The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-02-25
CHAPTER VIII.
VANISHED.

Slam the pOndcrOus iron vault door
crashed shut. Click, the massive, pol
iShCd bars shot into their sockets, and
the OminOuS echo fell upon the heart of
Arnold Dacrc like a kncll.
HcartleSs, INSCRIPTIONS villain that he
was, he had no wish to add murder to
his crimes. The one emotion beside
avaricc that swaycd him, was his senti-
mcnt for the beautiful Flora Merwyn.
And yet, to reveal now the true state
Of affairs, to disclose the captive girl, to
risk her revival and her dcnouncc ment,
meant ruin.
Gnawing his tawny muStache nerv-
OuSlY, in violent tremOr with illy-Sup-
pressed emotion the cashier followed the
Sheriff as he led his subOrdinatcs to the
counting room.
With supreme satisfaction and relief
Arnold Dacre heard him order one of the
/ twain to patrol the portals of the bank,
and refuse admittance to any one, while
the other starred to diSperSe the linger-
ing crowd without.
They will soon be gone. Then to re-
move Flora he planned, plausibly.
He was struck dumb, however, as the
Sheriff again approached him.
Il shall! have to trouble you to accom-
I
fully, but with determination.
"ACcompany YOU" repeated Dacrc,
with "A start, ''wherc?"
| TO the Judge. A citation has been
issued for both yourself and Mr. Mer-
wyn. Poor Mcrwyn. he is spared the
disgrace of appearing as Il public crimi-
ma"
You do not mean" began Dacre
That some hot-headed dcpositor has
sworn out warrant charging crime,
collision. DO not look so concerned,
/ sir, " added the Sheriff. plainly evidenc-
/ ing his esteem for the Ovcr-rateG cash
4 Ter. 1T is merely trifling annoyance
/ OF course they can't prove anything of
! that kind against you.
II should hope not" murmured Dacre,
/ but with sinking heart.
! You will simply have to furnish
/ bail"
! But how can /? In the present in
/ tiamed condition of the peoples mind, a
mans former friends are his bitterest
/ foes. Can YOU not delay this service for
an hour-tiIl tomorrow. / have impor-
/ tant business here at the bank"
Sorry" sighed the Sheriff but duty
/ is duty. See here, Mr.. Dacre," he con
( tnued hastily, II have confidence in Won.
amt afraid OF man who risks his
/ life as you have done To keep that mob
( ont of the bank. running away. III tell
/ YOU what I'll do-Ill go Your bond my
self"
'Oh. think you" murmurcd Dacrc.
! at won't take ten minutes. At the
same TIM you can lodge information as to
the assassin of Mr.. Nerwyn. Dear, dear.
! | never dreamed that quiet, slow going
/ Ridgefeld would come to numbering its
best friend,
Nor of the true depths of villainy that
lay beneath the courtly exterior of his
! prisoner. That prisoner was strangely
excited as they left the bank, however.
He hurried the Sheriff along, he scarcely
heard the taunts or needed the vicious,
| ScOwlinG faces of the disappointed depOs-
itors as they passed down the street He
was safe Under the protection OF the law,
| and he had but one thOught-to get back
TO the bank as soon as possible, and re-
lease the imprisoned Flora.
He calculated the chances in his favor
of speedy release. He grew less uneasy
as he recalled the interior of the vault
1t was scarcely up to the massive con-