Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-02-02
$4,000 in Gold.

OO,OOO Ill nOfus
A perfect stranger walked into the
Sidcup branch of the London and Mis-
cellaneous bank and asked to see the
manager.
Excuse my troubling you," he said,
but you may be interested to know
that there is scheme on foot for the
burgling of this bank. AS l happened
to be passing, thought I'd look In and
tell YOU"
The manager, Mr.. Julian Foster, ex-
pressed his secpticism with appropri-
ate pomposity.
My dear sir, burglary at the Lon
don and Miscellaneous Bank! You
must be dreaming!"
Il hope l am" replied the other.
And If so, l owe you an apology. Any
how, I'm not rounding on any pals,
and I'm not asking money for the in
formation. Fact Is, / overheard a
conversation that wasn't meant for me
in a public house-at least, / over
heard scraps of 1t, and I'm very much
mistaken If the burglary of your bank
wasn't the leading idea of the dia-
logue."
Mr.. Julian Foster, when expressing
his gratitude, pooh-poohed the warn
ing. still, as l said," the manager
continued, II am very much obliged
to you, and supposing 1t should turn
out that you have been we'll informed
the directors would naturally be very
glad"
Never mind about that. I'm not
on the make thought you'd like to
know, By my! Load up the shotgun
and look outi"
He shook hands and hurried Off
without even troubling to mention his
name and address, and Mr. Julian Fos-
ter leaned back in his chair and turn
ed the matter over in his mind.
HUM" he soliloquized. Il wonder"
The Sideup branch was certainly
easier to rob than most. 1t was sit
which had been bought cheap from
a stationer whose business had been
unsuccessful. The safe, which stood
in the back parlor, was OF a very sim
pie and ordinary kind.
On the other hand, the branch was
not, as a rule, worth robbing. 1t dld
very little business, existing mainly
for the purpose of raking in deposits.
and very little in the way of cash or
other negotiable securities was ever
kept there.
On the following Wednesday, how
ever, the branch would, for the first
time in it's history, be in position to
repay any burglar for his trouble. To
meet the views of particular de-
positor in the ompany-promotiny
business, who had given notice of
withdrawal, there would be $4,000 In
the safe.
Mr.. Julian Foster, like most bank
managers, was good at arithmetic, and
he put two and two together.
Burglars" he reflected. like police
men, usually act upon information re-
eeived, though heaven only knows
where they get it from! II there's any
idea of breaking into this bank |
think we may take 1t that the attempt
will be made while that money Is on
the premises"
The very afternoon he began his
preparations for giving the intruders
warm reception. AS soon as banking
hours we're over he went up to town
and bought revolver. 1t was a
weapon he was used to, and he prac-
ticed sufficiently to satisfy himself
that he retained considerable skill
with It. Then. by degrees, his plan OF
campaign developed ITSELF
THE simplest way. suppose" he
mediated, would be to get the police
to keep an extra lookout on Wednes-
day, or / might get special plain
clothes officer down from headquar-
ters. But where should come In
The bank wouldn't give me a service
of plate, with promition to follow, for
that; and / should look pretty tool II
it turned out to be a false alarm"
! So he took no one into his conf
dence, but thought out a scheme.
Wednesday came and with IL came
the messenger from Lothbury with re
gold-$ 900, tied up securely in ten
leather bags. He helped Mr.. Fos-
ter to lock them away In the safe, on
the inadequacy OF which he com
mented over a glass of sherry and a
cigarette.
I'm glad you noticed It," the man
aged replied. you'll support my APP
plieation for better one. In the
meantime, however, I've got this"
He brought the six-shooter out OF
he drawer OF the desk and showed
hat 1t was loaded.
Mr. Foster medltated till dinner
time; he medltated over mis- chop AM
bread and cheese, he went on medi-
.ating over his whiskey and water
afterwards.
"Gold--yes. there is enough golG