The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-17

olncaS there OF my discovery. found
the president of the bank III his private
once engaged with several lynx eyed in
dlvlduals whom l suspected from their
appearance to be, as it turned ont they
were, detectives
When was granted an interview ,rd
explained my discovery, it created very
naturally, sensation. AT first the OLD
gentleman Was inclined to regard ME rs
n crank, but when l asked him TO o;lov.
q clerk to accompany me home he seemed
to be satisfied was in earnest. He CON
sented to my proposal, but after u mo.
ments thought he said an escort was M
necessary. Drinking doubtless that tho
handsome reward would be n sufficient
lnducement to insure the safe delivery
of the precious valise.
AS left the bank and turned nm tbc
street in the direction of home I was
joined Dya young man who came rum
ming out OF the bank after me, hat in hand.
He said 1.-The old man" had reconsidered
the matter and sent him to accompany
me back with the money. This seemed
10 me TO be quite satisfactory, and as the
fellow was very genial young man we
Immediately fell to discussing the rob-
berry of his bank. He congratulated me
on my good fortune and knowingly hint
ed that "the old gentleman" would treat
me cleverly i'll the way of reward.
L said this young man was very
genial fellow, but somehow 1 soon be.
gan to feel an instructive distrust in him.
L piled him with questions concerning
the habits and business methods of the
missing teller, but he returned evasivc
answers. In one or two little things he
contradicted himself, and finally, when
l unexpectedly asked him how long he
had been employed in the bank, he re-
Piled, after looking at me in Il dazed sort
of way, "Oh, about year or two" At
once the thought came to me: What if
my escort" was one of the young men
had seen outside tho presidents Office.
Perhaps he had overheard our conversa
ton and had planned this neat little
scheme of playing the role of Il clerk of
the bank sent me for ''protection.' as he
lnslnuatingly put it. If so, readily saw
that he intended TO make an effort to ret
his hands on the valise and then seize
the first opportunity to bid me goodby.
This theory was strengthened when
AiCeNN' 'ii''e AA'l DlObtGtOI Sccllltu GllN-
ually to become very uncommunicative
and the conversation during the rest of
tho journey referred to passing objects
and sights Try as hard as could failed
to get anything satisfactory out of him
concerning the robbery.
When | reached home, politely asked
the young man to take a seat in the hall
while stepped up stairs to get Il glimpse
of the treasure. found my wife ut the
head of the stairs. very excited. In an
adjoining room we examined the valisc
and at rough estimate we placed the
amount at about the figure the newspa-
pers said Swope had carried off with
hlm-somewhere about 100000
did not tell my wife of my suspicious
of the young man down stairs, but re-
solved ut once to arm myself III order to
be prepared for the worst. 1t is n we'll
known fact that in Kentucky the sixth
commandment has long ago been de-
clared unconstitutional, and l quickly
made up my mind that if my bodyguard
showed any signs of playing me false
would let him have dose of cold lead.
Contrary to my expectations the young
fellow made no offer to carry the valisc
as we started on our journey back to the
bank. At the end of the short street on
which lived we stopped to take car.
My friend had again become very aila-
BILE, and as we stood OH the corner he of.
fered me cigar. | took it, thanked
him, and placing my valise carefully on
the ground between my feet struck Il
match to light it. Just us was in the
act OF dong so | received blow from
the left that sent me staggering into the
middle of the street At the same mo-
mcnt my protector" disappeared in the
other direction.
Look here, young man." said a gruff
voiced fellow i'll uniform at my side as he
shook me violently, II thought you told
me you We're going to take the train west
tonight. Ithas just pulled out, and you're
left"
Opening my eyes | looked around the
waiting room in confused way and
reached for my valise.
1t was nowhere to be found!
My brusque arouser instantly took i'll
the situation, and with look of intense
disgust on his face said as he turned
away:
81 guess that studentliko sport who
was sitting beside you has taken care of
your baggage. He passed mo few
moments ago on his way to the train
with couple of valises. Next time YOU
go travelling, young man, you had better
take some one along with you to care
for you while you sleep."-St. Louis
Post-Dispatch.
Transporting Tale.