Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-06-14

feet bolted. Now was my time-if the
! poor devil had tainted. But I could not
be sure. and there I crouched down
below in the dark at the half shut iron
door, not less spellbound than impris-
oned. 1t was just as we'll, for Ewbank
wasn't gone a minute.
"'Drink this I heard him say, and,
when the other spoke again, his voice
was stronger.
"'Now I begin to feel alive
"'Don't talk. Have another sip
"'Thank YOU. | said b~ushrangers.
OF course, there are no such things
nowadays
"'\Nhat We're they, then?
"Bank thieves. The one that had
the pot shots was the very brute l
drove out of the bank at Coburg with
a bullet in him."
II knew it.''
"Of course you did, Bunny; so did l,
down in that strong room. But old
Ewbank didn't, and thought he was
never going to speak again.
"'You're delirious,' he says at last.
Who in blazes do you think you are?'
'The new manager
1.-The new managers in bed and
asleep upstairs"
"sWhen did he arrive?'
"'This evening"
"tCall himself Rafles:'
eyes
! "'Well, I'm dashed! whispered the
real manager. I thought it was just re-
venge, but now l see what it was. My
dear sir, the man upstairs is an i'm
postor-if he's upstairs stir, He must
be n of the gang. He's going to rob
the bank-if he hasn't done so already.
off he hasn't done SO already NUT
tered Ewbank after him; if he's up
stairs still! By heaven, if he is I'm
sorry for him"
"His tone was quiet enough, but
about the nastiest l ever heard. l tell
you, Bunny, l was glad Id brought
that revolver. 1t looked as though it
must be mine against his, muzzle to
muzzle.
"'Better have a look down here first
said the new manager.
"'While he gets through his window:
No, no., he's not down here
Its easy to have a look
Bunny, If you ask me what was the
most thrilling moment of my infamous
career l say it was that moment
There I stood at the bottom of those
narrow stone stairs, inside the strong
room, with the door a good foot open,
and I didn't know whether it would
creak or not. The light was coming
nearcr-and l didn't know! had to
chance it. And it didn't creak a bit.
It was far too solid and we'll hung. and
l couldn't have banged it if l tr:el; it
was too heavy, and it fitted so close
that l felt and heard the air squeeze
out in my face. Every shred of light
vent out except the streak underneath,
and it frightened. How 1 blessed that
door!
"rNo, he's not down there l heard
as though through cotton wool. Then
the streak went out, too, and in a few
seconds / ventured to open the door
once more and was ia time to hear
them creeping to my %rm.
"Well, now there was not q fifth OF a
second to be lost. But I'm proud to
say l came up those stairs on my toes
and fingers II out Of that bank
they'd gone and left the door open
just as gingerly US though my time
had been my own. l didn't ever for
get to put on the hat the doctors mare
was eating her oats out of as we'll as
she could with a bit or it alone would
have landed me. l didn't even gallon
away, but just logged off quietly in
the thick dust at the side Of the road.
though | own my heart was gaIloping,
and thanked my stars the bank was at
that end Of the township in which |
really hadn't set foot. The very last
thing | heard was the two managers
raising Cain and the coachmun. And
now, Bunny
But that's not all" ! cried.
"Pm sorry to say 1t Is" said Rallies
apoIogctiraily. "Thc thing sIonld have
ended viii. an exciting chase. | know,
but somehow II Gicn't / suppose they
though, ! led got no end Of "A start:
then 'licy bal M!!" ~ llIclr minds
thai ] belonged ~ III" = ny, M'Alcll was
not 40 macy Mos away, and one Of
them had ~ ~ mucii u5 he could
carry frII 'l't gt;tw ~ was ilut
] wntHi "a EuuW al that, ana I'm
bound - b,sy 'lr"r wa, plenty Of OK