The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-05-13
THE BANK MYSTERY.

let me tell you what no one on eartl
don't know but me; bout that banl
mystery.
"Yes. thank you. | will sit down. a
fire feels good on night like this
'Tain't often such as | have chance
at this kind of comfort and luxury.
"What do / know about the bank
mystery? Land sakes, Judge, time
they opened the bank that day ter
years ago and found the bank vault
broke into and the safe blowed uI
and not a dollar gone, could have
told it all.
you'll be glad to listen7 That's
good of you. 1 knowed you was kind
man and just one; that's why come
to you. No, thank you, don't smoke
! put all that money away for Inc
wife and children.
Yes, Judge, ! started out In life o
thief and a robber. prospered fairly
in a small way and no one didn't
catch up with me for some time. Then
Joined a gang in for anything. ]
was in prison and out then, the old
story, till married and begun TO have
little ones. Then, Lord knows what
helped me-something did-and for the
sake of my wife and children ]
broke loose from everything and came
here, where no one didn't know me, to
start over again. | had some money
and opened the restaurant just oppo
site the bank.
"Then they come here. part Of the
gang I'd belonged to. First I knowed
Of 1t was SEEM 'em in the restaurant ]
good, and it most took my breath
away. They knowed me quick
enough. too, and nothin' wouldn't dc
but l must join 'em. | was the very
man they wanted; could help 'em
and l was bound to 'em. Twas the
biggest thing they'd undertaken yet
the bank. They'd come on to exam.
inc the situation, knowing that Mr..
Durkee, the new mill-owner would
make a big payment soon, and the
money for it would be in the bank
here If there waren't anything else,
that would be big haul, haul worth
havin', and me bein' here, decided
'em.
81 do think the devil brought all
his friends and relations with him
that night to tempt me- forgot how
to go to sleep, and just couldn't stay
I, in bed. | wonder l warn't in tatters
by mornin' with the devil tuggin' at
me as he did and tryin to keep me
out of the room where my sleepin'
children lay.
Lord, 1t makes me creep and per.
spire all over now to think of it,
Eyer see, them bank people come
over to my place for lunch best part
Of the time, and they all knowed my
little people. and the mill people
knowed 'em too. My oldest boy
worked in the mill, and they'd been as
kind as could be when he's sick
Christmas time they's good to him, too
and there warn't bank officer but
had remembered my little people. even
to the watchman. Seemed like rob
bing my own people, somehow. rs
bound not to inform on the gang aud
they's bound to rob ther bank; but
cursed 'em in my heart for comm
just when l was gettin' rid OF the old
life for good and all. Twas awful!
We'll, Judge, you know how then
rooms over the bank was rented t
start a new daily paper made EN-
swear solemn as my name warn't tt
appear nowhere. I'd plan it all Ou
and give em points and be Oh hand a
the last, but had to be cautious.
'"They found out when the money
was to be paid and greed on the nigh
before for the robbery. had it nj
mapped out for 'em where and how
they was to loosen up the boards o
the floor in their room above, so W,
could break through and lower our
selves into the vault when the tin,
come. Then yer see we'd only hav
the safe to get into and the great irol
door between us and the watchman.
Everything was ready, and we wa
pretty sure the money was paid.
1--WE had planned so as to have tn
door of the safe ready to blow opel
WhNh tbt WSht uoWh WI
lar to see to his fires. / knowed tn
time of night he did so, seem him OF
ten from my house across the wa
through the window of the bank: bu
to make sure we stationed ma
where he could give the signal ut tn
proper time. With the watchma
down stairs and we shut up in tina
vault, with the solid masonry betwee
us, 'twarnt in the range of possibil
ties for no human being to hear us.
"Twas planned that when we brols
through the ceiling, me and one Of tn
Others was to go down first with tn
lanterns and tools and get the doc
ready for Jim Groogan. the leader @
the gang, to come down and use tn
dynamite, and be on hand to take OF
the money.
Lord. but 1t was just the night fc
such piece Of work, and after ha
examined to see II all was safe, know
in the dangers better thar the other