The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-01-14
A BOOKKEEPER'S
 OPPORTUNITY
toislnaLI

AIle NANN.A a..Ht.I HANANlAtAAs hAe AlAkuA after turning out the lights just before going home he remembered that be had loft a paper ln the vault which he shoull have mailed. Lighting a can dle that he kept for use in the vault he unlocked the door md entered. The door was SO set on lts hinges that it would close Of lts own weight. and Talbot usually placed a ledger against it on entering. But tonight he was In a hurry to get home and thought he eorld reach the paper in time to catch the door before lt closed. The paper was not where he supposed lt was, and he looked elsewhere. Suddenly be hcarl a click. He was locked In.
 Talbot was pgralyEcd at his situa- ton Presently. however. he recovered hIs eQuanimity sufficiently Co think. The drst result of hls thought was to blow out hls candle. remembering that it was drawing on the oxygen in the air But this was as far as be could go for there was nothing left for him Co do except wait Co see lf he could live on the atmosphere no bre0thed. In the course of half an hour he felt as sured that he could This Is explained by the fact that Che building in settling had opened a crack in the vault through which air could permeate. Talbot. having been without sufficient sleep for several weeks, finally sank Into slumber.
 He was awakened by a b-r-r-r-rl The sound was very Ike a drill It was a dr.u. Thank heaven. he had been missed and they had come to let him out, It would be well to let them know that he was still alone, SO be called:
 "rm an rlght.'
 They could not have heard him. for thc drilling went on without any reply. Then be wondered why they didn't open Che vault by using the eombina- ton. SO he called out again. louder:
 "YUu fellows out there. Don't you know the dsgrCs for opening the lockr'
 The sound suddenly stopped All was perfectly quiet Could he have mistaken thc gnawing of a rat or a mouse for a drinl
 "I say. you fellows. the combination ls T-l5-S3~
 Still an was quiet, but once or twice he thought he could hear voices in con ference. Then there was a call
 Hello. you. inside there"
 "Weug'
 "Who are youT'
 'J1lu T..,iot. the bookkeeperr'
 Again there vas quiet which was ended with.
 What ., you give to get outr'
 "Gi,e? Who are youT"
 "Two armed men who are after what's In the vault!'
 "BurglarsT'
 That's about the size of itr'
 This put an entirely different face on the matter. From thinking ot his own safety John Talbot began to think of saving the contents of the vault Was not this an opportunity He had worked Gen years for the concern on a meagor salary and might work ten years longer under the same conditionA He resolved to stand hls ground 1T pos sIb'r. First he must gain time He regretted a he had given the comb potion.
 "N'c,l. 1 gave you the 6gures! Why don't you open the lock, come in and help yourseIvesT
 "Giye it again."
 John did not give lt. and presently be heard them trying the lock They either had not heard an the numbers or had forgotten them.
 Suddenly John remembered the re volyer that was always kept In a drawer In the woodwork Inside the vault for the especial purpose of de- lending the funds in case of an at- tempt at burglary during the day. This gave hlm new hope He opened the drawer. took out the revolver, felt to determine it the cartridges were in place aud found everything ln order. Then be waited patiently while the drilling went on. There were several hycrs Co be pierced. and the burglars were a long while iu getting through. Presently. however John heard some thing give way. and. feeling along the surface. be struck hls finger against the end of a drill. Then it was pulled out. ard John. placing his eye Co the hole. could see a part Of a mans chest or hls face as the owner moved about close before it. John now concluded that lt was time to begin a defense: SO. placing the muzzle of bis revolver t1 the hole. he fired
 It seemed to him for moment that the drums Of his ears had been broken down. but without stopping Co con sldcr this be put his eye to the drilled hole. The men were now farther away. and be could see them plainly. at least one of them. for the other was supporting his companion ln bis arms and holding Q dark lantern Co hls faco. Evidently one of them had been bit The other drew bis companion out of lohn's eye range. and John substituted his ear for hts eye at the bole. Pres eutly be heard the odice door shut. and an was silent. They had gone.
 srhe next morning when the janitor