The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-18
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.
"Yes, thank 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-
teryS Land sakes, judge time they opened
the bank that day ten years ago and found
the bank vault broke into and tho safe
blowed up and not dollar gone I could
have told it all. The people of Tiverton
ain't done talking and wondering bout 1t
yet, and there ain never been no one living
as could tell what 1t all meant but me.
81 brought some papers-here they are,
judge--whers it's all written down, and l
can swear to 1t II you like. Idon't want
them never nsed, though, unless die and
something comes up as would make it best
for my family to know, though there's
things Ii 1t I'd rnther die than have 'em
know, II it's al the same to you, judge.
I'D like to toll il to yoE. Seems like I'd
get rid of load aud would 10 happier and
die easier feeling Id spoken Ii all out to one
living human
"Ycull 10 glad to ,isten2 That's good
Of You. knowsi you was kind man
and just one. That's why come to you.
"Nor thnnk you, don't smoke. l put
all that monay away for my wife and chill
dTen.
40 yeu hear that stormp Outside
seems like all the evil powers was let loose.
You can't Judge bout 1t here. 1t comes
kin0 Of Inuifledlike through those thick
curtnins, and It don't shake this great
house as 1t does some.
cts this kind of night as makes men
hud6le together, judge, and plan how to
get rich and have Ane things such as the
likes Of you. I've been through it all,
know. I've felt as If had as good right
to 'em as any one, and I was bound to
havo em too warnt brought up to no
trade nor nothing, and fair means seeming
to fail took to the other.
"Yos, judge started out in life thief
and u robber. prospered fairly in a small
way, and no one didn't catch up with me
for some time Then I joined gang in
for anything. Lord, but it was fascinat-
ing! It was like drink couldn't give
it up, and couldn't got enough of it. I
was in prison and out then, the old story,
till married and begun to have little ones.
"Then Lord knows what helped me.
something dit--and for the sake Of my
vito and children ] broke loose from ev-
erything and came here, where no one
didn't know me, to start over again. l
had some money and opened the resta urant
just opposite the bank.
"Long as didn't read the papers I got
on we'll But let me sec them, and I'd
hunt through EN- for tho robberies, and I'd
BIO crazy for awhile, aching to be in it all
again. Seeing bout my old pals getting in
trouble didn't mako no difference.
"Time came, though, when begun to
emf life differently and to feel myself
mo, respectable. The love fcr the old life
begun to go till l could read about it
then l 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. l s'pioioned
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 l must join EN-. was the very
man they wanted. could help lem, and
was bound to 'em. Twas the biggest thing
they'd undertaken yet-the bank. They'd
come on to examine the situation, knowing
that Mr.. Durkee, the new mill owner,
would make big payment soon and tho
money for it would be in the bank here
II there warnt anything else, that would
be 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, l wonder
! warnt in tatters by morning with tho
devil Juggling 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 it,
"You see, them bank people come over to
my place for lunch best part of the time,
and they all knowed my little people, and
the mill people knowed en- too. My old
est boy worked in the mill, and they'd
been as kind as could BIO when hos sick.
Christmas time they's good to him, too,
and there warn't bank-oflicer but had
remembered my little people, even to the
Waterman. Seemed like robbing my own
people somehow I'm bound not to in
form on the gang, and they's bound to
rob the bank, but I cursed 'em in my
heart for coming Just when 1 was getting
rid of the old life fer good and all. Twas
awful!
"Well, judge, you know how them rooms
over the bank was rented to start new
daily paper. made em swear solemn as
my name warnt to appear nowhere. I'd
plan it all out arc give EN- points and be
on hand at she last, but l had to DO Gnu
tious.
"They found out when the money was
to be paid and greed on the night before
for the robbery. l had il all mapped out
for 'em where and how they was 60 loosen
up the boards of the floor III their room
above, so we could breaK through and
lower ourselves into rhe vault when the
time come. Then, y5n STE, we'd only have
the safe to get into and the great iron door
between us and the watchmaD.
Everything was ready, and We was
pretty sure She money was paid
"Do you hear that storm now, judge2
Twas like that ten years ago tonight,
dark as Egypt, with the rain and wind
perfect hurricane, terrible night, the
kind of night for any sort of crime. The
men chuckled to themselves. Twas
fortune sure this time, and they'd all be
on the way to comfort and safety hefore
day l aims never seen EN- so excited.
Nothing hadn's gone wrong, and nothing
couldn't now.
1--WE had sent,uels stationed round to
give the alarm, tut there warn't much