Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-01-14

you could almost hear your heart beat,
when all of a sudden came smothered
cry, loud and clear, like wOman's.
We stopped work and looked at each
other, Jim's face white and scared.
Lord. what was thatT' he said.
II often hears 'em on the street like
that | said. ..... Pa
THAT warn't on the street; it sounded
close by" said jim. I'VE couldn't hear
nothin' outside in this place"
Nonsense" | said, don't you make
fool of yourself, too, and spoil it, and
| went to work again.
could see his hand trembled for a
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 and there 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 had it all ready and were
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
n moment. TO know It's all there,
ready. and then to have to wait. It's
easier walkin' over red hot Goals. It's
all right to 60 on and work, but to stay
still and only breathe and listen gives
man the shivers.
Presently Jim caught my arm.
Say, | thought | heard voices. did
your he whispered.
The men upstairs" | said.
Sounded down here. Have your
pistol ready"
took my lantern and went round the
vault again carefully. and then held it
mp to examine the walls. Then shook
my head. There warn't no way we
could hear no one.
Its the queerest place | ever was
in" said Jim, land by Jove I'll be glad
when we are out Of it. Why don't that
signal come? Suppose there's any
hitch? swear hear voices again"
Just then came the signal and Jim
began to apply the dynamite, but his
hands trembled so and his eyes looked
so wild and excited, his own wife
wouldn't know him.
"The money, the money" he whls-
pered, 1--WE must have it now"
We got out of the way just in time
and then out came the door.
The inside door, quick" said Jim.
but the explosion had made that fall
inside and we just could lift it out.
Have the bag ready" said jim, as he
leaned forward to haul out the great
piles of bank notes and silver we could
see by the light of the lanterns.
Hands off, or you are dead man."
1t was voice that would most have
walked the dead. dropped my bag
and Jim drew back his hand and caught
hold of me with grip like iron, and
we began to go slowly back to the lad
der.
The combination is all right; we
have them now; they can't escape u.s."
We were half way up the ladder when
we heard the click, click of the lock.
and as We drew the ladder after us we
could hear the rasping of the hinges Of
the iron door.
ely, fly for your lives; we are dis
covered" said Jim, as he went around
to warn the men; and in the darkness
and the wind and the rain they went
away and amt never seen none of 'em
since. l heard, though, as when they
found there warn't no one there and
the bank people didn't know notbin'
bout it till the next morning, they lust
believed the bank was haunted, sure.
Do know what it was, judge? There
amt no one else as does know, that's
sure. 'Taln't much, after all.
Yer see, playin' round with my little
ones, found us could make 'em hear
all kinds of noises any where wanted.
and people cryin' and laughin'. 1t was
fun fur them and l often done it; ven
triloquizin', | believe you call 1t; but
that nights the last time. Yer see, none
of the gang didn't know bout that, and
l don't keer ever to have 'em know It
nows.fl 1t saved the bank without my in
formin', and that's all l care for.
Oh. no, judge, the bank don't owe
me nothin. You'll take care of the pa
pers! Thank you. I'm obliged to you
for listening, too. 1t kind of makes me
feel easier.
No, no, thank you, won't stay and
take no more of your time. Don't get
up; l 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