Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-09-13
CHAPTER TX.
THE KNICKERBOCKER BANK.

THE KNICKERBOCKER BANK
Richard Dunlap was a man who had
never missed a train nor been late in
keeping an appointment. On the
morning following Sprague's dinner
party, he walked briskly down Broad
way from City Hall. 1t was New
Years day; the great thoroughfare
was deserted. AS he turned into
Wall street, the hands of the clock
in Trinity steeple pointed to three
minutes of nine. The fnancier pulled
out his chronometcr, found that the
clock in tn old belfry was right,
and quickened his pace.
Wall street slumbered peacefully
and silently, like a battlefield after
the roar of the cannon has been
hushed, after the victors and the van
quished have disappeared, leaving be-
hind them only the ghosts of the
slain. The deathlike stiffness was op-
pressive.
at last, as Dunlap reached the
Knickerbocker bank, the clock in the
belfry struck the hour. The reporter
was not there. The banker uttered
an ejaculation of annoyance He
looked up and down the street There
was no one n sight. He resolved to
give Sturgis five minutes grace. and
began to pace back and forth before
he entrance to the bank. Then a
thought struck him. There was an
other entrance on Exchange place
that generally used by the employees
and officers. Perhaps the reporter
was waiting there. Dunlap walked
around to Exchange place and glanced
up the street. He saw a man stand
ing in the gutter and bending low
over the curb. Dunlap advanced to
obtain a front view of him and rec
ognized Sturgis. The reporter had
not noticed his approach; he held a
magnifying glass in his hand and
seemed deeply interested in a minute
examination of the smoothworn curb.
Good morning, Mr.. Sturgis," said
the banker, have you lost some
thing?"
The reporter looked up quietly.
''No, Mr.. Dunlap; l have found some
thing g-something which may possibly
prove to be a hyphen."
"a what?" asked the banker, per
picked.
"A hyphen connecting two parts of
a very pretty puzzle"
Dunlap stared curiously at the curb
81 can see nothing there" said he
Sturgis handed him the magnifying
glass.
''Now look again"
He pointed out a particular portion
of the curb. Dunlap looked in the di-
rection indicated.
81 see what looks like dried mud
dust particles, and little dark spot
or stain"
ayes said Sturgis, "that dark spot
is the hyphen. There were probably
others like it on the sidewalk yester-
day afternoon, but they have been OBJ
liberated by the pedestrians. Here,
however, are some that have re-
manned"
As he spoke, he led Dunlap to the
Exchange place entrance of the bank
and pointed out a number of similar
spots on the stone steps.
fortunately" he said, as if speak
ing to himself, fortunately the de
tectives entered through the front door
last night so that they did not inter
fere with this portion of the trail"
'But what are these spots?" asked
the banker.
"They are blood-stains," replied the
reporter. Il have every reason to be-
ieve them to be human blood. But
that question | can settle positively as
soon as we are in the bank, for | have
brought a powerful microscope. Let
us enter now, if you lie; | have seen
all there is to be seen outside. BY the
way, do you know this key"
He held up large steel key of COM
plicated structure.
why exclaimed Dunlap, surprised,
that looks like the key to the Ex-
change place door. Where did you
fHd it?"
''In the gutter, near the sewer open
Ing at the corner"
"But how did it get there?" asked
Dunlap, anXiously.
perhaps | shall be able to answer
that question presently" said Sturgis.
~Shall we go in now? No, not that