Evening journal., 1908-12-18
A CONSCIENTIOUS THIEF

robbery. If Mike would do the Job.
$4,000 in bills would be placed in the
bank safe FOR him. The deficiency was
$4,000. and this was TO be paid to the /
cashier, with which to make up his
deficiency. He would not for the world |
take another cent, and when schemes .
in which he had invested were devel- |
oped he would be able to make restitu
ton also for the amount Mike was 70
keep. He was In great agony OF mind
over his position, but hoped to come
out all right in time The writer ap-
pointed a place Of meeting in case
Mike would take the job.
This was altogether too tempting an
opportunity to be thrown over the
shoulder. Mike agreed to meet the
cashier and found him in great agony
OF conscience. He said that he had
been trusted implicitly and was al
lowed 10 do what he pleased with the
cash II he could have but six months
he would surely be able 70 square hi
account. AS it was, he saw no way bur
this device. by which I'm the end IN,
bank would lose nothing He seemed
TO suffer so from the tortures Of con
science that II aroused a spark o.
Mikes former honest self He told III
cashier that he would help him ont
but the Job would be the last OF tn.
kind he would ever undertake.
All the preliminary Information th
burglar required was that his partnc
was what he pretended to be. OF th
Mike satisfied himself. then was read.
TO carry out tho plan A night wa
agreed upon. The cashier give MIX
diagram Of the bank building {
guide him end showed him how 1,
could saw through q few iron bars o.
basement window In the rear. wher,
he wouldn't attract attention. and e
right upstairs TO the v2ult in which
the safe was kept. The Nashier agreed
TO keep the watchman on duty during
the day so that he would be drowsy
during the night, but Information was
given as TO way Of approach thai
would take tho man by surprise and he
could easily be overpowered
When the time came to do the jol
Mike found everything as It had beer
given him. lie had no difficulty T.
saving through the bars, found III
watchman asleep and clapped q hand
kerchief saturated with ether under hi
nose. Then he bound and gagged hin
and went to work with that dellbera
tlon for which he was noted. He ha
a comparatively easy time getting in;
the vault, but found the safe a har
nut TO crack While lie was at wor'
at the safe he heard the watchman try
Ing 70 shout through his gag and won
out TO see that all was safe. Mike tight
ened the cords and reset the gag.
After a hard tusslc he opened Ii
safe. The cashier had told him the
he would End the bills in o plgeonho
right in front OF him. and Mike brough
his bullseye to bear on the place dc
scrlbed. The pigeonholes were there
but no cash. Mike received somethir
Ike a shock. Quickly sweeping the II
.erlor Of the safe with hla lantern. L
Jaw nothing but some old papers an
memorandum books Then Il rushc
lpon him that his kiadly. conhding NJ
ture had been played upon Moreoye!
he considered that It hehooyed him
get out and away as soon as possible
What more there was 70 the trick b
couldn't tell, but lie knew there w.
nothing that promised any good to him
SO he made a hasty retreat.
The next day he took up an after
noon paper and saw under n scar,
head that the bank he had operated
upon had been robbed Of 100000 ~
currency. Mike gave low whistle Of
establishment lie had been rackini
his brains all day for an explanation O.
the episode. ard now one began G.
dawn upon him. The cashier had op
propriated the amount announced @
be stolen and had covered up his thief
by bank robheIy-that is. II getting
nothing could be considered such.
Mike was so incensed that his frs
impulse was 10 surrender himself, con
fess his part IN tho transaction and
give evidence against the cashier. Bu
the more he thought OF it the plaine,
he saw that he would simply get him
self sent up for from ten TO twenty
years for the robbery without makina
a case against the man who had uset
him. lie was obliged to pocket hi.
wrath and accept the situation.
he afterward attempted TO lev
blackmnil on'the cashier, who in tim.
became president Of the bank, but wa
eoolly Informed that IL he wanted T.
keep out Of state prison he had be,
ter refrain.
Il tell v what" says Mike. "whc
one Of them bank cashiers sets out
crack a safe there's no profession
ran come anywhere near him for sll
periness To think Of the conscien
The fellow had. Why. he would
consent to touch a penny of the mon
was TO take and made me feel that
vas nothin' but a common bank re
Ger. Then he Kept me at work tF
hours, to say nothin' Of the risk
gittin' shot and servin' another tern
And now, Just think of It, he's pres
dent OF the bank be robbed"