The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-11-09
A VALUABLE VALISE.

Returning from New York city by the
E. railroad a few years ago, | bought
of the train boy a copy of a Cincinnati
paper, in which | read q long account of
the robbery of the City National bank
of L., KY, and the sudden disappear
ance of its teller, Harry w. Swope. As
usual in such cases, he mad been a trusted
employee, a member of the church anda
society young man. The robbery was q
particularly cool one, the gentleman
having quietly slipped 5000 DOC in notes
into a valise on the previous Saturday
afternoon after bank hours and walked
ont into the cold world.
That was the last seen of him, and it
was not until after the bank opened ON
Monday morning that any one suspected
anything wrong. The affair created an
immense sensation. Society" was shock
ed, the church scandalized and the bank
directors furious. The newspapers print
ed long stories of the DR.. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde sort of existence the young man
had led for a number of years, and
numerous friends of the stately depart
ed" knowingly shook their heads as they
told the reporters that they knew ome
thing like that was sure to happen soon.
This sensation SO interested me that
when / reached Cincinnati l scarcely
realized the express was, as usual, an
hour behind time and had failed to make
connection with the train to L.. /
should therefore be compelled to take
the last train going west that night,
which would cause me to stop over night
in a one horse town in Indiana that did
not contain a comfortable hotel.
I knew Nh. Swope by sight. having
come in contact with him ON a number
of occasions while doing business with
the bank of which he was teller. The
l. papers | bought in the Union de-
pot gave further details of the affair
and contained also the announcement
that the bank directors had offered a re-
ward of 81 900 for Swope's capture and
10 percent of the cash. returned, which
would make a total of so. 900 if the ras-
cal was caught before he got rid of his
booty.
After eating an unsatisfactory lunch1
took a seat in the general waiting
Of the depot and ruefully awaited my
train. As | did so noticed ayoung man
approach my seat, and placing his va
lise on the floor alongside my own, to
which it bore a strong resemblance, sit
down while he looked cautiously around
at the clock on the wall and then at the
, officials moving about,
How long he sat beside me | don't re-
member, but after a time he slowly arose
and walked over to the telegraph Office
at the farther end of the room. Before
he came back a strong lunged individual
In uniform stepped up to me and bawled
out the names Of the towns which the
train about to start was bound for. Hur-
riedly picking up my valise, / made
straight for the gate and was soon aboard
my train for the west.
The journey was made with the usual
discomfort and monotony. The depot
at N Y, Ind, where | had tc
stop over from 10 p. II. till 5 the mex
morning, had been rebuilt since my last
visit to that town, and remembering toe
well my hotel experience there a veal
before l resolved to spend one hight il
the depot waiting room with a few
other passengers who shared my mis-
fortune.
All that night the face of the strange
who had occupied a seat beside me in thu
Cincinnati depot haunted me. Their,
was something about him that reminded
me of Teller Swope. He was just his siz
and build. His mustache, to be sure
was wanting, but that he should shay,
off this appendage was to be considereC
a matter of course. The gold spectacle
he wore very much resembled those
had associated with the face of the intel
lectual looking teller, and | had observes
On his fingers u number of rings, jewelr
that Mr.. Swope was said to be very pas
tial to. AS ! turned the matter over i
my mind the more convinced | felt that
had lost a splendid chance of capturin
the thief and securing a $40, 900 reward
When 5 O'Clock at last came round,
boarded the train for L., not in th
best of humor, and two hours later al
rived at home feeling very blue. Aftt
taking a slight breakfast, / went dow
to the Office, where the big robbery W;
still the talk Of the clerks. Each
them had a theory of his own as
where the thief had gone, and when the
appealed to me for my opinion | dol
fully recounted my experiences of II
previous evening. OF course they unar
mously agreed with me that / had We,
foolishly allowed the fugitive teller
alp out1of my fingers.
Just before going out to lunch a mi
senger boy languidly entered the off
and handed me a note from my vii
Thinking it was the usual commission
get q yard or two Of goods like the sal
pie inclosed," / thrust it into my pocl
and started out to dinner. | had d
gone far before / suddenly stopped a,
took out the envelope the boy had xiv
me, opened it and read it. AT first COZ
net understand what it all meant: til
turned 1T over and went through
sgain. III ran as follows:
DnAR G~HoknE-Cone home atonce. In on
tng your rAlfss TO get your soiIed linen TO q
ID 10 tbs laundry discovered 1t packed y
hank notesi What does 1t mean? In anyth
,wxunxf 0erns home At once.
ky II EEM AE MA