The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-02-04

/ the sdIe, DuI L only look W0dL i need
! cd and could comfortably carry, not
much more than a couple OF hundred
( altogether. Not a note would touch,
/ and my native caution came out also
( in the way l divided the soyeredgns
between all my pockets and packed
/ them up so that 1 shouldn't be like
the old woman of Banbury Gross Wei,
| you think me too cautious still, burt 1
I was insanely cautious then. And 50
it was that, just as 1 was ready to 60,
whereas 1 might have been gone ten
! minutes, there came a violent knock
/ ing at the outer door.
Bunny, It was the outer door q thS
banking chamber! Ny candle must
have been seen! And there I seood.
with the grease running hot over ny
fingers, In that grave of a strong room!
There was only one thing to be done
must trust to the sound sleeping
Of Ewbank upstairs, open the door
myself, knock the visitor down or
shoot hSm with the revolver had bean
new chUm enough 10 buy before Ieav-
Ing Melbourne and make a dash foe
that clumP Of trees and the Doctors
mare Ny mind was made I'D IN an
instant. and l was at the top Of the
strong room stairs, the knocking still
continuing, when a second sound drove
me back. 1t was the sound OF bare
feet coming along a corridor.
My narrow stair was stone tum-
bled down it with little noise and had
only 20 push open the iron door. for
had left the keys in the safe As
did so 1 heard a handle turn over
head and thanked my gods that I shut
every single door behind me. You see.
old chap. enes caution doesn't always
let one in.
who's that knOckingY said Ew-
bank up above.
Il could not make out the answer,
but IT sounded to me ike the irrele-
want supplieRtiOn Of a spent man.
What did hear plainly was the cock
ing OF the bank revolver before the
bolts were shot back. then a totter-
ing step, a hard, short. shallow breath
ing, and Ewbank's voice in horror:
My God. Good Lord. What's
happened to you? You're bleeding like
a pigr
Not now came with a grateful
sort Of sigh
'H'But you have been! What's done
itY
'BHshrangers.'
Down the rOadY
This and whittlesea-tied to
tree-cOck shOts-Ieft me-bleed to
death
'gEhe weak voice failed and the bare
feet bottled Now was my tfma-if the
poor devil had tainted But could not.
be sure, and there I crOuched down
below in the dark at the half shut iron
door. not less spelibOund than imp-is-
oned. 1t was just as well, for Ewbank
wasn't gone a minute.
Drink this heaPd him say. aud.
when the other spoke again, his voice
was stronger
"'NOw begin to feel alive
Don't talk Have another sfn.'
Thank you. I said bushPaugsrs.
OF course. there are no such thtnEs
nOwsdays.'
what were they, thenY
Bank thieves. The. one that had
the pot sb0ts was the very brute l
drove OGt Of the bank at Coburg with
a bullet in htD!"
II knew itt''
"Of course you did. BuhBE, - id I,
down IN that strong room. Bat 6ld
EwbaHk didn't, AND I thSaRht he vas
never going 70 speak again.
You're deiirfORs.' he says at last.
Who in blazes do you think you areY
1.-The new manager
1.-The now managers IN bed and
asleep upstairsr
"'When did he arrivsT
"'This evening
"'Call himself RafiesT
"'Yas'
""Wel, I'm dashedr whispered tn
real manager. I thought it was Just ~
venge, but now see what IL was. VI
dear sir. the man upstairs is an i'm
postOr-lf he's upstairs stiT. He mus
be one OF the gang. He's going 10 rot
the bank-if he hasn't done go already.
III he hasn't done 50 already NUT
tered Ewbank after him; II he's up
stairs still. BY heaven, il he is I'm
sorry for him"
His tone was quiet enough. hut
about the nastiest / ever heard. ] tell
you. Bunny, / was glad I'd brought
that revolver. II looked as though it
must be mine against his. muzzIe %
muzZle.
"'Better have a lo.k down here first.
said the new manager.
".While he gets through his Window
No, no. he's not down here
Its easy 20 have a look.
Bunny. II YOU ask me what Was the
most thrilling moment Of my infamous
career l say it was that moment.
There l stood az the bottom OF those
narrow stone stairs. inside the strong
room. with the door q good foot open,
and I didn't know whether il would
creak or not The light was coming