Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1896-01-10

and little twisted note from the old lady
containing these words, without introduce
ton of any kind:
" L have made hypnotism a study an,
have long desired to experiment upoi
some ono. You came in my way, and
willed match between you and tho count
l succeeded, and to reward you for til
service you unGonsciously rendered me
send you the promised diamonds. wish
you much happiness.
I" This came two days after our engage
ment, said Claire, blushing, but how did
she know
Do you think the engagement was
brought about by hypnotismP' l asked,
smiling.
Ludwig says it was case Of love
first si"ht sail - ni-J G1f-'-- $780,
Nneh g. q Uank, get ratified.
The clerks rattle me; the wicBets rattle
mo; the sight of the money rattles me.
Tho moment 1 cross the threshold Of a
bank am hesitating jay. If attempt
to transact business there, become All
irresponsible idiot. l knew this before
hand, but my salary had been raised $50
month, and felt that the bank was the
looked timidly around at the clerks.
had an idea that a person about to open
an account must need consult the man
ager. went to q wicket marked "Ac-
countant." The accountant was a tall,
cool devil. The very sight Of him ratified
me. My voice was sepulchral.
"Can 1 see the manager, said and
added solemnly, "alone" 1 don't know
why 1 said "alone."
Certainly" said the accountant and
fetched him. The manager wss grave,
calm man. held my $50 olutched in u
crumpled ball in my pocket.
care you the manager" l said. God
knows didn't doubt it. YES" he said.
Can 1 SEQ you, asked, "aloneS l
didn't want to say "alone" again, but
without it the thing seemed self evident.
Tho manager looked at mo in some alarm.
He felt that 1 had an awful secret to re-
veal.
Come In hero, " he said and led the
way to private room. Ho turned the key
in the lock.
"Wo arc safo from interruption here, 4"
he said. "St down" We both sat down
and looked at one another. found no
voice to speak.
"You are one of Pinkerton s men, l pre-
sumef" he said Ho had gathered from
my mysterious manner that L was a do
tective knew what he was thinking,
and it made mo worse.
No; not from Pinkerton's," 1 said,
seeming to imply that came from a rival
agency. ITO tell tho truth, " went on
as if had been prompted to lie about it,
I'm not detective at all. I've come to
open an account. l intend to keep all my
money in this bank" The manager
looked relieved, but still serious. He con-
cluded now that l was a son Of Baron
Rothschild o. n young Gould.
IA large account, supposed" he said.
Fairly large" whispered. II propose
to deposit $50 now and $50 n month regu-
larly." The manager got up and opened
the door. He called to the accountant.
''Mr. Montgomery" he said unkindly,
'this gentleman is opening an account.
He will deposit $50. Good morning" l
rose. a big iron door stood open at tho
sido of the room.
Good morning." 1 said and stepped
into the safe.
"Come OUT" said tho manager coldly
and showed mo the other way. l went up
to tho accountants wicket and poked the
ball of money at him with II quick, con-
elusive movement, as If 1 were doing a
conjuring trick. My face was CHASTITY
pale.
Here L said, deposit it," The tone
Of tho words seemed to mean, Let us do
this painful thing while the fit is on us. !"
He took the money and gave it to another
clerk. He made me write the sum on n
cli in Of nd ci in hn
book. no longer know what was do
ing The bank swan before my eyes.
as it deposited?' asked in hollow,
vibrating voice.
1T is, " said the accountant.
"Then want to draw a check"
My idea was to draw out So Of it for
present use. Some one gave mo a check
book through "a wicket, and some one
else began telling me how to write it out.
The people in the bank had the impression
that l was an invalid millionaire. wrote
something on the check and thrust it in
at the clerk. He looked at it.
what, arc you drawing it all out
againY" no asked in surprise Then l re-
allied that had written 500 instead of
Sc. was too far gone to reason now. l
had feeling that it was impossible to OK
plain the thing. All the clerks had stop
ped writing to look at me. Reckless with
misery, 1 made plunge.
Eyes; the whole thing"
"You withdraw your money from the
bank?"
every cent of it'll"
"Are you not going to deposit any
moreF" asked the clerk, astonished.
"Neverw An idiotic hope struck me
that they might think something had in
suited me while was writing the check,
and that had changed my mind. l made
a wretched attempt to look like a man
with fearfully quick temper. The clerk
prepared to pay the money.
"How will you have itY"
"What?'
"How will you have it?"
"Ohp' / caught his meaning and an
swcred, without even trying to think, "ln
ffties." He gave me $50 bill.
"And the S32'' he asked dryly.
Gin skies, - said. He gave it to me,
and 1 rushed out. As the big doors swung
behind me caught the echo of a roar Of
laughter that went up to the ceiling of
tho bank. Since then bank no more. 1
keep my money in cash in my trousers
pocket and my savings in silver dollars in
q sock. -Bookkeeper.