The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-04-30
That Clever Young Man



telling you that during my career a
burglar ! was looked upon as an ex
pert In dealing with a safe. ma,
say that always worked singlehand
ca though | generally took care Il
nave a confederate on the watch out
side, for nothing Disguised me NOR,
IMAM to be interrupted while on Z
job.
Things didn't always run smoothly
however. and more than once | have
found myself In an uncommonly tight
place; but. thanks 10 the persuasive
| powers or life preserver and a neat
little revolver, l managed 10 wriggle
out all right.
have had some queer experiences
In this way, can tell you; and IL has
fallen TO my lot TO deal with one or
two extremely awkward customers.
still, the only time got a thorough
setback, and was forced TO knuckle
under was brought about by a puny,
Insignificant, meek-looking individual
that one would have thought hadn' [
sufficient spirit in him to attack a
mouse. IL happened on the night |
went TO crack the safe at the North
ern Bank in Wallingham.
l had this job in view for six
months or more. for always planned
these little affairs very carefully be-
iorehand | looked upon il as the
best and surest thing | had under
taken for many a year
Wallingham is a place of some i'm
portance in its own way-one of
those big, old-fashioned. sleepy towns
where you would hardly see a light
In any of the houses after eleven
o'clock at night. The Northern Bank
was very well-known and prosper
Gus establishment. Though strictly a
private concern, IL was looked upon
In those parts as second only TO the
most safely guarded bank
The whole control of the business. !
! discovered, was practically in the
hands of the manager, Mr.. Stanhope
Mostyn, very steady and promising
Young man. apparently. The two or
three old fogies who. as principal |
stockholders, We're supposed TO exer- !
else general supervision rarely I
troubled their heads to dip into de- /
tails They had unbounded conf
dence in their manager. who. in their
opinion, was the model of a hard
working and jealous official In speak
Ing OF him TO outsiders, they used 10
prate about IAN old head upon young
shoulders and seemed TO think that
without him the bank would be sure
TO collapse. For all that. il was plain
to most people that Mr.. Stanhope
Mostyn could twist these old gentle
men round his finger, and some went
so far as to say he was feathering his
nest nicely at their expense
The object ! had In view rendered
Il very essential that ! should become
acquainted with Mr.. Mos
tyns ways and mode Of life.
First, then, | discovered that he
was a bachelor, and lived alone in
he bank-building. two old servants
attending to his wants.
Nothing could be more orderly or
lecorous than the manner in which
IFS establishment was conducted.
But subsequent investigation brought
o light some strange facts regarding
his interesting young man. | rather
hink my discoveries would have !
opened the eyes of those confiding
I'D gentlement who spoke so highly
II him. Really, at first. | had half .
! mind to alter my original intention
egarding the bank. and apply TO the
directors for the post of inspector. |
To look at Mr.. Stanhope Mostyn
me would have thought his whole {
oul was wrapped up in business
ares. No one would have imagined |
hat this pale. solemn, fragile-looking
oung man had any leaning toward {
amusements-to put it in
he mildest way He looked more '
TIED for quiet tea-party. {
During the daytime. OF course, he
Tas the pink Of propriety; but, after {
ark, he bloss0med out into a very :
ifferent type of individual | have
ONE across him at night-when he
title suspected anyone was observ-
ng him-showily dressed, wearing I
xpensive jewelry. and with all the {
ir Of a very fast young man. He |
enerally didn't get back until the '
mall hours OF the morning. t
This fact fitted in with nv plans (
cry well I took care TO pitch upon I
night when | had good reason to G
eleve Mostyn would not return be- {
ore two o'clock at the earliest The
II is true. slept on the f
lfHllE'Nf bhA ht ONNulltQ a lDOn at
he top. and was so old and deaf IL '
'ould have almost required a dis
barge OF musketry- to awake him. c
At twelve o'clock that night | a
rmed myself with the necessary in d
showed my revolver into
~ hip pocket and with a dark Lam
arn. a box of silent matches. and n
unch OF skeleton keys, set out for b
he scene OF my exploit. a
/ got into the bank easily enough. Y
nd tripped along stealthily until 7 q
)und myself in the managers pri- a
ate office ] first had 10 turn my at
antion to the door Of the vault: bu, e
nat was mere child's play TO man s
I my experience "
once inside. ! laid out my instru- q
rents upon the concrete floor. rolled e
ack my sleeves. turned the lantern b
Ill on. and commenced operations
pom the safe. could count upon b
God two hours almost. and If I had q
OF that door open within twenty y
linutes ! shouldn't consider myself !
I to handle a Jimmy again. II
II was hard work, though; the air ,
the vault was uncOmmonlv stuffv
nd tho pfrntfnY, on,v, I..~... "A