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

succession. There was a most terrific
outcry. Lavery plunged ahead again,
but before he had gone three steps
something struck him on the back of
the head. AS he fell he turned quickly
and fired the two remaining shots
from his pistol. Then he went slowly
out of the world with yells of pain
and shouts of alarm from somewhere.
in the distance ringing in his ears as
his mind gradually passed away.
''Lavery saw the light of the world
again two weeks from that night. He
came to in his own home and with his
wife bending over the bed. For mo-
ment he couldn't recall anything. Then
like flash it all came back to him.
81 must get away he cried to his
wife. 4 must get away. Quick, give
me my clothes. Oh, my God, my God!'
'Lavery went off into delirium, and
the doctor shook his head and looked
serious when he saw him and heard
what he had said. The next time Law
ery's wandering senses came back tC
him there was a strong man along
side of his bed and when he tried to
Jump again he found himself pinned
down.
You may have guessed the situation
by this time, but remember that Law
cry had not. 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 eventful night. 1t 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 idolized 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 Uavery's
heart almost burst at this.) Lavery'
said the president, leaning over the
bed, don't you feel well enough to
speak to me? l have waited two weeks
to do my duty in this matter and the
doctor tells me you are well enough
to talk a little. Lavery, your courage
saved the bank 100000. OF course,
nothing that | can say now will give
officers and directors. l want to tell
you that you must hurry and get well,
so that we can show our appreciation
of your conduct
"Then the president went out, and
Lavery, 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 tunnelling into the passage
leading into the vaults. They had
worked from the cellar of an Office
building adjoining, one of the men
having secured permission to use an
old coal bin there as a dark room for
some Photographic work.
And dearie,' said his wife, If it
hadn't been for you. they would have
got away with all that money. John,
the watchman, says that the first idea
when he heard your pistol He ran
down toward the passage, and as he
ran he heard shrieks of pain and more
pistol shots. Suddenly everything was
quiet, and when John lighted the gas
he saw two men trying to drag them
selves along toward a 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 TO get well to try those two men.
Oh, dearie. those men almost got the
money They had a big, black bag
with them, and there was over $4,000
in it when it was found. There were
thousands more scattered around the
floor of the vault. How you must have
surprised them. And, dearie, the doc
tor says that you must go away for a
long time, and the directors of the
bank have voted to send us all to
Europe for six months. Beside 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 and Lavery
tried to think. He found it easier than
before. The truth came to him like an
electric shock. but he was strong
enough to listen to It without betray-
ing himself. He got well fast after
that, and that's all there is to tell you
about the matter. You saw Lavery
pass II few minutes ago. He never did
n crooked thing again in his life. and
| verify believe that he never thought
a crooked thought again. He is New
York bank president now. and | guess
he is a director of about 20 others, in
Guiding the National of Kings.
Now you're going to ask me how
know all this. Does seem strange.