The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-20
SELECTED STORY.
How Larry Saved the Bank.

grumpy all day, and Peters, who kept
the skeletcn ledger, had been very little
better. AS Larry Robertson walked
home from the bank that evening he
could not help wondering what had &C.
cured 10 disturb them. He was not
lad 10 NEEDLE in other peoples personal
affairs, but certain circumstances,
among them the fact that both had ar
rived in the morning in good humor,
seemed TO connect their bad temper
with something that concerned the
bank.
After supper Larry went to the thea
ter, but the play was not very inter-
esting one and be found his mind con-
stantly reverting TO what bad occurred
during the day. Before the final cur
tain fell he had arrived at the conclu.
sion that the medium of disturbance
was the morning newspaper. On his
way home he procured copy of the
daily taken at the bank, and, reaching
his room, he sat down and eagerly
scanned its pages. 1t was not long be-
fore his attention became centered
upon an article headed TINS:
A COMPLETE SMASH
FL DORADO STOCKS TAKE A TERRIBLE TuMpLE-
INJURED.
Larry had for some time suspected
that wilkins was specializing; now he
considered bis suspicious confirmed.
Next morning there was great stir.
Neither wilkins nor Peters could be
found, and the bank vault being exam
ined it was discovered that nearly
$50 GOO in gold and notes had departed
in their company. The matter was
kept as quiet as possible, discreet de-
tectives were employed to capture the
absconders, and kilograms Immediately
dispatched to all principal cities and
seaports.
About ten o'clock rs Larry sat at his
desk his excited brain was struck by
sudden thought. Throwing down his
pen he FASTENED to the presidents
private office. Mr.. Gray was busy
writing. Though baggard ard worried
looking, he was still the kindly en-
ployer.
81 would like word with you, sir,
concerning the robbery said Larry.
Well, my lad, hat is i'?''
"Just moment ego, SIR began the
clerk, "tbere flashed across my mind
r,maik made by Mr.. wilkins at the
tllnt VI UlS IODUClJ bOiC upNdp WV
years ago. The absconder had been
arrested in Baltimore, and we were
talking together about his capture,
when our cashier said: Have you ever
noticed bow little sense, not to say in
vention, those fellows exercise in their
methods of escape? Now if the fellow
had simply gone down to Westport or
some such sleepy little place and bough t
yacht, be might have sailed quietly
{ IF to the Bermudas and been perfectly
SAFE The ldea seemed novel one,
sir, and somehow it tucked itself into
my memory"
"Ab, and you think Wilkins himself
might adopt this course. 1t is worth
considering" said Mr.. Gray with inter-
est. "But would he be likely to pur-
cue plan he talked about 80 freely?"
{" 1 think, sir, the chances are that he
has forgotten ever having mentioned
it," answered Larry.
POSSIBLY AT any rate the idea is
worth acting upon. What do you say
to running down to Westport and work.
ing the clew up yourself?"
"Ill do it, sir, gladly"
"Thank you, my lad. You will, of
course, be as secret as possible about
this wretched affair. l may tell you
that it has occurred at a very unfortu-
nate moment, and should it leak out be-
fore we can get accommodation we
may be ruined. Have you any idea
about the Westport irains?"
"One starts in twenty minutes, sir"
"Then go, my lad, without delay.
Wait just one moment, though now
that think of it, Wes'port is where
NY old friend Morton lives. I'll give
you line to him. He may be able to
assist you"
Larry caught the train and in due
time reached his destination. A few
Inquiries among the fisherfolk proved
that his surmise had been correct.
Two gentlemen had come down the
evening before, purchased the Vixen,
thirty.tOn yacht, hired a crew post
haste, spent the night in getting her
ready ostensibly for three weeks
autumn cruise and at seven o'clock in
the morning sailed away. Larry learned
all this at precisely quarter past
eleven O'clock
" 1t is too bad "he said to his infor-
mant. " have very important mes.
sage for them; would it be possible to
hire fast steamer here and overtake
them?"
"'Fraid not, my boy" replied the
fisherman. You see, they've got a
good four hours start of you. Maybe,
though, if you could borry that little
craft out yonder, you might do it,"
He pointed as he spoke 10 hand
come steam yacht, whose spotless sides
and elegant brass fittings bespoke pri.
vate ownership.
"Who owns her?" asked Larry.
''She belongs to DIR. Morton"
''Goodl" exclaimed Larry, remember
ing in SANITY it was the man to whom
his note was addressed.
A few moments later he was at DR..
Morton's house relating his story.
"Why, certainlyr' cried the genial
doctor, as soon as Larry explained what
he wanted. "For my old friend Gray 1
would do anything. The yacht shall be
ready in an hour
IL ~