The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-12-05
CHAPTER ".


If Kenneth .Griswold had been
neither more nor less than a pro-
fessional highwayman he would
probably have been taken and jailed
| within the hour, inasmuch as his
cast for fortune included no well
wrought out plan of escape. But
since he was both wiser and less cum
ming than the journeyman bank rob-
Der, and was, moreover, hungry en-
thusiast who had argued himself
into the belief that his act was mere
ly illegal and not wrong, he threw
the police off the scent by doing that
which no criminal would have had
the nerve to do.
Once safely in the street, with the
package of bank notes under his
arm, he was moved to do some ex-
travagant thing celebrative of his
success. 1t had proved to be such
simple matter, after all; one bold
stroke; small bloodless tussle with
the plutocratic dragon whose hold
upon his prey is so easily broken;
and presto! the hungry proletary is
himself power in the land, strong
to do good or evil as the gods may
direct.
This was the prompting to levita-
tion as it might have been set in
words; but in Griswold's thought it
was but swift suggestion, followed
Immediately by another which was
much more to the purpose. He was
hungry; there was a restaurant next
door to the bank. Without
thought of the risk he ran, or of the
audacious subtlety of such an ex-
pedient at such critical moment,
he went in, sat down at one of the
small tables and calmly ordered
breakfast.
Now, hunger is a lusty special
pleader, and it will make itself heard
above any pulpit drum of the higher
faculties; hence Griswold thought
less of what he had done than of
what he was about to eat, until the
hue and cry reminded him that the
chase had begun. Whereupon, not
to be suspiciously injurious, he put
on the mask of innocence and asked
the waiter concerning the uproar.
The man did not know what had
happened. but he would go and find
out if M'sieu' so desired "M'sieu'"
said breakfast first and informa-
ton afterward, by all means. Both
came in due season, and Griswold ate
while he listened.
Transmitted into the Creole-Eng-
fish of the serving-man. the story
of the robbery lost nothing in it's
sensational features.
'Ha! Wat you t'ink, M'sieu'?'
De bank mex do is been rob!" and
upon this theme excited volubility
surrounded by gang of desperate
men and every exit guarded while the
leader, masked giant, armed to the
teeth, had compelled the president
at the muzzle of a pistol to pay a
ransom of fifty-one hundred-five
hundred thousand dollars. With the
money the gang had vanished. the
masked giant firing the pistol at
M'sieu' the president as he went.
Cross-examined, the waiter could not
affirm positively as to the shot. But
as for the rest there could be no
doubt.
coffee, and while the waiter tarried,
conscience-not the enlightened con-
science, but the conventional-bent
its bow and sped its final arrow. It
was suddenly brought home to the
enthusiast with sharp emphasis that
to all civilized mankind, save and ex-
cepting only those few chosen ones
who shared his peculiar convictions.
he was a common thief, a robber, an
outlaw.
Public opinion, potential or ex-
pressed, is at best but an intangible !
thing; but for a few seconds Girls |
void writhed under the ban of il |
as if it had been whip of scorpions.
Then he smiled to think how strong |
are the bonds of custom, and con-
science flung away its empty CULVER. |
None the less, the enthusiast was |
rather thankful for the Christening
1t served to remind him afresh OF /
his mission This money which he |
lad iast wrested from the pluto