The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-10

- lose-or gain. Seventy-five
thousand dollars" So said
. Charlie Morton to himself. as
lse rode into town In the tramcar.
1t was the morning after the dlscov-
cry Of an enormous shortage In the
accounts of the cashier Of the United
National Bank. and everybody was
talking about the great robbery" and
wondering whether the defaulter
would get away or not. Charlie was
particularly interested In the matter
for he was himself cashier In a bank
the Imperial.
"Now, II seems TO me-" he soiiio-
qulzed. as he gazed abruptly out OF the
opposite window at the passing shop
fronts, at seems to me that II a chap
was only smart enough he could do
It. Why. II would be almost the cas-
lest thing out II he aud the teller-the
receiving-could 60 1t hand-and-Slove
together. But they are always caught
sooner or later: the chaps that try 1t
aren't smart enough by half"
And his thoughts came back to the
case In hand. He soon found himself
wondering which direction the runa-
way had taken. and specializing upon
the quickest and safest route to for
elgn territory. II Is an exciting thing.
q race against time. telegraph and the
officers OF the law. The manner and
means Of 1t are fascinating topics for
thought. especially for bank cashiers.
Charlie was still musing upon the thing
SIS he allghted from the train and en-.
tered the bank.
A few moments afterward Fred
Allen. the receiving teller. came IN. and
laying upon chair the bank robbery
extra, which he had been reading.
went to his desk. Charlie opened the
safe, arranged his cash. and. the busi-
ness Of the day began.
1t was q weary day for every one In
the bank. There was not much busi-
ness. and things were slow. without
any chance Of relief by conversation.
Alone, practically. with little to do and
no one to talk to. Charlie thought often
Of the defalcati6n at the National
Bank. He pictured to himself all the
iine things that could be done with
$4,000. There were q carriage aud
horses, the opera. the theatre. fine
clothes. high living-and.no work. De-
'cidedly fine prospect for any reason
able being. Charlie amplified the idea.
divided II, and imagined each part to
himself In detail. 1t was as pleasant
D way as any Of passing the time
which hung with unusual heaviness
upon him. And surely there could not
b3 the slightest harm In thinking.
When he grew tired Of this. which
was not soon. he looked ut the money
around him, aud at the various en-
ployes of the bank. W-re they hon
est? Could they all be trusted? He
fan over the whole list In his mind,
weighing carefully IN each case the
evidence pro and con. till he came to
Fred Allen. At the thought Of him
his mind reverted to his idea of the
early morring. 1t would be SO easy
for q receiving teller and q cashier
working together to do" the bank.
He smiled and laughed softly to him
self a. he carried the thing out men,
tally.
An impatient customer raped sharp
" upon the glass before the desk.
Charlie started violently. recovered
himself and attended to the customers
business. After that calls were more
frequent and things went along more
briskly.
At last banking hours drew to q
close. the books were settled for the
day. the safes were securely locked.
and Charlie and his companions were
free until tomorrow morning.
As soon as duties were over Charlie
Joined Fred Allen on the pavement.
1t was their daily custom to walk for
q few minutes In the park before going
home. This evening they walked along
for some time in silence: neither seemed
to know just how to broach the SUBJ
ject which was uppermost in their
minds-for they both were thinking
about the same thing. The chance
remark Of a passerby which reached
their ears got them started. however.
and soon they were fairly launched
I'm the discussion.
1T Is q sure thing: no one ever
could discover It," said Charlie.
True" returned Allen. ''the way
you put Il. 1t does seem pretty safe
But II We fall:'
The cashier shrugged his shoulders
and coughed slightly.
IF We could do It and succeed.
though" continued Allen. ut would
be great. simply great" His eyes
shone bright with the idea. Besides"
he went on. with o change Of tone.
ats only couple Of days since Mile
was complaining again about our being
poor. Poor girl! know 1t must be
hard on her. living like We do after
what she was used to once. More
money wocid make things easier for
her. Perhaps your scheme Is worth
trying after all. Charlie"
And in case we find ourselves In
danger Of discovery. Thy. there is
flight. have It all planned out"
Sitting down on one Of the benches.
they talked II over. When they arose
evening had already come. and 1t was
growing dark rapidly.
$50 late already" exclaimed Allen,
looking around. Il must hurry or Mile