Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-11-25

N't "s suiiicu III contempt a
uie idea of my turning robber, | al.
iewed myself TO speculate in case
dd That is, | wondered how mucl
could get hold of, what country
should go to, and so forth aud so on.
y heh suddenly found myself greatly
interested ! jumped up in shame and
confusion, but half an hour later was
deep ia imagination again.
IL seemed as if lhe evil one did
everything in his power to aid me af-
ter had finally dctermed on my
course. | had the "luckn to meet an
American who had Just returned from
south America. lie mentioned sew.
ersl sure things in the way of specu-
lailon, and painted such glowing
picture of the country that | was ex-
cited and impatient. The bank had
large deposits that fall, and on the
~ b day of September we had nearly
$4,000 of what was called outside
money. This was cash temporarily
deposited by the County Treasurer
aid by the cashiers of three or four
manufacturing establishments. l had
be5n waiting fcr such an opportuni-
IT, could have taken from 500. 900
to $50. 900 almost any dav, but | had
plsnncd to practically clean out the
institution.
Between the 4th aud 1lth of Sep
teniber | planned the details of my
flight. / knew the time tables of the
different railroads should pass over,
Whit day | should take the steamer,
and every detail had been carefully
woIked out. might be pursued, but
| catered myself that had laid my
plals too well to be caught. planned
to 10 the bank at o'clock in the
evening and secure admission. The
walchman would not hesitate to let
inc IN. | would then assault and
overcome him. he could not give the
alarm before mornhy, and would
theu be far away. | lpla,ned to make
my Soup on the night of the'st Al
the tlose of business on the afl~ no,
of laat day we had slO7 900 in gree
bac;bs in the vaults. After bank has
elossed its doors to the public at =
o'cl,bck D. m. there is work to keep the
forcRe busy for an hour or more. For
Il ycfar had always been the last one
to uavc, and my hour had been ?
o'cle ok. The lrusty day porter was
lher left alone until 8 o'clock, when
watchtia :. - - -. r..ss--g 0'c4oo..-
that afternoon, and just as the last
clerk had departed, the night watch
man came to notify me that his wife
had died suddenly aud to ask that a
substitute be employed. He named
man, but / told him that would
make my own arrangements.
When the watchman had departed
notified the day porter that he might
leave at O'Clock, as | had work which
would detain Inc till about s. Five
minutes after | was alone in the
bank, and its funds were under my
thumb The train BY which | should
leave town was not due until 1880,
and was, therefore in no hurry.
locked up and went to my boarding
house to supper. Al I o'clock re-
turned to the bank, pulled down the
shades, lighted the gas, and in the
course of twenty minutes had packed
every dollar in the vaults into satchel
provided for the purpose. This satch-
ell | placed on chair outside the
railing. and had sat down for smoke
when there was a rap at the door. /
knew it was one of our force, but
hlrdIy expected to see the president
himself.
al expected it was yOu," he said, as
he entered. Always the last to go.
You are working too hard and must
take a rest. AT meeting of the board
today it was decided to give you a
months leave and gift of $500 in
cash. You have been faithful and
efficient, aud W. wish you to know
how thoroughly you are appreciated"
! don't remember what said in re-
ply, but / do remember that something
like horror seized upon me at the idea
of my own baseness. Right there in
reach of his hand was the money in
tended to fly with, and yet he was
lavish in his praises of my integrity.
He remained only brief time. and
soon after his departure | went out
side to walk about and plan little. l
hadn't given up the idea of robbery
and flight, but still, small voice was
whispering 10 me. On the first street
corner encounted tramp. was
very much perturbed, but | shall al
WAYS remember what he said. When
he asked for aims | suppose | stared
at him, for he added;
"Yes I'm ashamed of myself. It's
my own fault that Pm down here. l
let temptation get the better of me"
That was another prick of con-
science, but he actually hurt me when
he said: