Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-08-19
CHAPTER XIII.-CoNT1NtED.
copyright by A. N. Kellogg Newspaper c

CHAPTER X1II.-CONTINUED
AS the town clock gave the single
stroke of one. six meu entered the gate
of a residence on Laurel street; one
knocked loudly on tie door, while the
other five Rugged the wall of the house.
a window from the floor above was
raised.
What is it?' asked voice.
''Are you Mr.. White, cashier of the
Charleston bank?' said the man below
Yes; what is tip
1.-THE bank has been robbed"
whats that? what's that? Bank
robbed? Great heavens, wait and I'll
join you"
Raymond White speedily dressed and
descended to the door: opened it, to
find himself clutched by the throat by
one man, while the revolvers of several
more, were leveled at his head.
absolute quiet, Mr.. White" said
Black Beard, sis the price of your life,
have you the bank and vault keys on
your person.?
What means all this, has the bank
been robbed?''
Not yet, Mr.. White, not yet, but be
o easy. it soon will be. Here, let me re-
lieve you of your keys-what, you carry
pistol too? Well I'll take that also"
Il know you" said the cashier, you
are the man for whom 1 cashed the
checks to-day"
You had better forget me when we
part tonight. Those who remember
me. with rare exceptions, do not fare
well-now for King street and the bank
OF Charleston. Here White, lock arms
hlIt no of
alarm, and you arc dead man, your
wife a widow and your children or
phans. March,
A half hour later, Black Beard fitted
key to the bank door; it swung open
and five men entered, the other five
guarding the avenue of approach on the
outside.
White was firmly bound to chair,
the vaults opened, and the cash speedily
transferred to bags; then gaggjng the
cashier sufficiently to render it impos-
sible for him to make himself heard, the
plunderers left the bank.
They were joined on the outside by
three of the men who had held watch.
''Where's Toombs and Lankey?''
asked Black Beard.
'Fightin' round yon corner sad the
man addressed, ito attract the atten-
ton of the hossifers.''
We'll go that way and get them,
they might be run in"
AS they roubded the corner, there
were the two. sailors, pumnIeling each
other Justify, while two policemen were
trying to separate them.
"Hey!" yelled Black Beard, sis that
what I let you ashore for? Ayast there!
you lighting blackguards, bothering
the officers of this peaceful town"
The two sailors were subdued in an
instant.
aboard We lubbers! Aboard"
Here, officers, here's a couple OF
pounds for keeping my frisky sailors
from eating each other up. I'll see
that they bother you no more"
Thanks, captain, We'll drink your
health. Lucky you came along, or
you'd have found them jagged in the
morning"
I'll jug the Burgers when get them
aboard
But Black Beard and his men didn' t
GO directly aboard: they first visited
the county Jail. and Black Beard aroused
the jailer, and informed him that he
had two drunken sailors that he de-
sired locked up till morning.
Five pounds was sufficient to con-
vince the jailer that they should be
locked up, and he produced his keys
and unlocked the Jail door. AS he
turned. he found the reyolvers that a
short time before had been leveled at
the cashiers head. leyeled at his.
What could he do buI-weaken? The
door of the cell of Plunkett and Cobb
was unlocked; the letters taken from,
fheir limbs; the jailer was locked in
their cell. and Black Beard and his
comrades FASTENED to the planning mill,
where they found the two boats in wait
ing, and they were rowed aboard.
What luck. captain?" asked the
mate. as the Black Beard mounted the
vessels rail.
Immense! immense. mate! Punk
EFT and Cobb are here; they wiz not
stretch hemp. at least not on Friday
next, and there's gold, silver and bank
notes more than we will count to-
night. But what luck had you? How
many orange cleaners did you hiree''
Sixteen strapping men. They