Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-04-27
THE RUN ON THE BANK

lHt evening. II ~ ltt7tt'l dilblltE Alily-Oltl
Mr.. bradshaw 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 II boat with the Flrtington girls. Still
Mr.. Bradshaw was bound to talk to some
one.
1--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 would not make mat.
ters worse if he carried out his engagement
to 20 to the circus with the Flirtington
girls.
"Oh, go to Hong-Kong with the Flirting
ton girls, if you like" groanel Mr. Brad
shaw.
So Dick went--to the circus (the other ex-
petition as he observed would keep and
enjoyed the performance very much, espe-
cially the lion tanning, which was magniii-
cent, and so impressed Dick that he de-
serted his companions, went behind the
scenes, and insisted on standing Signor
Philippini several glasses.
us that big ch0p quite safe2" he asked
admiringly.
VI can do anything with 'im," said the
signor (whose English was naturally de-
fective), "but with any one helse 'e's roar
er, e is, and no mistake"
After the performance Dick took the Flirt-
ington girls home; then, with a thoughtful
look on his face, he went and had some talk
with his father and came away, carefully
placing roll of notes in his breast pocket.
Then he sought Signor Philippians society
once more. And that is all that is really
known about tiff, that is, we discard the
obviously fancful statement of Fanny
Flirtngton that as she was gazing at the
moon about a. III. she saw heavy wagon
drawn by two horses and driven by Signor
Philippini pass along the street in the di-
rection of the bank. She must have been
wrong, for Philippini, by the evidence of
his sgnora-whose name notwithstanding
that Philippines morals were perfectly COR
rect, was Mrs. Buggins-went to bed at
half past II o'clock and snored all night
However these things may be, this is what
happened next morning When the first of
the depositors arrived ut Z a. M, 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 a 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 ut one another and
said it would be more regular to wait for
the officials.
The roars continued. They sent for Mr.
Bradshaw. Hardly had he arrived (accom-
panied by Dick, breathless and in shirt
sleeves) before the backmost rows of the
now considerable crowd became agitated
/, To-, A
from the menagerie and was supposed to be
ut large in the town.
Send for Philippine cried the proprie-
tor.
They did so. Philippini had started early
for Il picnic in the country and would not
return till just before the performance in
the evening. The proprietor was in despair.
Where's the beast gone to?" he cried.
A roar from the bank answerered his
question. .
well, Pm blowed if he's not in the
bankp' 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 pos
session of the premises and assets. Under
these circumstances there was, Mr.. Brad
shaw explained, Il difficulty in resuming
cash payments, but if his cheeks would be
accepted
The crowd roared almost as loud as At
las at such an idea Something must be
done. They sent for the mayor; he repudi-
ated liability. They sent for the fire br-
gade and the lifeboat crew; neither would
come, They got guns and peppered the
furniture. Atlas retired behind the fire
proof safe and roared worse than ever
Meanwhile the precious hours were pass
ing. Mr.. Bradshaws money was also on
its way from London. At last Dick took
noble resolution.
II will go in at any cost" he cried, and
in spite of Fanny Flirtington's tears he
scaled the window and disappeared from
view. The crowd waited to hear Atlas
crunching, but he only roared. When Dick
was inside, he paused and asked in low
voice, rs he chained?"
Yes" answered Signor Philippini from
behind the safe. as the Aunt Sally bust
ness over" and he came out with long
pole in his hand. he used the pole to stir
poor Atlas up when the roars became de.
ficient in quantity or quality.
"The money ought to be here in three |
hours" said Dick. "Have you got the back |
door key2"
Philippini reassured him. Then Dick
LOOK u Wllu running lGap at Une WINDOW
Philippini stirred up Atlas, who roared
Justify Dick escaped with his life and
landed breathless heap at the mayors |
feet The mayor raised him, and the vicar
(who had no money in the bank indig- /.
nantly asked the crowd if they could not |
trust family which produced scions like .
that. Several people cried, Hear, hear"
and told Mr.. Bradshaw that they never
really meant to withdraw their deposits.
Mr.. Bradshaw thanked them and looked at
his watch
AT half past philippini ran up. He was
breathless, and his shoes were dusty from
walking in the country. AT once he effect
ed an entry, amid scene of great excite
nent A moment later he appeared at the
window and cried in "A terror stricken voice:
81 can't 'old 'iml | can't old 'iml 'E's .
mad Look out for yourselvesp And he .
eaped from the window
The crowd fled in all directions, and two |
boys were all but run over by cart which /
was being driven rapidly from the railway .
station to the bank.
'All right" said Dick to the signor. .