The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-05-29

| Weymouth Bank drOppeu lroth SIN
figures to five. Past.due paper began
to accumulate, owing to injudicious
loans. No one cared to address Mr..
Robert on the subject Of temperance
Many of his friends said that the cause
of it had been the death of his wife
some two years before. Others hesi-
tated on account of Mr.. Roberts quick
temper, which was extremely apt to
resent personal interference of such a
nature. Miss Lefty and the children
noticed the change and grleved about
it. Uncle Bushrod also worried, but
he was one of those who would not
have dared to demonstrate, although
he and Marse Robert had been raised
almost as companions. But there was
heavier shock coming to Uncle Bush
rod than that caused by the bank
presidents toddies and juleps.
Mr. Robert had passion for fishing,
which he usually indulged whenever
the season and business permitted.
One day, when reports had been CON-
inc in relating to the bass and. perch,
he announced his intention of making
a two or three days visit to the lakes.
He was going down, he said, to Reedy
Lake with Judge Archnard, an old
friend
Now, Uncle Bushrod was treasurer
of the Sons and Daughters ofthe Burr
ing Bush. Every association he be-
longed to made him treasurer without
hesitation. He stood A. l in colored
circles. He was understood among
them to be Mr.. Bushrod Weymouth,
Of the Weymouth Bank.
The night following the day on
which Mr.. Robert mentioned his in
tended fishing trip the old man woke
up and rose from his bed at twelve
o'clock, declaring he must go down to
the bank and fetch the pass book of
the Sons and Daughters, which he had
forgotten to bring home. The book
keeper had balanced it for him that
day, put the cancelled checks in it,
and snapped two elastic bands around
it. He put but one band around other
pass books.
Aunt Malindy objected to the mis-
sion at so late an hour, denouncing it
as foolish and unnecessary, but Uncle
Bushrod was not to be DETECTED from
a duty.
IL done told Sister Adaline Hos
kins," he said, "to come by here for
dat book tomorrow mawnin' at sebln
o'clock, for to kyar' it to de meetin' of
de bod of 'rangements, and dat book
gwine to be here when she come"
So, Uncle Bashrod put on his old
brown suit, got bis thick hickory stick
and meandered through the almost de-
serted streets of Weymouthville. He
entered the bank, unlocking the side
door, and found the pass-book where
he had left it, in the little back room
used for private consultations, where
he always hung his coat. Looking
about casually, be saw that everything
was as he had left it, and was about to
start for home when he was brought
to standstill by the sudden rattle of
a key in the front door. Some one
came quickly in, closed the door softly
and entered the counting-room through
} the door in the iron railing.
That division of the banks space
was connected with the back room by a
narrow passageway, now in deep dark.
ness.
Uncle Bushrod, firmly gripping his
J hickory stick, tiptoed gently up this
passage until he could see the midnight
intruder into the sacred precincts Of
the Weymouth Bank. One dim gas
jet burned there, but even in its nebu.
J lous light he perceived at once that
the prowler was the bank president.
Wondering, fearful, undecided what
to do, the Old colored man stood mo-
} tionless in the gloomy strip of hallway
and waited developments.
, The vault, with It's big iron door
was opposite him. Inside that was
} the safe, holding the papers Of value
the gold and currency Of the bank
On the floor of the vault was perhaps
: eighteen thousand dollars in silver.
, The president took his key from his
pocket, opened the vault and went in
l side, nearly closing the door behinG
him. Uncle Bushrod saw, through
the narrow aperture, the flicker of 6
/ candle In minute or two-it seemed
: an hour to the watcher-Mr. Robert
came out, bringing with him large
hand satchel, handling it in a careful
but hurried manner, as if fearful thai
no mio ht he ohspryed With one ha mr.