The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-05
THE POTTsVILLE BANK.

BY NJ. QUAD.
was one of the stockholders of the
Pottsville bank, and one night at mid
night 1 was awakened by some one
laying a hand on me and whispering IN \
my ear. When l opened my eyes L
found a light in the rooms, and bend
ing over me and having a pistol in his
right hand was man whose face was
hidden by a black cambria mask ~
was half a minute before l got my full
senses. and then I heard him saying:
Make no cutlery or you are dead
man! You must get up and dress.
1 raised up on my elbow and saw
that there were two men in the room,
both wearing masks. and that the sec
ond one had closed the door leading to
my wife's room, and was standing
with his back against it. The lamp
had been lighted, and the door leading
out into the hall was wide open. Such
a thing as burglary was almost I'M
known in the annals of Pottsville, and
to awake from sound sleep and md
couple OF burglars in my room maze
me dumb with surprise. While was
blinking and wondering and trying to
make it out, the man with the pistol
VINO had continued to hold it in me
nacing manner. spoke in tones just
above a whisper.
You must dress and come with us.
Your wife is sound asleep, and if you
wake her up you must take the conse-
quences. Come, now, we are in q
hurry
The han door was slightly ajar. and
as we passed through it and outdoors
1 saw that entrance to the house had
been gained by cutting a panel out Of
the door. We walked straight down
to the gate and out of it and turned
to the left, and when quite clear of the
grounds came to a horse and cart in
the keeping of a third man. AS we
halted, the tallest of the trio said:
Il am glad to see that you are no
fool If you continue to act sensibly
all will be WELL
But what does this mean?" I de-
manded.
ct means that we want the money
in the Pottsville bank, and that you are
to help US get it,
Never If that's your game. you
are left
But you will help us!" he exclaimed,
and there was a sort of hiss in his
voice that reminded me of an angry
serpent. Yes, you will help us, or your
wife will never see you alive again. In
to the cart with youl''
obeyed the order. and two of the
men took seats beside me and the 9TH
er vanished in the darkness. The men
with me lighted cigars and offered me
one as we drove away. I shook my
head. and the tall man said:
Just as you wish You know Chap
man, cashier of the bank, of course?"
"HeaIone has a key to the vaults
We can't get into his house on account
of the burglar alarm, and you must call
him out"
And you expect me to do that?"
We do. Don't say you won't-not
II you love the little woman sleeping
back there. Do as we say, or back to
the house we 60"
But you want me to help you rob
the bank?, I protested
of course We do, and you've got to
play hand or take the consequences.
No more whiting about it, now. Meth
er your life nor that of your wife is
going to balk us. What's it to be?"
III go with you 1 replied, but as I
spoke the words 1 determined that if
there was any chance to battle them
q take ii, even at the risk of my life
The distance to the village was soon
covered. The town was so quiet and
peaceful that no watchmen were
abroad nights. and not a person did we
meet as We drove to the bank and
hitched the horse in the alley in the
rear OF the building. We We're ready
to move on to the house of the cashier
when the tall man quietly said:
we VIII accompany you to the
house and stand by while, you ring the
bell Chapman will probably call to
you from the window of his room You
must tell him that there is something
wrong at the bank, and get him 10
away. and so we have everything in
our favor. You may think to play us
a game If you try it on, we will kill
you off-hand- Now. come on
Il.
the men walked on each side of me-
and each one of them carried a pistol
in his hand.
When we reached Chapman's house
We softly advanced to the front door.
and as I rang the bell the men posted
themselves on either side.
Up went a second-story window at
the first ring. and Chapman put his
head out and asked what was wanted.
] replied that there was trouble at the
bank, and without asking for details
he speedily dressed and came down The
men had him in a moment, as he was
as completely taken by surprise as I
had been. and had he made any strug-
gle he would have been roughly used
The thought that he must give IN
the SAC, 900 lying in the vaults gave him
a desperate feeling, but he restrained
himself and hoped that something
might occur.
Not soul did we meet as we walked
to the bank. but when almost there a
stray dog came running up to us. One
of the men gave him a kick and he ran
bowling away. but unnoticed by any