The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-26

mean? Is anything wrong? Come hoE'
at once"
Ny first thought was to hasten
nome, but upon reflection l resolved
TO step around TO the bank and &C
quaint the officials there OF my dis
covery. l found the President of the
bank in his private Office, engaged
with several lynX-eyed individuals
whom l suspected from their appear
ance to be, as it turned out they
were, detectives.
When was granted an interview
and explained my discovery it created,
very naturally, a sensation. At first
the cid gentleman was inclined to re-
gard me as crank. but when l asked
him to allow a clerk 10 accompany
me home he seemed to be satisfied l
was in earnest. He consented to my
proposal, but after moments
thought he said an escort was un-
necessary, thinking, doubtless that
the handsome reward would be suf-
ticient inducement to Insure the safe
delivery Of the preci Dus ya.lSe.
AS left the hank and turned up
the street in the direction OF home l
was joined by young man who came
running out Of the bank after me,
hat in hand. He said "the old man"
had reconsidered the matter and sent
him to accompany me back with the
money This seemed to me to be
quite satisfactory, and as the fellow
was very genial young man owe in.
mediately fell into discussing the rob
berry of his bank. He congratulated
me on nv good fortune, and know.
ingly limited that "the old gentle.
man" would treat me cleverly in the
way of reward.
l said this young man was a very
genial fellow, but somehow I soon
began to feel an instructive distrust
in him. piled him with questions
concerning the habits and business
methods of the missing teller, but he
returned evasiye answers. In one
or two little things he contra
dicted himself, and finally, when l
unexpectedly asked him how long he
had been employed in the bank, he
replied, after looking at me in a
daled sort Of way: ''Oh, about a
year or two" At once the thought
came to me: What if my escort"
wss one of the young men had seen
outside the Presidents Office; perhaps
be had overheard our conversation,
and had planned this neat scheme Of
playing the role Of clerk Of the
bank sent me for ''protection," as he
insinuatingly put it. If so, I readily
saw that be intended to make an ef-
fort to get his hands on the Valise
and then seize the first opportunity
to bid me good-by.
This theory was strengthened WheL
| noted that my ''protector" seemed
gradually to become very uncommuni-
cative, ard the conversation during
the rest of the journey referred to
passing objects and sights. Try as
hard as could, I failed to get any
thing satisfactory out Of him concern
ing the robbery.
When l reached home l politely
asked the young man to take a seat
in the hall while l stepped upstairs
to get glimpse Of the treasure. l
found my wife at the head Of the
stairs, very excited. In an adjoin-
ing room We examined the yalise,
and at q rough estimate we placed
the amount at about the figure kthe
newspapers said Swope had carried
off with him-somewhere about $780,.
900.
did not tell my wife Of my sus
picions Of the young man downstairs.
but ! resolved at once to arm myself
in order to be prepared for the worst.
1t is a well known fact that in Ken
tucky the sixth commandment has
long ago been declared unconstitu-
tional, and I quickly made up my
mind that if my bodyguard showed
any sign Of playing me false l would
let him have dose Of cold lead.
Contrary to my expectations the
goung fellow made no offer to carry
the valise as we started on our jour-
ney back to the bank. At the end
Of the short street on which I lived
we stopped TO take car. My friend
had again become very affable, and
as we stood on the corner he offered
me cigar. I took it, thanked him]
and placing my valise carefully on
the ground between my feet I struck
a match to light it. Just as was in
the act of doing so received a blow
from the left that sent me stagger-
ing into the middle Of the street. At
the same moment my protector
disappeared in the other direction.
Look here, young man." said a
gruf- voiced fellow in uniform at my
side, as be shook me violently, 81
thought you told me you were going
to take the train west tonight It
has just pulled out and you're left. "
Opening my eyes, I looked around
The waiting-reom In a confused way
and then reached for my Valise.
It was nowhere to be found.
My brusque arouser instantly took
In the situation, and, with look OF
intense disgust on his face, said, al
be turned away:
Il guess that student-like sport
who was sitting Leside you has taken
care of your baggage. He passed me
a few moments ago on his way to the
train with couple Of valises Next
time you 60 travelling, young man,
YOU had better take some one along
with you to care tor you while you
sleen"
The Bay View Reading Circle.
Ever since the Well-knoWn Chau.