The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-06-14


thing struck him on the back OF the head.
AZ ne Tell he turned quickly and fred the
two remaining shots from his pistol. Then
he went slowly out Of the world, with yelle
OF pain and shouts Of alarm from some-
where In the distance ringing in his ears as
bis mind gradually passed away.
"Lavery saw the light Of the world again
In his own home and with his wife bending
over his bed. For Z moment he couldn't
recall anything. Then like Hash it all
came back to him. He sprang out Of bed
and fell An heap on the floor. of course.
II must get away" he cried to his wife.
clothes. Oh. my God. my 0od!"
'Lavery went OF into delirium, and the
doctor shook his head and looked serious
when he saw him and heard what he had
said. The next time Lavery's wandering
senses came back to him there was a strong
man alongside Of his bed. and when he tried
to Jump again he found himself pinned
down. A look of wild despair came into
his face. and for two days he lay there, half
mailman, from brooding over his crime
and the awful consequences Of II. His wife
was kept away from him. but the doctors
said he would get well and she was content.
You may have guessed the situation by this
When these two days Of utter despair had
passed there was a call on the sick man
which caused him to bury his face in his
hands and weep the first tears that he had
shed since that eyentful night. It was the
old president of the bank, who came In.
the old man who had been Lavery's friend
since childhood and who had always idol
lied the boy. The tears were streaming
down his face as he entered and when
Lavery saw that kind old face his cup Of
bitterness ran over. He couldn't look in
those eyes.
He's nervous, said the nurse.
Poor boy said the president, he's had
hard time Of it. Well, he must be saved
for his reward Lavery's heart almust
burst at this.) Lavery.' said the president.
leaning over the bed. Don't you feel well
enough to speak to me? / have waited two
weeks to do my duty In this matter, and
the doctor tells me you are we'll enough to
talk little. Lavery, your courage saved
the bank 5000. 900. OF course, nothing that
can say now will give you any idea Of the
gratitude OF the officers and directors.
want to tell you that you must hurry and
get well SO that we can show our apprecia-
tiOn of your conduct
Then the president went out and Layery
almost stunned by those last few words.
rolled over on his face and struggled to
think. For hours he lay there silent, but
thinking. His wife came in for the first
time, and from her lips came the story. For
month two famous burglars from New
York had been tunneling into the passage
leading into the vaults. They had worked
from the cellar of an Office building adjoin-
ing, one of the men having secured per-
mission to use an old coal bin there as Q
darkroom for some Photographic work.
And. dearie.' said his wife. II 1t hadn't
been for you they would have got away
with all that money John. the Waterman,
says that the first idea he had that anything
was wrong was when he heard your pistol.
He ran down toward the passage, and as he
ran he heard shrieks Of pain and more pis-
toll shots. Suddenly everything was quiet.
and when John lighted the gas he saw two
men trying to drag themselves along to-
ward big opening in the wall. The blood
was streaming from their wounds. They
were the burglars. You shot one Of them
three times and the other twice.
John found you unconscious on the floor
with your head all crushed in. John got
help, and that's all there is to it. except
that they're only waiting for you 70 get
we'll to try those two men. Oh, dearie.
those men almost got the money. They had
big. black bag with them, and there was
over $4,000 in 1t when it was found. And,
dearie. the doctor says that you must go
away for long time, and the directors
OF the bank have voted to send us all to
Europe for six months. Besides that they
have voted you $4,000 reward, and your
place will be held for you until you get
back
'Lavery's wife went out, ami Laye;y tried
to think. He found 1t easier than before.
The truth came to him like nn electric
shock, but he was strong enough TO listen
to 1t without betraying himself He got well
fast after that, and that's all there is to
tell you about the matter. You saw Lavery
pass few minutes ago. He never did q
crooked thing again in his life, and verify
believe that he never thought a crooked
thought again. His lesson was a lard one.
His career since that eventful time In his
life has been full Of successes. lie ia a
New York bank presijsn now, and guess
he is director Of about twenty others. in
GLIDING the National, Of Kings.
Now, you're going to ask Inc how know
all this. Does seem strange, doesn't it?
Well, l got my first hint OF 1t from the
head crook of the two who do the job. He
told me in Jail that 1t was a moral GER
tainty that the cashier was robbing the
bank when be and his pal happened in
II it wasn't for the fact that they were
making a hero out Of the cashier he said
he would go on the stand and tell the
facts as they really were. He was cute
duck, though and told me that they had
made such a popular idol out of the cashier
that the jury would probably soak him
harder II he cast any aspersions on the
savior of the bank. I threw the facts at
Lavery, and when he found I knew ell he
weakened but this was years after, and I
kept quiet"
Srr,xh 49, aus<1o%ara 80 .>A..s.-