Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-09-05

gentlemen to remain any longer; they
themselves would wait as long as the
gentlemen choose, but the hour for
breaking into the strongest of all
strong rooms-if it could be broken into
at all-was long past.
The next morning the board held an
extraordinary meeting, in order to dis
cuss the result OF the efforts of the
gentlemen who had been all night In
the vault. After a long argument
about nothing, a porter entered with
a letter, which he stated had been
found on the table in the strong room.
1t ran as follows:
You can do ass yeou like. Lars
night herd someon speek to Mr..
Feidin, who 1 know is an hossifer OF
the perlice, sow of course I did not
come, as I mite ave dun. I give yeou
another chance. Coome to mite II
two or gentlemen are theare aloane
nj Will be with UNI. II eny detective
Is thear hi shall give 1t al up at LIST.
Yeou may choose as yeou will
~. s."
Every suitable precaution was taken
when night came. The sentinel paced
up and down outside; the detectives
were not far on; and after the most
rigorous search had been instituted.
the gentlemen were locked in.
At last one of them who paced the
floor impatiently. beginning to think
that perhaps after all it was only
clever trick, cried out:
You ghost, you secret visitor, you
midnight thief, come out! There is
no one here but two gentlemen, and
myself. If you are afraid, I give you
my word that the police are not here"
1t was more in Jest than in earnest
that Major Ciifford-for 1t was a mill
frf a
speech. His establishment, however,
was great, when, in reply to what he
had said, he heard a voice, saying:
IF you have kept your word, I will
keep mine. Put out your light. and
then I'll come
The major and his fellow directors
did not much like putting out the
light. but they were not towards, and
after some demur 1t was done
When the light was out they waited
in silence, while the major grasped
firmly in one hand a revolver. For
little while a low, grating sound was
heard, then the falling of q heavy
body, and the next instant a man was
visible, standing In the middle Of the
vault. with a dark lantern in his hand.
The man soon spoke for himself and
the directors listened in establishment.
1t appeared that he was poor man,
d
strange way. When the tide was low
1t is the custom OF a certain GLASS Of
people unknown to refined society to
enter the sewers to search for any
articles of value that may have been
accidentally washed down Into them.
One night ne discovered an opening
leading to some place above. There
was large, square stone, which he
found could be easily raised. He hs-
tened for some time. and finding all
yrcs silent, lifted up the stone with
out much difficulty, and found, after
| some little investigation by the light
| Of his lantern, that he was in the
| strong room OF a bank.
He told his wife, who was q woman
| of much superior education to his
own, OF the whole affair. and then ne
wrote. as we have seen. to the d.
| rectors.
and the directors, calling for lights.
examined the place carefully, and
fully verified the mans statements.
| The directors felt that they owed
the strange man a debt Of gratitude.
| There was incalculable wealth hidden
| there, in the shape Of not only notes
| and the most valuable securities, but
| also in solid bullion and hard cash.
| The very strictest search proved
| that nothing had been taken besides
| the box, which was returned intact.
| When this point was fully settled 1t
was agreed by the directors that the
mysterious visitor should be rewarded
| for his honesty, and it was currently
| reported. that they settled upon him
| a liberal annuity, sufficient to support
| him in comfort for the rest Of his
days.-Boston Globe.