Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-04-15
THE RUN ON THE BANK.

There was run on the Sandhil
and District Bank. 1t had lasted thu
whole Of one day and showed no signs
of abating in the evening. If il
lasted another day-old Mr.. Brad
shaw wiped his brow. 1t was no USE
talking to his son Dick, for he took
no interest in business and had spent
the day in a boat with the Flirting
ton girls; still Mr.. Bradshaw was
bound to talk to some one.
"We shall have to put the shutters
up. One days grace would save us, |
believe; we could get the money then.
But if they're at us again tomorrow
morning, we can't last two hours"
Dick sympathiZed, but had nothing
to suggest. except that it would not
make matters worse if he carried out
his engagement to go to the circus
with the FlirUington girls.
"Oh, so to Hong Kong with the
FlirtingtOn girls, if you like, "groaned
Mr.. Bradshaw.
So Dick went-to the circus (the
other expedition, as he observed.
would keep and enjoved the per-
Torrance very much, especially the
containing, which was magnificent,
and so impressed Dick that he de-
serted his companions, went behind
the scenes, and insisted on standing
Signor Philippini several glasses.
SIS that big chap quite safe??" he
asked, admiringly.
Il can do anything with 'im," said
the signor Whose English was natur-
ally defective); "but with any one
helSe'e's roarer, e is, and no mis-
take"
After the performance, Dick took
the Flirtington girls home; then,
with thoughtful look on his face,
he went and had some talk with his
father, and came away, carefully
placing a roll of notes in his breast
pocket. Then he sought SignOr Phil
ipp,ni's society once more. And that
is ali that is really known about it
if, that is, we discard the obviously
fanciful statement of Fanny Flirting
ton that, as she was gazing at the
moon about a. H., she saw heavy
wagon, drawn by two horses and
driven by Signor Philippini, pass
along the street in the direction of
the bank. She must have been wrong:
for Philippini, by the evidence of
his signOra-whoSe name, notwith-
standing that Philippians morals were
perfectly correct, was Mrs higgins
went to bed at 1880 o'clock, and
Snored all night.
However these things may be, this
is what happened next morning.
When the first Of the depositors ar
rived at a. NJ, they found one of
the windows Of the bank smashed to
pieces and the shutter hanging loose.
A cry went up that there had been
robbery, and one or two men began
to climb in. They did not get. far
before fearful roar proceeded from
the neighborhood of the counter.
They looked at one another, and said
it would be more regular to wait for
the officials. The roarS continued.
They sent for Mr.. Bradshaw Hard
ly had he arrived accompanied by
Dick, breathless and in shirt-sleeves)
before the backmost rows of the now
considerable crowd became agitated
with new sensation. The news
spread rapidly. Frantic men ran to
and fro; several ladies tainted; the
circus proprietor was sent for. A lion
had escaped from the menagerie, and
was supposed to be at large in the
town.
'Send for 'Phillppini" cried the
proprietor. They did so. Philippini
had started early for a picnic in the
country, and would not return till
lust before the Performance in the
evening. The proprietor was in
despair.
where's the beast gone to-" he
cried.
A roar from the bank answered his
question.
"Well, I'm bowed if he's not in
the bank" exclaimed the proprietor.
1t certainly appeared to be the fact
that Atlas THAT was the lions name)
had taken refuge in the bank and
was in full possession of the premises
and assets. Under these circum-
stances there was, Mr.. Bradshaw ex-
planned, difficulty in resumlng cash
payments; but il his checks would be
accepted The crowd roared al
most as loud as Atlas at such an idea.
Something must be done. They sent
for the mayor; he repudiated liability.
They sent for the fire brigade and the
life-boat crew; neither would come.
They got guns and peppered the fur
niture. Atlas retired behind the
fire-proof safe and roared worse than
ever. Meanwhile the precious hours
were passing. Mr.. Bradshaw's money
was also on its way from London.
At last Dick took noble resolution.
81 will 60 in at any cost" he cried;
and, in spite of Fanny FIirtington's
tears, he scaled the window and dis
appeared from view. The crowd waited