Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-03-06

was one Oh inc OlO pattern winch was
neither fire nor burglar proof. Ny chief
dependence was on the strength of the
vault. | made all sorts of estimates, but
finally decided that Goldwaithe could
not cut his way down into the vault and
open the safe in less than twelve hours
at the very least. The tools and apph-
ances of that day were very crude COM
pared to the modern.
The man up stairs had been with US
half year, and no one could find the
least fault with his conduct, when he
seemed to mako a special effort to win
my friendship. Up to this time he had
passed the evenings in his rooms. With
out saying a word to my partner, had
passed my evenings in the bank, never
leaving until about ten o'clock I did
this to shorten Goldwaithe's time, pro-
viding he intended to enter the vault. I
was always at toe bank at half past
seven in the morning, and this would
give him only nine and half hours to
work, where had figured it would take
him twelve.
:: One evening something was said about
cards, and he SO managed it that I in
vited him up to my room in the hotel to
play a few games. AS long as he was
there I unprecedented no danger, and so it
finally came about that we used to spend
almost every evening in company. Some
times I went to his rooms, and some
times he went to nine, and he never ex-
hibited the slightest curiosity regarding
our business in the bank. One evening
he Il n oln
Next day Desnoyers said:
"Our man up stairs has been away,
eh?"
No"
"But I met ann as he came from the
depot last night at ten o'clock"
''Is that so? Why, I met man who
looked exactly like him. He was car
rying satchel, headed for the bank and
| am sure he went up the Stairway"
This statement puzzled and annoyed
me and kept my suspicious active.
Knowing that Goldwaithe was with me
at the hour of 10, was obliged to be-
lieve my partner mistaken, but there was
something about the case l did not like.
About four weeks later, one morning as
Iopened the bank, the ticket agent at
the depot came along on his way to
breakfast. A train passed at s o'clock,
and he was obliged to be there.
''Lost your inventor3" he asked, as he
came up.
"How-what?"
"Why, Goldwaithe. He went off on
the train this morning, and as he had a
satchel with him, 1 didn't know but he
was going for good. Bought ticket for
St. Louis"
As Goldwaithe had been with me up to
II o'clock the night before, and had said
nothing of going away, 1 was puzzled.
This state of mind was increased an hour
later when saw him in the bank. I
started to ask for an explanation, but on
second thought concluded not to. That
evening l saw the ticket agent and
asked:
care you sure you saw Goldwaithe go
away this morning2"
"Perfectly sure. Why?"
''Because he didn't go. He came into
the bank an hour after saw you this
morning"
sGreat heavens, man, but I sold him
his ticket and passed the time Of day
with him. You must be mistaken"
But satisfied him that was not, and
then both of US were puzzled. About
two weeks later I made an excuse to get
into the back room up stairs. I found
a piece of machinery mounted on the
wooden frame, and though I asked no
questions and Goldwaithe volunteered
no information l felt positive that it was
drill which was to be worked by turn
ing handle. AS told you before, so
long as I had the man under my eye
did not fear for the vault. If he was
with me evenings I cared not what he
did daytimes.
Two or three weeks after the incident
related above, I had a four-haud card
party in my room, and Goldwathe was
one of the quartet. At 9 o'clock [ was
called down stairs by the ticket agent,
who said:
81 want to know whether have seen
straight this time or not. Goldwaithe
came in on the $50 st. Louis express.
''You must be crazy! He is right up
stairs in my room at this moment, and
Peters and Thompson are with him!"
''But tell you saw him. More than
that, he came up the street ahead of
me and turned into the stairway"
took him up stairs, and when he saw
Goldwaithe sitting there he was dead
beat. Here were three instances of queer
deception. While 1 regarded them as
receptions or illusions, there was some