The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-13

only ndlleT VI d &c"
tant. AT eight o'clock that evening ne
was standing outside for the fourth
time that day. He shook his hst In
fury at the windows. through which
could be seen the managers mahog'
any table. and, near 1t. the desk ne
was to occupy-if he could get the
money back that now reposed IN the
inside pocket of his coat.
At midnight he was still pacing the
street. In nine hours more the dis,
covery would have been made. he
should have taken yesterdays train
for Florida. Now his delay had made
his apprehension immeasurably more
probable. And yet he was torn be-
tween the impulses of confession and
fight, and he could not decide.
One o'clock doomed from the church
steeples. Forsythe turned homeward
He would confess upon the morrow
He would 90 to Mr.. Smith and
A tiny flicker OF light inside the
bank attracted his attention. 1t was
the blue fame of sulphur match. II
vanished instantly. and there were
only the electric lights to be seen.
burning unwinkingly within. But thai
flame told a story. Somebody was
within the bank.
It could not be the Waterman, for
Forsythe had met him, making his
rounds, few minutes before. And
Sturges was not supposed to enter the
bank That was protected by bars
Of steel, and the safe. below, by the
hardest canadium and chrome metal.
TLen that flicker meant-thieves!
Forsythe thought swiftly. If thieves
had gained access it must have been
from an adjacent building. On the
north and south ran two Of the princi-
pal thoroughfares Of the city; to the
east was an empty lot. It must have
been through that Office building on
the west.
II that were the case, they would
emerge form either the front or the
rear door. They could not leave by
and other building, for this one stood
alone, much higher than any building
in the block. BY which entrance
would they emerge, then? Not by the
fornt door, by the cellar, with its
weak wooden gateway, protected only
by single paddock.
Doubtless they had burrowed
through here; probably one OF them
was in league. with the furnace man,
or the furnace man himself. For
sythe scanned all the possibilities. He
felt that this must be the case. He
hurried round to the cellar door that
gave upon the rear street.
He crouched behind 4 pile of lum-
Der and waited. He saw Sturges pass
twice, policeman strolled by, hum.
ming. 1t was two o'clock. The street
was empty, except for an occasional
prowler of the night. All at once For
sythe heard the faintest sound behind
him.
1t was the sound Of a paddock be-
Ing very cautiously unfastened.
A moment later man came stealth.
lily up the stairs, followed by another.
The two hesitated. They looked
round anxiously, and one OF them
caught sight of Forsythe behind the
lumber pile.
Instantly they flew at him. For.
sythe saw the CLEAN of steel blade
In the hands of one Of them. He
lodged and struck the fellow with a
length Of timber, telling him to the
ground. The other closed with him.
They wrestled wildly into the street,
and fell to the curb.
Forsythe was no match for this g.
ant. He could not defend himself ad-
equately in any event, for his hands
were full of paper. Five thousand dol
lars In his hands, and this fool wildly
hammering at his face! How much
more did he have on him? Whatever
he had taken from the safe was now
increased by $4,000, for with his last
atom Of strength Forsythe crammed
the mans pockets full Of the bills. |
Then he tainted.
When he opened his eyes he was ly.
Ing in darkened room. A woman
stirred beside his bed.
Where am l?' he asked, feebly.
and his hands went automatically
feeling for the money.
"Forsythe! Don you know me?"
asked man who rose from his bed.
side.
Mr.. Smith, Forsythe exclaimed,
and the events of the past night surg
ing through his brain again.
You have saved the bank S50,OO0."
said the manager with emotion.
Fifty thousand! And he had taken
only $4,000. /
1T was miracle" the manager
continued. THE bank will not forget
1t. But tell me, Forsythe, how in
the world did you happen to be unon