The wageworker., 1910-04-29

hood. 1 would keep the funds in a tin
box under the paying teller's desk, so
that in case of a visit from him some
one Of us may catch it up and run
away with it. OF course the back door
should be always kept open.
II knew" 1 exclaimed, "that you
would display more foresight than any
of US. That's exactly what Wen do
Another thing l would do Imogen
continued. Il would have some rope
sible to get the better of him no one
could hold him very long. 1t might be
necessary to tie his hands and feet"
"Bravo!' 1 cried. "There's more in
that little head of yours than in the
heads of ten men. Where did you get
such ideas? One would think you had
worked with the police.'
"Oh, don't know about such
things" was the modest reply. "These
precautions seem to me to be merely
common sense"
Common sense! They're just the
thing. You're idea of keeping the
funds in the tin box is a bright one.
No one could keep us all covered at
likely have a chance to pick up the
box and skip. You, being a woman,
would probably have the best chance
to get away with it."
"Oh, would be too frightened to do
anything like that"
I was not prepared for so much fore
thought in this modest girl. After ALL
thought, would not a woman who
has had the energy and pluck to come
out here to earn her own living in
stead of sitting around at home wait
ing for husband make better wife
for me than the girl 1 had been think
ing Of? I was very much inclined to
continue my caresses, to be wound up
with an honorable proposal of mar
riage.
got tin box out of the vault and,
scraping together all the loose funds
necessary for making payments during
the day, put them in it and placed it
under the paying teller's desk in order
that he could use it without continual
ly running outside his compartment
for it. But after it had been filled and
placed in position Imogen suggested
that while there it would be handy for
the teller it would not be handy for
the person who was to snatch it up
and run away with it. 1 therefore
placed it under a small table by the
back door through which it was to be
carried in case of attack. l also
bought few yards of quarter inch
rope. which 1 deposited in a closet.
The only thing remaining to be done
was to see that the revolvers we kept
in the different drawers were loaded
and in good condition. These things
having been attended to, dismissed
the matter from my mind.
My thoughts dropped from war to
love. 1 had problem to settle. Would
l or would l not propose to 1mogen
Bradley? l resolved to ask her from
what part of the east she came and to
make inquiries. So 1 asked her the
question one day carelessly, that she
might not suspect my intention, and
she gave me the name of a college
town in Massachusetts. 1 knew nc
one there, so was no better off than
before. The truth is 1 was pining fol
her, and it seemed to me that would
rather be marrying her than her fam
lily. So never wrote. I was satisfied
from what had seen of her that she
was an odd mixture of gentleness
pluck and natural ability. What more
could l want, especially in a rougf
country like Nevada?
1t was but a few days after ou1
preparations to receive Handy Andy
. when at II o'clock the boys broke of
work and went to dinner. I never lef
the bank myself after opening in the
morning till closing in the evening, al
t ways eating lunch in my private of
fee. Miss Bradley usually. went ou
t for her dinner, but today she said sht
had a headache and would not go. Sht
, sat reading a newspaper AS MUNICH
, ed sandwich 1 could look at her-st
, fair, so pure, so gentle-and l mad'
| up my mind 1 would propose to he
5 that evening.
Suddenly there was a mans step out
: side the fixtures. Imogen looked up
t and saw by her expression that she
recognized the conner. A wonderful
change came over her innocent face
| which took on one Of hard resolution
: Quickly rising, she unlatched a doc
, leading into the space she occupied.
| masked man stepped in and covered
me with a revolver Imogen dartet
< to the closet and took out the rope
, and the man who had ordered me t.
= throw up my hands took it from heI
= giving her his revolver, which sh
e kept pointed at me. The masked maj
: then proceeded to bind me hand ant
j foot
e This done, he took the weapon from
o Imogen. She picked up the tin bo
containing the bank funds and. turn
e ing to me, threw me a kiss.
). "That's in return for the one yo1
v gave me-" she said, smiling. land Tn
r much obliged to you for saving us til
:. fro,1hIo Of col1ootipr tho rpnnov ybic