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


failed to work.
TON Doolan In hurry went dowf
FIRST. and when was half way dowr
he started back. saying In hoars,
kind of whisper:
"'who called mer
"'No one, you foolv said Jim.
Then he said. and he ran pas
me on the ladder, some one is dowr
there. Twicet heard some one say
go back, go back"
"'We'll gag him. said Jim. and me
and him went down and turned ouI
lanterns round, lookin' everywhere, bui
there warn't no one there.
WHAT the matter with the fool?
growled Jim, and went back and tried
wouldn't go. so Jim cursed him and
came himself, and he and me begur
to get the safe door ready 10 blow up
That's a thing that takes time and
care, Judge, but we went at it with
win and never a word. 1t was SO still
you could almost hear your heart beat
when all of sudden came n smoth
cred cry like a woman's. We stopped
work and looked at each other. Jlm's
face white and scared.
Lord, what was that?' he said.
"I often hears 'em on the street like
that said /.
THAT warnt on the street; II
sounded close by said Jim. we could
MT hear nothin' outside in this place.
Nonsense said l. don't you make
fool of yourself, too, and spoil ALL
| and | went to work again.
II could see how his hand trembled
for while and then got steady again
"'That must have come through the
THE BANK Mystery-Galley TWO. q.
room upstairs he said presently
Queer, though: it sounded so close
Then he worked on and there
warn't nothin' 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 1t 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 a 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 go on and work,
but to stay still and only breathe and
| listen gives u man the shivers.
Presently Jim caught my arm.
Say, thought heard voices. did
| your he whispered.
| The men upstairs l said.
Sounded down here. Have your
pistol ready
II took my lantern and went round
the vault again carefully, and then
held 1t up to examine the walls. Then
l shook my head. There warn't nc
way we could hear no one.
| Its the queerest place / ever was
in said Jim. and, by Jove. III 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 trembed so and his eyes looked
| wild and excited, his own wife would.
mt know him.
The money! The money! he
whispered. we must have it nowr
1--WE got out Of the way just0n 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 the great
piles of bank notes and silver we could
see by the light Of the lanterns.
"'Hands off, or you are a dead man!
''lt was voice that would have
walked the dead. dropped my bag
and Jim drew back his hand and
caught hold Of me with q grip like
iron, and he begun to slowly back tC
the ladder
THE combination is all right: WI
have them now. they can't escape US.
I'VE were half up the ladder wher
we heard the click. click of the lock
and as we drew the ladder after u,
we could hear the rasping of til,
hinges OF the iron door.
"'FIy, fly. for your lives; we are dis
covered said Jim. as he went round t.
warn the men; and in the darkness
and 10 the wind and rain they wen
away aud amt never seen one of 'en
since. heard. though, as when the.
found there 'warn't no one there ant
the bank people didn't know nothin
bout IL till the next morning, the.
just believed as the bank was haunted
sure.
do know what 1t was, Judge
There amt no one else as does know
that's sure. 'Tain't much after all.
Yer see, playin' round with my III
tie ones, found as | could make Ell
hear All kinds of noises anywhere
wanted, and people cryin' and laugbin
1t was fun for them and | often don
It, ventriloqnizn' believe you call II
but that nights the last time Yer SET
none Of the gang didn't know 'bou
that. and don't keer ever to have 'eI
know il now. 1t saved the bank Will