St. Paul daily globe., 1893-03-28
WITH ONE WALL.
Boston Globe.

Boston Globe.
When our bank was being built a
business structure was being erected at
the same flme, and we permitted the
owners to use our wall without eX-
pense. Thus, from cellar to roof, there
was only a single wall dividing us.
The store adjoining was finally rented
to an Eastern man by the name OF
Dowd, who stated that he was about 10
open manufacturing office as soon as
he could arrange the place suitably.
Being a close neighbor, we soon De
came well acquainted, and during leis-
ure time would frequently exchange
visits
Our acQuAintarce was begun IN sep
tember, and lasted until March 10.
On March II | observed two strangers
in DOWd's office in conversation with
him, but that was a simple incident, 10
De forgotten in an hour.
Just before the close OF banking hours
he came in and checked out his balance,
which was about $3.50, saying in an
apologetical way that he needed the
cash to close up business deal.
| told him that the 10Th was my sis
ter's birthday, and that we should have
a few friends drop in for the evening. l
gave him strong invitation, and he ac-
cepted 1t with seeming pleasure.
| did not see him again until noon OF
the 18th. and then he said he should
come early.
At O'Clock in the afternoon IL began
to snow and blow in furious manner.
We lived long mile from the bank,
and when night came oil and the bllz-
Zard increased. we knew that none of
our guests could be expected to put In
an appearance.
A note came from Dowd directly after
supper. stating that he had sore throat
and did not dare to brave the storm,
and | pulled off my boots and sat down
for an evening with book OF history.
Not person came near us, and it had
got to be 9 O'Clock, when was suddenly
seized with desire to rush down TO the
bank. 1t was as if L had been COM
manded to 90. and before | realized
what l was doing | had pulled on my
boots and gone for my overcoat.
You are not going outn exclaimed
mother and sister in chorus.
"Yes-to the bank"
"At this time of night and in this
storm? You must be craZY!"
But feel an impulse to 90. l can't
wait another minute"
| snatched my revolver from the hall
tree drawer and buttoned my overcoat
as ran.
| had savage bulldog about the
house as 'bUrglar ALARM" and when
| had run quarter of a mile found
HIM at my heels. | was so excited and
under such a spell that scarcely no
ticed the storm, which had driven every
one from the streets and closed all
places of business.
l ran on until l was within half
block of the bank.
Then | came to dead halt, and
asked myself what could be wrong tnat
| had acted so much like an idiot.
If a messenger had come to my house
with the information that the bank
building was on fire | couldn't have
hurried faster, or had stronger feeling
that my presence was necessary.
Well, here was in the stOrm-swept
street, the building looming up before
me in the darkness, and seeming to be
all right, and what excuse could make
for myself?
| felt ashamed for a moment, and
then the old feeling came over me
stronger than ever. l felt it my duty 10
enter the bank and make an eXamina-
ton, and the dog, as if possessed OF the
same feeling, led the way.
Hdu CdIIl6Nl Tic ICNOlNCl al luG way
in my hand. l laid it down to unlock
the heavy front door of the bank, but
picked it up again as | entered.
The dog entered before / did, and
while was lighting the lamp he rushed
through to the rear with a savage groWl,
descended the stairs to the vault with a
great clatter. and just as | got the lamp
alight / heard Oaths and yells, a pistol
shot rang out and the dog vented his
rage with roarS which would have done
credit to lion.
Then two men came rushing up stairs,
each with a pistol in his hand. and we
all began shooting. l felt hot iron
burn into my shoulder and fell to the
floor and lost my head for couple
of minutes.
When | got my senses back the front
door was wide open and one of the men
lay on the floor near me. The dog was
still growing away down cellar, and l
closed the door and took the lamp and
descended, feeling very weak and queer,
but kept up by the knowledge that
robbery had been attempted.
When L got down l found third
man. He was on his back, and the dog
was keeping him there.
| summoned help, of course, and per-
haps you can judge something of my
feelings when tell you that the man
up stairs on the floor was stone dead,
and that he was no other than my friend
James Dowd.
The others were his pals, of course,
and the ''job'' had been deliberately
planned from the first. They had gone
through the cellar wall, pried the door
off the vault and were just handling
the sum of $4,000 when | entered the
building.
The one whom we captured made
"squeal" OF it, SO that we ran down the
other. and both served long sentences
in prison.
nnilu Hint From Paris