The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-12-10
CHAPTER XIII

excitement The high strain Of tremendous
thoughts obliterated all his customary
steadiness of glance and bearing, and ev-
cry action was spasmodic.
He had just welcomed to the room the
occupant of the carriage. Hope had noted
this person conferred the watchers immedi-
ate attention. Hope recognized him as
the cashier Of the principal local bank
guessed his mission, grimly decided he
had come upon the scene fortuitously.
Il called you up" he distinctly heard
Kane say.
You reused me out of bed" answered
the other His glance took in Kane grave
~ and anxiously. What's up, now?" he
continued.
II sent for you as friend" said Kane,
in a pitiful faltering tone.
Every well-I come as a friend" re-
torted the other.
But l intimated business, further
vital, speedy"
II am prepared for that also." observ-
ed the bank cashier.
He placed hand beyond the buttoned
lapels of his coat, half withdrew, wholly
replaced again, a bulky, oblong package
Kane's eyes lit up electrically, and i'm.
mense aspiration of relief, of joy. escaped
his lips.
Friend, indeed." he cried. effusively
grasping and wringfng the hand of the
other "Wortle, It's life or death for the
Trust. 1t was a queer message to send
to a MANN the dead of night, but there
was No other way. See here-we are in
deep ws ters y
Il know that, of course" observed the
cashier. But l estimated you knew your
business. You telephoned me to get two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars in
cash, bills of large denomination, and
bring them here at once"
"And you have them?"
Two hundred and ifty-one thousand
dollars bills-yes."
The schemer's face famed with gladness
and sinister triumph.
Now. what is your proposition?" re-
sumed the cashier.
simply this:
AS / say, we are at the limit with thai
money, I can hurry to Pittsburg. may bc
able TO make a turn that saves us. Yor
have pretty nearly everything tangibl,
we've got in the way of securities. | pro
pose to turn over to you, in addition
wait, III show you / esteem this friendly
act Of yours"
lie turned to the vault Click-click
His nimble fingers sent the disc spinning
came for me, and blindly I obey you
though-oh. the woe Of it II have gon,
to become Percy Kane's wife! :"
"The bonds and stocks of the execu
tive" he explained last dollar W,
hold. / turn them in as collateral, trust
ing you absolutely" ;,
The man OF money was fairly amazed
He stood staring down at the securtie.
in the tin box.
Kane" he said, flush of genuin,
pleasure and emotion on his face, this i.
generous OF course. only considered a.
giving Us absolute control of everything
is the security valid, but it shows yor
don't intend to leave a friend like mysel
in the lurch If anything happens, ehf"
Never" spontaneously asserted tn
other, never fiinching as he realized thu
vast treachery this transaction meditatet
| towards his confreres in the trust.
Nearer to the ventilating slit in tn,
window frame Gideon Hope pressed hi
face With burning glance he viewed tn,
contents of the tin box gone over. Th,
| cashier examined the bonds and stock i
| contained. The flush on his face showed
that he was satisfied with the security
offered. but he was slow and methodical
and the impatient Kane, watching hin
covertly, frequently wetted his dry, parch
ed lips with his tongue. and painted quite
and often started at the slightest strang,
outside noise. Hope read him through
and through--at cowardly sacrifice he ha,
secured the ready means to carry him t,
the ends Of the world, IL he choose-ant
he was anxious to start upon the journey
"All right" sonorously stated the banl
cashier at last, replacing the securities il
the box, and setting that receptacle nea
his hat and cane on a stand, as IL takin,
possession. Then his hand again sough
his breast pocket. Kane's eager, brillian
eyes rustled like a ferret. He stole out
hand trembling from excitement, to sefz
the coveted money.
At that moment Gideon Hope restrain
ed himself no longer
the cashier in clear amazement profound
Kane as though voice from the grave
or the rostrum Of justice-had challenge,
him.
Hope pressed on one window frame. Blu
could not move IL from the outside. Th
commotion at once centered the attention
of the two occupants OF the room.
What's that" sharply demanded tn
| cashier
Give me the money! breathed Kane
"the wind, some drunken workman
Hurry up, Wortle I'm due to make quicl
train connections"
He would have snatched the cashier
hand and the precious package it held un
tremendously from his breast, but the lat
ter forcibly pressed him back.
"Hold on-let us investigate this quee
occurrence" Wortle insisted heavens 7
Crash clatter-Hope had precipitatet
a fateful climax. He could not move tn
sash. Tearing the soft flexible cap h
wore from his head, he twisted one hant
inside of it, and, his fingers thus guard
ed. dealt a smashing blow at upper ligh
of glass.
1t shattered to brittle nothingness.
rained inside the room in noisy, scintillat
ing fragments Framed in this prismati
shower, he stood revealed dreadful pre-
sentation to Kane, source of vivid stupe
faction for the bewildered bank cashier.
Don't give that man the money" man
datorily shouted cope.