Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-31

this story to tell. He would then have
been an ordinary, every day felon, and
would be wearing a number in some
prison. No, that was not Lavery's
game. With all the cunning of an ex-
perienced thief, he planned to rob the
bank of all the money in the vaults,
and then just drop out of sight. What
might have been the stiffest kind of
job for band of experienced cracks
men, would be easy for Lavery, be-
cause he and the president were the
only ones who had the secret of the
great locks to the vault, and they
were the only ones who ever stayed at
their desks alone late into the night.
''It was nothing unusual for Lavery
to stay late at the bank. He was the
kind OF a man to work constantly, and
the old watchman knew him so we'll
that nothing he might do would have
reused the slightest suspicion in his
mind. Lavery knew this and he laid
his plans accordingly He made ar
rangements to get out of town on an
early morning train, and had most
elaborate plan for his wife to follow
him at later date. He did not take
his wife into his confidence. If he had,
the thing would never have come off.
She would have brought him to his
senses with round turn. AS it was,
Lavery went on dreaming of South
Sea island home, far from the clutches
of the law, with every luxury that ma
ture could provide. 1t was the dream
of a crazy man, but as | said while
ago, | am convinced that Lavery was
crazy. Well there was a lot of inter-
cstlng detail, which III omit just now,
SO as to get down to the meat of the
story. The night came when Lavery
made up his mind that the best chance
possible offered for the plundering of
the bank. In the great vaults were
some 100000, every dollar of which
was within easy reach of the trusted
hand of Lavery. OF this amount over
o. half was in such shape that the man
could carry it off with ease.
"Lavery spent that day at his desk
working about as usual. After bank
ing hours he got the clerks around
him and Strengthened things out. Then
he closed his desk, walked into the
Office of the president, announced that
he was going out for some luncheon,
but would be back and would remain
at the bank late. The president told
the cashier that he was working too
hard but Lavery only smiled and went
out. He came back at s o'clock that
night and the watchman let him in.
He had large black valise with him,
which he put alongside his desk, and
then from until II o'clock, he
worked away over the papers on his
desk. The most remarkable thing
about it all was that Havery was not
playing for time as he worked. His
labor was genuine know that be-
cause | saw his books afterward. The
old watchman came to the counting
room at IL o'clock, and again at mid
night. and spoke to Lavery. He an
swered cheerfully and once told the
old man that he might be around until
early in the morning.
''It was about l o'clock when Law
cry rose from his desk, picked up his
valise and started down into one of
the vaults, the one where the large
sums of money were kept He didn't
look to the right or the left. Never
was man more confident of the sue
cessful operation of his plans. A
slight noise as he passed through the
dark passageway failed to make him
even start. He passed on to the vault
and when he stood in front of the
great steel doors. put his valise down
on the floor and after few seconds
work, succeeded in swinging back the
doors. Again there was slight noise
and this time Lavery looked around.
a shadow fitted up toward him and
then disappeared in a niche in the
wall.
us that You, John?' asked Lavery
coolly, thinking it must be the watch
man. There was no answer. Lavery
was disturbed, but not frightened. He
turned to the vault and with some
haste began to pull! out great packets
of bills. One or two packets he laid
on the ground, the rest he placed in
the yalise. His only light was the
iickering sas jet at the end of the
passage, but not an inch of that vault
was unknown to Lavery. and he could
have done his work without any light
at all.
Suddenly this Pickering gas jet
went out. Now Lavery was no fool.
He didn't delude himself with any
false ideas. He knew that there was
something behind the gas going out
except draught. He put two and two
together, and concluded that he had
been followed into the vault by some
one, who didn't care to be seen. lie
tried to think what he might have
done or said To betray himself or his
plans. He could think of nothing. The
fact remained. however. that he was
at the end OF blind passage with a
valise full of the banks money. Who
ever turned out the light knew the
truth. Layery put his hand In his
pocket and slipped out the revolver
which he always carried when he