The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-03-16
HIS DOWNWARD CAREER CHECKED


were the only ones who ever stayed at
their desks alone late into the night.
ut was nothing unusual for Lavery
to stay late at the bank. He was the
Kind OF a man to work constantly, and
the old Waterman knew him so well
that nothing he might do would nave
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 a later date. He did not take
his wife into his confidence. II he had,
the thing would never have come on.
She would have brought him to MS
senses with a round turn. AS 1t was,
I.avery 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 l said awhile
ago. | am convinced that LaVery was
crazy. Well, there was lot or inter-
cstIng detail, which I'll omit just now'
so as to get down to the meat or the
story. The night came when Lavery
made I'D 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
a 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 o'clock that
night and the Waterman let him IN.
He had a large black valise with him,
which he put alongside his desk, ana
then from s until IL o'clock, he
worked away over the papers on his
desk. The most remarkable thing
about 1t all was that Lavery was not
playing for time as he worked. HIS
labor was genuine know that De-
cause I saw his books afterward. The
old Waterman 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 tne
old man that he might be around until
early in the morning.
at was about / o'clock when Law
ery rose from his desk, picked up Ms
yalise and started down into one O
the vaults, the one where the larg'
: sums of money were kept. He didn'
: look to the right or the left. Neve
l was man more confident of the sue
cessful operation Of his plans.
Q slight noise as he passed through tn
dark passageway failed to nuke hin
q even start. He passed on to the vaul
and when he stood in front OF tn
!, great steel doors, put his valise DOW
L ON the floor and after a few SECONDS
n work. succeeded in swinging back tn
D. doors. Again there was slight nois
e and this time Lavery looked aroun'
s shadow fitted up toward him an
It then disappeared in niche in tn
wall.
g "Is that you, John?' asked LaveI
coolly, thinking it must be the watcl
% man. There was no answer. Lavel
- was disturbed, but not frightened. /
ie turned to the vault and with son
~ haste began to pull out great packe
~ of bills. One or two packets he la
10 on the ground, the rest he placed
the yalise. His only light was Il
~ pickering gas Jet at the end OF {
~ passage, but not an inch Of that val
was unknown to Lavery, and he cou
~ have done his work without any Zig
cd at all.
Suddenly this Pickering gas
went out. Now Lavery was no TO
ne He didn't delude himself with a
NY false ideas. He knew that there "
fu something behind the gas going
-. except a draught. He put two and Z
ne together, and concluded that he b
hu been followed into the vault by so
rus ono. who didn't care to be seen.
lss tried to think what he might hs
'a' done or said to betray himself or
III plans. He could think of nothing. ]
as fact remained, however, that he '
Tie nj the end of blind passage will
'no valise full of the banks money. w
..lo ever turned out the light knew
Hc truth. Lavery put his hand in
W. nocket and slipped out the revol
ms which he always carried when
iic STAYED late at the bank. His ref
inc .ions had occupied less than min
&c. and during that time not sound
yea come from the passage. Lavery wa
until it became impossible for hin
ex- remain quiet another second.
I'D more he thought the more convir
hat he became that he had been cornt
nth nv the officers of the bank. That
s his guilty conscience. He thought
[ere his wife. and a certain little b
dis then with an oath, something La
ing wasn't used to indulging in, he ST.
dis forward until he had gone abou1
out feet. He heard some one breatl
he ahead and without moments I
lid tation. aimed his revolver in that
sted rection and fired three shots In
: he succession. There was a most tel
else outcry Lavery plunged ahead al
or but before he had gone three
for, something struck him on the pac
sur the head. AS he fell he turned qul
now and fired the two remaining
will from his pistol. Then he went sl
was out of the world with yells OF
;ses- and shouts of alarm from somew
lie in the distance ringing in his cal
'reat his mind gradually passed away.
"Lavery saw the light OF the '