The Western news., 1904-12-07
Then the agent Of the Chester Bank

noon hour, driving over from the near
est railroad town behind pair Of
spanking bays. Curtis was the name
In one corner Of the card he presented
to Prescott as he strolled unannounced
into the presidents Office.
But selling bank vaults was appar-
emily not his principal business, for
after a while Prescott came out of his
office. Here is check for which
Mr.. Curtis wants the cash." he said,
thrusting the slip Of paper through the
window to Marion. You have pack
age Of thousand dollar bills in the cor
ner Of the small safe. There are twen-
ty-dve Of these. He will take the other
half in hundreds"
Marion looked curiously at her faith
er's face, white and drawn.
Are you sure this is all right?"
Curtis laughed lightly.
He moved closer to the bank presi-
dent, and Prescott, with the muzzle
Of revolver pressing into his side
could only nod his assent. Curtis had
assured him that at the first sign of
attempted communication with any Of
the two clerks all would be shot and
he would be safe in the country before
the crime was discovered. Prescott
was a brave man, but he agreed with
Curtis argument that the money
would do him little good II he were to
be shot for refusing 1t.
Marion gave one more curious glance
ok " onA fI,rn rl xIo
vault In a moment she reappeared.
"Oh, Bert" she called, Twill you please
come here and help me to move this
box?"
Howard went to her aid, while Cur
It's fidgeted about, urging Prescott to
make haste. There was small danger
of interruption from customer or
from Tony. who lunched at that hour,
but being a skilled workman he liked
| to see a Job done eXpeditiously.
In a couple of minutes the pair re-
turned. Marion carried q package of
bills, while Howard swung a bag COW
cred with wax seals.
II shall have to give you some gold,"
said Marion sweetly. as she tumbled
the bills on the shelf beneath the win
dow of her cage and prepared to count
"You see, we keep most Of our reserve
on deposit in town and for local use
we have mostly small bills"
"Gold will do" responded Curtis
amiably. II am not particular, though
of course the large bills are easier to
handle"
Howard came around the corner
with the gold but before Curtis could
grasp the bag of coins 1t descended
upon his head with force sufficient to
knock his heavy felt hat over his eyes
and stun him before the ready pistol
in his coat pocket, could be fred.
Ten minutes later, under the reviv.
Ing influence Of Ice water applied ex'
ternally and brandy in internal appli.
cations, Curtis woke up. Howard stood
over him, completing the work of Sc
curing him with rope.
"You will pardon me, Mr.. Curtis
he said, blandly. 'for not recognizing
you more quickly, but you see the sliI
sent out by the Bank of Tacoma gave
your name as Peters, alias Mauvel
and other names. In fact, Miss Pres
colt was the first to see your game
No, wouldn't hang Miss Prescott,
he continued, as he caught the NUT
tered exclamation. you know thu
proverb about curses and chicken.
roosting home. There Is that littl,
matter Of killing the president and tn,
cashier of the First National of Cas-
well-" He turned to greet tn,
sole peace officer of which the tow
) boasted.
That's him. shouted Tony, from
! the rear. II saw him walk up and hi
him over the head"
!. Constable Post looked about awk
, wardly. I'm afraid there's some mis-
take" he growied. "You didn't tell M
it was Mr.. Howard you wanted AZ
rested"
ARREST Howardv' shouted Prescott