The Lamar register., 1901-08-14
ne plenty of light to 90 to bed by "

to;be OF, but Sarah hung back, reluctant
to leave me to the lonely terrors which
her superstitious mind had conjured up.
1t was only after had given my prom
Use to come Immediately to her house
in the event of any danger to me spring.
ing up, that she consented to leave
Feeling profoundly gratified that my
coming here had revealed to me such
absolute trust and love as inspired my
old nurse, placed my arm about her
waist while going to the door, and then
parted from her with kiss on her
wrinkled old cheek.
After the sound of the wagon wheels
had died away in the distance, l disrobed
and prepared for bed. The moonlight
was so enticinR, however, that ] sat
down on chair by the window and for
few minutes gave myself up to remin-
iscent thought.
But before go on with my expert
ences in the old house, I must tell about
the bank robbery of which was sus-
pected.
Up to year before, / had been en-
ployed in n large savings institution in
Philadelphia. My advancement with
this concern had been slow but steady,
and after ten years of earnest work /
finally attained the position of senior
paying teller. Under my immediate
charge was the vault, in which the cash
and all securities held by the bank were
kept. This vault was, of course, guard
ed by time lock. Thebank opened for
business at ten o'clock, but the book
keepers began their work half hour
earlier. There was n separate vault for
= b<,b ,,I,
furnished with time lock, and all the
bookkeepers knew the combination Of
this vault.
The bank was noted for it's conserva-
tive business methods, and the great
cautiousness with which it's funds were
guarded. 1t was the established rule
that the timepiece of the money vault
should not be set to open until half
past nine, at which time the bookkeep-
ers and most of the employees were at
work. In short, SO careful were the
officials that under no circumstances
was it allowable to leave the combina-
tion lock unguarded by the clockwork,
unless some responsible employe was
present.
One afternoon set the clockwork
mechanism to throw the bolt at half
past eight, an hour before the usual
time, as 1 intended to get to work the
next morning at that time. The semi
annual examination of the books and
securities by the trustees was to take
place, and wished to have the moneys
under my charge in order.
When 1 left the bank that afternoon
I found telegram awaiting me at my
lodging place:
"Come out to Fairlawn this evening.
We entertain small party. I want
you." Thus the dispatch ran, and it was
signed by name very dear to me-Flor
ence Morley.
1 would willingly have gone to the
antipodes to please the lovely young
woman, and my disappointment was
keen when thought of the time lock
having been set to open at half-past
eight the following morning. For Fair
lawn was a country seat of Mr.. Nor
ley's, about 80 miles distant, and
should not be able to return until near
ly ten o'clock in the morning, and the
combination lock would be unprotected
full hour before the arrival of any
of the employees. 1t was highly i'm
probable that any thief expert enough
to open the combination would attempt
the lock, even if it were known that the
time mechanism had run down. Tho
risk would be very slight, and l was
tempted to take 1t. But, knowing, even
though no consequences should be the
result, that by doing SO would break
very stringent rule, I resisted the
temptation, and In no very good humor
started for q telegraph office for the
purpose of sending n dispatch to Miss
Morley stating my inability to accept
her invitation.
On my way met an associate In the
bank, named Horace Jackson. He was
one of the bookkeepers, man about
40 years old. and a quiet, reserved fel-
low. He never mingled in any dispute
or controversy among the clerks, was a
competent accountant, and lived Sc
cluded life outside of the bank. He
was a bachelor, and did not seem to
have any special friends. 1t was GER
tain he never chummed or cronied with
| any of his associates in the bank.
"Mr. Jackson, will you do me ia
vor?" I asked, as he paused in his walk
"Most willingly, Mr.. Conway. You
have but to state it." he answered, pf-
fably.
stated the circumstances concern
ing the lock. at is possible that will
be unable to be on hand at half-past
eight" added.
"And you wish me to be at the bank
in your place?" he said,
Eyes, if it would not Inconvenience
you"
mot at all. I will be there, so the
rule will be complied with. Oh, stay n
moment. There is an old aunt of mine
over in Camden who is i'll, and might
possibly be summoned to her bedside"