The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-01-08
THE I|vERTON BANK MYSTERY.

Il We come, JuuSc, 10 oSh IL Hou IL 1T
me tell you what no one on earth don't
know but me; bout that bank mystery.
Yes. thank you, l will sit down. n
fire feels good on night like this. faint
often such as l have chance ut this
kind Of comfort and luxury.
"W'hat do l know about the bank mys-
terry? Land sakes, Judge, time they
opened the bank that day ten years ago
and found the bank vault broke into and
the safe hlowed up and not dollar
gone, could have told it ALL The peo-
pie of Tiverton amt done talking and
wondering bout it yet, and there ain't
never been no one Twin as could tell
Whit it all meant but me.
II brought some papers-here they are,
Jutge-where it's all written down and
l can swear to it if you like. l don't
want them never used, though, unless
| die and something comes ~ us would
make it best for my family to know,
though there's things in it Id ruthcr Tie
than have en- know. If it's all the
same to YOU, Judge. I'd like to tell it
to YOU. Seems like Id get rid of Il load
and would be happier and die easier
feelin' I'd spoken it all out to one livin'
human.
You'll he glad to listen? That's good
of YOU. l knowed YOU was Il kind man
and Il just one: that's why l come to
you. No. thank YOU. l don't smoke;
put all that money away for my wife and
children.
''Dr you hear that storm: Outside
loose. You can't judge bout it here.
1t comes kind of muffled like through
those thick curtains and it don't shake
this great house as it does some.
Its 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 it
good Eight Tight to em 1e as anyone n and Is
was bound to have EN-. too. l warn't
brought up to no trade for nothin'. and
fair means seemin' to fail, l took to the
other.
Yes. Judge, l started out in life like
a thief and Il robber. prospered fairly
in small way and no one didn't catch
up with ME for some time. Then l
but it was fascinating. 1t was like
drink: I couldn't give it up and couldn't
get enough of it, I was in prison and
out then. the old story. till 1 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 ev-
didn't know me, to start over again.
had some money and opened the restaur-
ant just opposite the bank
Long as | didn't read the papers I
got on well: but let ME see them and I'd
hunt through 'em for the robberies and
Id be crazy for a while, aching to he in
it all again. Seem bout my old pals
gettin' in trouble didn't make no differ
ence.
''Time came though. when began to
enjoy life differently. and to feel myself
more respectable. The love for the old
life begun ter go till could read about
it without gittin' all fired up. l thought
then l was all right.
'Then they come here part of the gang
I'd belonged to. First knowed of It was
seem 'em in the restaurant. l 'spicioned
they weren't here for no good and it took
most my breath away. They knowe'l me
do but l must join en-. | was the very
man they wanted. l could help 'em and
| was bound to EN-. Twas the biggest
thing they'd undertaken yet; the bank.
'Ihey' Il come on to examine the situation,
knowing that Mr.. Durkee, the new mill
owner. would make big payment soon
and the money for it would be in the
bank here. If there warnt ANYTHING
else. that would be Il big. haul haul
'em.
II do think the devil brought Ill his
friends and relations with him that night
to tempt me. | forgot how to go to
sleep, and just couldn't stay in bed l
wonder l warn't in tatters by mornin'
with the devil tuggin' at me as ne did
and tryin' to keep me out Of the room
where my sleepin' children lay.
Lord. it makes me creep and perspire
all over now to think of it.
Yer see, them bank people come over
to my place for lunch best part of the
time, and they all knowed my little peo-
pie, 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
nm, too. and there Warn't bank officer
even to the Waterman. Seemed like
Irobblng my own people, somehow. Is
bound not to inform on the gang, and
they's bound ter rob Their bank; but l
cursed 'em in my heart for comm just
when l was. gettin rid of the old life for
good and all. Twas awful!
well, Judge. you know how them
rooms over the bank was rented to start
new daily paper. l made em swear
solemn as my name warn't to appear no.
where. I'd plan it all out and give 'em
points and be on hand at the last, but
mad to be cautious.
They found out when the money was
to be paid and greed on the night before
for the robbery. | had it all mapped out
for EN- where and how they was to loosen
up the boards of the floor in their room
above, so we could break through and
lower ourselves into the vault when the
time come. Then yer see we'd only have
the safe to get into and the great iron
door between us and the Waterman.
"Everything was ready, and we was
pretty sure the money was paid.
do you hear that storm now, Judge:
twas like that ten years ago tonight
dark as Egypt. with the rain and wind
a perfect hurricane; a terrible night
the kind of night for any sort of crime
The men chuckled to themselves. Twas
a fortune sure this time, and they'd all
be on the way to comfort and safety be-
fore day. l amt never seen 'em so
excited. Nothin' hadn't gone wrong
and nothir' couldn't now.