The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-07-13

the lowest grade of pitifully paid, plod-
ding drudgery-all, all were there at the
| bank doors clamoring for their money,
| crying .nloud for their all and cursing the
dishonest cashier.
sBeHhd the doors were white faces,
busy, nervous fingers and overweight
brains, delving and diving in the banks
books, adding, figuring, hunting and
searching for some defcit-some sign,
some inkling Of Wentworth's dishonesty.
Il never saw tracks so adroitly cover
ed" was the verdict Of the several ex-
perts after three days of useless search.
The banks resources were large, and
with timely assistance all pressing de-
mands were slowly met. The directors
were fighting for time to discover how
large was the defalcation. They were
cropping in the dark, fearful that any mo-
ment would make certain the great extent
Of the robbery.
In the meantime Sylvia and Allan re-
NAMED in hiding in their uninviting quar-
tiers.
Allan's fear Of arrest grew more per-
ceptible each day and kept him almost
continually indoors. His hunted look, his
logged actions, were pitiable to behold,
yet, in all things else, Allan Wentworth
was no coward.
1 When the third day was drawing to a
close, an all absorbing thought took pos
session of his brain. 1t dominated it with
the relentlessness Of tyrant. 81 must
have money" it urged. IF / can't
make it, must get it-anyhow! Enough
to take Sylvia and me away from this &C.
cursed place! l have but one life to iveI
Must / live it like q dog, lodging the
noliaa NTucf Saa ,,ox, wanna.
wife waste her life in such surroundings
as these?
For hours he sat brooding, and at night
he could not sleep. A terrible scheme
was connecting whereby he would gain
that which he wanted. II can do it.
will do it; nothing easier. 1t has been
done before-why not now? The South
ern Pacific train reaches this place at
1850 in the morning, just after mid.
night, when even the railroad ctlcials
are drowsy eyed. I'll climb to the top
Of the car and lie fat upon its roof.
When the train pulls out and gets be-
tween stations, I'll drop down upon the
engineer. He'll not be armed. My re-
volver will be most effective. I'll hold
up the train, take the express matter
and I'll have money enough for Sylvia
and me-"
How it all flashed instinctively through
his working brain. How easy it seemed!
In fancy he had already cLutched the
bags Of needed gold!
He crept from his bed and stealthily
left the room. Soon after Sylvia was
aroused from her sleep by loud talking
outside. She raised her window. The
glare from an electric light fell full upon
the crowd Of men in the street just be-
low, and she saw Allan. hatless and coat
less, wildly gesticulating in the center of
the crowd. Hurriedly she threw q long
wrap about her and rushed to his side.
81 have robbed the express train" he
said excitedly. II am criminal! Why
do you all doubt me? never lied know
ingly in my life. 1 am thief, tell ysu,
a thiefr'
"Yes, am Allan Wentworth" he said
to a bystander. II suppose you are going
to arrest me. Well, arrest away.
ought to be arrested, for I am q scoun-
drel. You don't believe that / robbed
the express" he asked in an exultant
tone. as if to prove the truth of his state
ment was OF more worth in his eyes than
anything else. Look at the blood where
the bullet broke my arm and almost pre-
vented me. He held up his arm and
stared earnestly at the imaginary blood
upon his shirt sleeve.
Hes as crazy as June bug" said a
man in the crowd carelessly.
That same night Sylvia obtained as.
sistance and started with her husband
for San Francisco. By morning they were
in their own home, surrounded by anx-
ious but happy friends. Allan's accounts
had been thoroughly exported and showed
that they were as straight as string.
His physicians said it was an attack of
acute mania. caused by overwork, and
that he would certainly recover.-Cleve-
land Plain Dealer.