The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-02

the bank There was no cause for the
furry, as Baker could pay two dollars
for one, but that and the mysterious
robberies nearly drove him crazy. I
had a good mind to go and tell him
what I had seen. but, boy-like, was
afraid to do it. I did go to the sheriff,
however, and begin my story, but he
laughed in my face and said:
Boy. you have been seeing ghosts
and having the nightmare. If you go
round talking this way to others they'll
call you crazy"
He hadn't done anything himself to
clear up the mysteries. and he was per-.
haps little fearful that 1 might strike
clew. / looked at 1t that way and
was not discouraged by what he said.
had no father to go to, and did not
think mother could help in the case.
What 1 accomplished in the next two
days was this: I got from the bnker's
son, Joe, the information that he had
been awake when his mother came in
after her raid, and while she was out
for a couple of hours and he and / were
left alone in the house I made a swift
search and found every dollar of the
missing money in hatbox in the gar
ret. In the same box were written IN
structions I did not remove anything,
nor could the woman have suspected
on her return that I had discovered
anything. There was no doubt of her
being the robber. She had secured the
fidence, and she had had the nerve to
get up in the night and rob the bank.
If she had not used any of the money
she must have some object in view,
but I could not study that out, though
there was gossip about family troubles.
was more scared than before at the
thought of going to the banker direct,
as somehow felt that he would blame
me in some way, but I sent another
boy to him and had him call at my
house in the evening.
The banker seemed to have made up
bis mind to hear bad news. 1 shall
never forget how he sat there before
me looking straight into my eyes, and
his face growing old and haggard, as
l told my story Half an hour wrought
such facial changes that he seemed all
most a stranger. His very soul must
| have been tortured, but he spoke no
word till had finished Then he quiet
/ ly asked me to verify certain points,
seeming to have a hope that I might
after all be mistaken, but there was no
blunder. and he rose up and left the
| house looking ten years older than
when he entered it.
The stricken man did not go to the
bank or his home, but walked out into
| the country with his head down and his
| hands crossed behind him. followed him
| for two miles and then returned. 1t was
I daylight next morning when he entered
/ his house, and then 1t was to find his wife
gone. She had left before night in a
/ Strange outfit driven up to the door by a
/ strange man. but before departing she had
visited the bank for the fifth time. This
| time she took a package of $4,000 and was
seen and not interfered with by half a
dozen different persons.
/ The ill-used husband opened the bank
for one day and then closed it forever.
although all depositors were paid in full
while he lay dying. If ever a man died
of a broken heart Charles Baker did. He
4 knew it was his wife who had robbed him
but he made no effort to have her over
hauled or to learn the name of the man
with whom she had fed He simply took
to his bed and died, and Bakers bank
went out of existence and was soon for
gotten. / was blamed by the sheriff and
others for the part played. but of course
/ the woman would have gone just the same
| at a later date, and probably taken more
money ths1 sse G.C--(e opyr right, 1903, by
4 G.. b. Lewis.)
Just Think said Mr.. Stay1ate, '.this is
the first time I have seen you in nearly
4 two months"
Yes replied Miss Bord. suppressing a
! yawn.
''Did-er-any one call on you last
Last night7'' she. repeated. ostenta-
| tiously glancing at the clock. mo one
but you."-Philadelphia Press.