If you don't
want TO let me have the money, why,
say so, but don't resort TO a subterfuge
like that"
"It's no subterfuge at ALL" I an
swered, indignantly. "You shall have
the money if can unlock the vault,
but l declare TO you positively that ]
know no more how to work this com.
bination than you do"
"Well, that's Singular" said Bob.
Haven't you a memorandum of the
combination somewhere?"
eyes" said 1. 81 have-aud it Is
locked up in the vault"
"The deuce!" exclaimed Bob.
"Wel, wait little while and ii
may come back 10 you"
We sat down and tried to converse
on other matters, but I couldn't help
cudgeling my brain to try to make It
yield up that combination. But 1t was
Of no use, my mind wa. blank SO far
as those numbers were concerned.
"There's no help for it, Bob" said
[, at length. "If my life depended on
1t couldn't open that vault at this
time. Deuce take the luck, anyhow.
Six thousand two hundred and fifty
dollars just within my grasp, and now
to lose it, all on account of this con-
founded mental freak"
"Tom," interrupted Bob, who had
been doing some serious thinking, "it
may be all right. l confess am lit
tie superstitious, and what you call a
strange mental freak may be some
thing else-I don't know what-but
something that seems to say, Stop
right here and I am going to. Tom,
I'll let this opportunity slide and trust
to time for further explanations"
! And we left the bank with the
money in the vault undisturbed. 1
went to bed, still trying without sue
cess to recall that combination.
finally dropped off TO sleep, but awoke
as the town clock struck 12. Just as
the last stroke died away, quick as q
fash the combination appeared clearly
in my mind again.
( "The time is up" said to myself
"Was Bob right In his theory"
The next morning. about 9 O'Clock,
who should rush into the bank bui
Bob, his face lighted up with som,
unusual excitement. Beckoning nj
into private room he opened tho in
terview by exclaiming impressively /:
"Tom, 1t was special providence"
/ "What on earth do you mean, BOZ? p
said I.
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