The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-05
THE BANK MYSTERY.

"I've come, judge, to ask II you'll let
me tell you what no one on earth don't
know but me-'bout that bank mystery.
eyes, thaSk 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 mys-
teryp Land sakes, judge, time they opened
the bank that day ten years ago and found
the bank vault broke into and the safe
blowed up and not dollar gone l could
have told it all. The people Of Tiverton
amt done talking and wondering bout 1t
yet, and there ain { neveIfbeen no one living
as could tell what it all meant but me.
81 brought some epers-here they are
judge-where it's all written down, and
can swear to 1t II you like. don't want
them never used, though, unless die and
something comes up as would make it best
for my family to know, though there's
things In it I'd ruther die than have 'em
know. II it's all the same to you, judge,
I'd like to tel it to you. Seems like I'd
get rid of load and would be happier and
die easier feeling l d spoken 1t all out to one
living human.
you'll be glad to listen9 That's good
of you. I knowed you was kind man
and just one. That's why come to you.
"No, thank you, don't smoke. l put
all that money away for my wife and chill
dren.
"Do you hear that storm2 Outside
seems like all the evil powers was let loose.
You can't Judge bout 1t here. 1t comes
kind of muffledlike through those thick
curtains, and 1t don't shake this great
house as 1t does some
"It's this kind of night as makes men
huddle together judge, and plan how to
get rich and have fine things such as the
likes of you. I've been through 1t all,
know. I've felt as II had as good a right
to 'em as any one, and l was bound to
have 'em too warn't brought up to no
trade nor nothing, and fair means seeming
to fail took to the other.
Eyes, Judge, l started out in life thief
and robber. prospered fairly In a small
way, and no one didn't catch up with me
for some time. Then joined gang in
for anything Lord, but 1t was fascinat-
ing! 1t was like drink. / couldn't give
it up, and couldn't get enough of it,
was In prison and out then, tho old story,
till married and begun to have little ones.
"Then, Lord knows what helped me
something di!--and for the sake Of my
wifo and children broke loose from ev-
erything and came here, where no one
didn't know me, to start over again.
had some money and opened the resta urant
just opposite the bank.
"Long as l didn't read the papers got
on well. But let me SEQ them, and I'd
hunt through 'em for the robberies, and I'd
be crazy for awhile, aching to be in it all
again. Seeing bout my old pals getting in
trouble didn't make no difference.
"Time came, though, when / begun to
enjoy life differently and to feel myself
more respectable. The love for the old life
begun to go till l could read about IT
without getting all fred up. 1 thought
then / was all right.
"Then they come here, part of the gang
I'd belonged to. First knowed Of it was
seeing 'em in the restaurant. / spicioned
they weren't here for no good, and it most
took my breath away. They knowed me
quick enough, too, and nothing wouldn't
do but / must join 'em. was the very
man they wapted. could help 'em, and
was bound to>em. Twas tho biggest thing
they'd undertaken yet-the bank. They'd
come on to examine tho situation, knowing
that Mr. Durkee, the new mill owner,
would make big payment soon and the
money for IL would be in the bank hero
II there warn't anything else, that would
be IA big haul--a haul worth having-and
me being here decided 'em.
~ do think the devil brought all his
friends and relations with him that night
to tempt me. l forgot how to go to sleep
and just couldn't stay in bed. wonder
/ warn't in tattcrs " morning with the
devil tuggng at me as he did and trying to
keep me out Of the room where my sleeping
children lay.
Lord, it makes me creep and perspire
all over now to think Of 1t.
"You see, them bank people como over y
my place for lunch best part of the IT,
and they all knowed my little peop,' me
the mill people knowed em too ., ano
est boy worked In the mill. MY OLD
been as kind as could he W. ana they
Christmas time they's G. len nes SICK
and there warn't a bs 'od 10 MN, zoo
remembered my littp .nk officer but ha'
watchman. Seem % people, even 10 TN
people somehor cd like robbing my owl
form on thu =. I'm bound not to In
rob the b. gang, and they's bound y
heart fc, ,nk, but / cursed 'em In m.
rid % e coming just when l was gettini
sw the old life for good and all 'Twa
.ful.
"well, Judge, you know how them room
over the bank was rented to start nes
daily paper. made 'em swear solemn a
my name warn't to appear nowhere. IL
plan 1t all out and give 'em points and b
On hand at the last, but l had to be Gu
ious.
"They found out when the money wa
10 be paid and greed on the night beio'
Tor 'om where and how they was to loose
mp the boards of the floor In their rcor
above, 80 we could break through an
ower ourselves into the vault when Ii
lime come. Then, you see, we'd only hav
Ihe safe TO get into and the great iron dSo
between US and the watchman.
Everything was ready, and we wa
pretty sure the money was paid.
} do you hear that storm now, Judge
. Twas like that ten years ago tonight
D bark as Egypt, with tho rain and wind