The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-19
"OFFICIALLY IN CHARGE
By JACK BETHE "A.

quiet and the streets were deserted by even the usual loafers. It seemed to Lot tie Stafford as she sat in the sheriff s office nibhling the end of q pen, that every man in town had joined Sheriff Mckenzie in his hunt for New York Harry Dean, who had held up the Gin einnati-New orleans express night before and robbed the messenger of several thousand dollars
 A perspiring deputy had ridden In that morning with news that Dean had been sighted on the top of Crowfoot mountain by some negroes. The sheriff had in- stantly begun organizing a posse and by the shouts Lottie knew that they were ready to start. She went to the dooi to see them off.
 'I leave you officially in charge ol the office while we are gone. I don suppose anyone will run off with you said Sheriff Mckenzie banterlngly, lean ing from his saddle to hand her the key, of the jail.
 There were furtive grins among tn, silent men on the horses. and Rogers, tn, chief deputy, ventured guffaw. He wa. sternly silenced by Sheriff Mckenzie who although he took his woman deputy
 trife too lightly to suit Lottie, would
 allow no one else to take liberties.
 Everyone seemed to take her commls
 sion signed by the governor as joke
 thought Lotte resentfully as she gazec down the silent street. There had beer constant fun poked at her by the deputies
 just because she was afraid of blood and had fainted when Rogers brought a wounded negro into the office.
 All had been in A polite way, for Lottie was a daughter of the old south and could freeze a man with a glance. Indeed. Ed Burns, the town nag, said that her look was more dangerous than the tiny gun she wore strapped to her belt when she was serving civil papers. He also it was who made the wager that she would not make single arrest during her four year term of office.
 Lottie shivered a little at the oppressive silence that enveloped Suffolk and drowned at the thought of her position. Suppose there should be a shooting scrape in town. But her brow cleared when she thought that all the men had gone with the sheriff.
 Lottie had gone into the sherif's office nearly a year since and as yet had no fault to find with her unique position as the only woman deputy sheriff In the state. The sudden death of her father and the settlement of the estate forced her to take a position and without a trace of snobbery she considered herself very fortunate in securing a place with Sheriff Mckenzie, who was a friend of the family, and who had made much of the "only woman deputy In the state" In a light way.
 There had ben compensations however. and Lottie had been surprised to find how much she enjoyed her work. The re- membrance of the friendships she had formed and the many little kindnesses that she had been able to do filled her heart with happiness. Indeed, thought Lottie. there was much more to life after all than she had thought.
 NO. I would not have missed it for anything" she said decisivey, speaking aloud as she came to the end of her rev cry There was lots of work to do and Lotte busted herself with papers for hours Finally she finished and had all the courts posted up. Glancing at her watch she saw that it was nearly 12 o'clock.
 Going to tho door she looked down the silent street with shaded eyes. It would soon be time for Big Dave to come with the horse and buggy to take her to lunch.
 J small girl caught her eye, and she idly specuated as to the cause of the child S haste. As the small figure, with fresh burst of speed, continued to approach she excaimed:
 why I do believe the child is com ing here. I wonder what is the matter. It is Nellie Barker She hurried to the door and drew the puffing Nellie into the cool room.
 "Whatever in the world made you run sop she reproved gently. Don't you know it's dangerous? You'll get the fever.'
 Nellie made no reply. having scant breath for words. After a few minutes she gasped out her story and Lottie' s cheeks went pale.
 70, Miss Lottie, there's a man in the bank. Papa is at home sick and Charlie went with the sheriff. Mother said send some help"
 Lottie did not hesitate minute, having made up her mind while Nellie was speak ing. Taking down her hat she pinned 1t on in a series of swift jabs and going to the sheriff's desk drew out wicked revolver that looked tremendous to the frightened girl. As she held IL dp Nellie's eyes grew wide.
 "Is you going down there, Miss Lottie?' she gasped in frightened whisper. "O-o-h. am scared
 Lottie walked determinedly out of the door and down the hot street toward the bank Her mind worked swiftly as she ran rather than walked The parting words of Sheriff Mckenzie came to her mind "Ill leave you officially in charge, he had said As acting sheriff of Pelham county she knew that 1t was her duty to ,t,Ir Gxrfft fin her mind those to whom she could appeal for help. It was useless, all were with the sheriff, or were too far away to summon in time.
 Then her thoughts shifted to the build ing ahead. If the man was really trying to rob the bank he would make rich haul were he successful. The night be- fore the shipment of currency for the Golconda Tobacco company had come in and added with the money in the bank would amount to s30,000. IL was thought that the Golconda shipment was what Dean had been after when he robbed the train
 Arriving at the bank building she saw the robber had entered through win- low. the bars of which were cut and twisted and the window smashed Peer ng in she could see the dark figure Of man kneeling before the big vault or the bank which was the depository for miles around, and the sound of steel on steel came to her ears as the intruder worked steadily at the vault
 Lottie's heart sank as she drew her skirts close to crawl through the win low and her courage grew perceptibly ess. Suppose that the man did not walt to see that she was a woman. Sup pose he shot her anyway. What would become of her mother? These thoughts flashed through Lottie's mind in an in- stant but she was not the kind that turn back. and taking firmer grip on her reunlver she snueezed through the vim