Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1897-01-27

will, and never a word. 1t was 81
you could almost hear your heart bea.
when all of sudden came smothered
cry loud and clear, like a woman's.
We stopped work and looked at each
other, Jlm's face white and scared.
Lord, what was that?" he said
Il often hears 'em ON the street like
that" l said
That warn't on the street; it sounded
close by" said Jim. I'VE couldn't hear
nothin' outside in this place.
Nonsense" l said, don't you make
fool of yourself, too, and spoil it," and
l went to work again.
| could see his hand trembled forpa
while and then got steady again.
That must have come through , the
room UPSTAIRS he said presently.
Queer, though, 1t sounded SO close"
Then we worked on andithere warn't
nothing more to be heard. Rest of the
gang might all have been dead men.
for all the sound they made and we
didn't say nothin', and. so the night
went on.
At last we huu IL All ltdus5 anu Ntit
only waiting for the,signal to,blow it up
and then-money enough to make us all
rich. 'Tain't such as You can realize
the excitement and the, strain of such
a moment To know it's all there,
ready, and then to have to wait! It's
easier walkin' over red hot'coals, It's
all right to go on and work, but to stay
still and only breathe and listen gives
a man the shivers.
Presently Jim caughttmytarm.
"Say, | thought l heardyvoices, did
your" he whispered.
'"The men upstairs" Itsaid.
sounded down here HaveA Ayour
pistol ready"
l took my lantern andswentround the
vault again carefully, and then ,held it
up to examine the walls. Then, hshoo1,
my head. There warn't no twsy We
could hear no one.
.'Its the queerest place Lever was
in," said jim, land hy JovelIAl bet glad
when we are out of it. Whyfdon'ttthat
signal come? Suppose there's any
hitch? l swear hear voaces,ag
Just then came the signal and Vim
began to apply the dynamite, but has
hands trembled so and ,his eyes, looked
so wild and excited his ownA wife
wouldn't know him. e
'The money, the money" he twhis-
pered, 1--WE must have it now"
We got out Of the way just inf time
and then out came thedoor
"The inside door, quick" said kJim,
but the explosion had made thafN fall
inside and we just could liftrit out.
"Have the bag ready" saidsJim, asa he
leaned forward to haul out. the gre, 1t
piles of bank notes and silver wescouh
see by the light of the lanterns.
Hands off, or you are deadimanF'
1t was voice that would most have
walked the dead. l dropped my bag
and Jim drew back his hand and eau 9 int
hold of me with grip like. iron,, nd
we began to go slowly back to the. lasi-
der
'The combination is all right; we
have them now; they can'tt escape U.S."
We were half way up theDladder wthen
we heard the click, click of the lock.
and as we drew the ladder after us,we-
could hear the rasping oftthe hinges of
the iron door.
Fly, fly for your lives; we are dis
covered" said Jim, as he menttaround
to warn the men: and in the darkness.
and the wind and the rain they went
away and l amt never seensnone of 'em
since. / heard, though, as when they
found there warnt no one there and
the bank people didn't know nothin'
bout it till the next morning, they just
believed the bank was haunted. sure.
Do know what it was, Nudge? :? There
amt no one else as does know, that's.
sure. 'Taint much, after all.
Yer see, playin' round with, my little.
ones, found as | could make 'em hear
all kinds of noises any where I'wanted,
and people cryin' and laughin' 1t was.
fun fur them and | often done9it; ven.
triloquizin' l believe you can it; but
that nights the last time. Yersee, none
of the gang didn't nowi'boutithat, and.
| don't keer ever to have 'em know it
now 1t saved the bank,without my in
formin, and that's all l. care for.
Oh. no, judge, the bank don't owes
me nothin'. You'll take care of the pa
pers? Thank you. I'm obliged to you!
for listening, too. 1t kind of makes meS
feel easier.
No, no, thank you. l won't stay and
take no more of your time Don't get.
up; can find my way out
What's that you say, judge? You
honor and respect me-me--? And the
bank-land, judge, 'twarn't me; twas
my wife and children saved the bank,
and I'm proud of 'em-prGnd of 'em,
Judge Good night.-Philadelphi
Times.