The Washington herald., 1914-03-08

De sure. and there i crouched down be-
low in the dark at the half-shut iron
door. not less spellbound than imprisoned.
II was Just as well. for Ewbank wasn't
gone a minute
Drink this / heard him say. and.
when the other spoke again. his voice
was stronger.
Now I begin TO feel alive ="
"Don't taIlS.'
1t does me good You don't know
what it was. all thoz- miles alone. one an
hour at the outside! ! never thought I
should come through. You must let me
tell you-in case I don't?
well. have another SIP
Thank you - said bushran-
gers: of course. there are no such things
nowadays.'
what were they. Them
Bank thieves; the one that had the
pot shots was the very brute drove out
Of the bank at CoburG. with a bullet in
himr"
l thought Ewbank was never going to
speak again.
You're delirious.' he says at last
Who in bIazes do you think you arsr
The new manager
The new managers In bed and asleep
upstairsI
When did he arriver
This evening -.:
Call himself Rahiesr
Yes
well. I'm damnedr whispered the
real man. I thought 1t was Just revenge.
but now / see what 1t was Ny dear sir.
the man upstairs Is an impostor-if he's
upstairs stlllI He must be one of the
gang. He's going 10 rob the bank-if he
hasn't done SO already
III he hasn't done so already NUT
tered Ewbank after him: IF he's upstairs
still. By Jove. If he is I'm sorry for himr
His tone was quiet enough. but about
the nastitst 1 ever heard 1 tell you.
Bunny. I was glad I'd brought that rs-
volver.
Better have a look down here. first.
SaIG the new manager.
NO. no. he's not down here
Its easy 10 nave a look
Bunny. II you ask me what was ths
-ost thrilling moment OF my infamous
career. ! say 1t $ -aar moment There
stood at the bottom OF those narrow
1ne stairs. inside the strongroom. with
the door goo. foot open. and / didn't
know whether 1t would creak or not The
light was coming ncarer-and 1 didn't
now! had to chance II. And It didn't
creak bit; it was far too solid and well
hung: and / couldn't have banged 1, II
I'd tried. it was too heavy: and il fitted
s. close that ! felt and heard the air
squeeze out in my face. Every shred OF
light went out. except the streak under
meath. and 1t frightened How I blessed
that doorl
% No he's not down there I heard as
though through cotton wool Then the
streak went out too. ard IN a few Sec
ouds ventured to open once more. and
was in time TO hear them creeping to my
room.
We'll. now there was not a fifth of a
second to be lost; but I'm proud TO say
came up those stairs on my toes and
fingers. and out OF that bank Ctheyd
gone and left the door openJ Just as gin
Gerly as though my time had been my
OWN didn't even GalIop away. but Just
JogScd of quietly In the thick dust at the
side of the road Though ! own my heart
was gallopinS). and thanked my stars
the bank was at that end of the town
ship. IN which l really hadn't set foot.
And now. Bunny"
He stood up and stretched himself, with
4 smile that eaded in a yawn- The black
windows had faded through every shacs
IF indigo; they now framed their oppo-
site reighbors. stark and hvid in the
lawn: and the gas seemed turned to
lotHInG in the globes
But that's not alp 1 cried.
I'm sorry to say It is" said Rafiies
The thing should have
nded with an exciting chase. l know.
,ut somehow It didn't. | suppose they
hought l had got 70 end of a start: then
"ey mad made up their minds that be-
onged TO the gang which was not so
many miles away; and one of them bad
ot as much as he could carry from that
ang as 1t was
Lord. how 1 made that poor bruts
revCi when ! got among the trees! By
owe. II was no joke. in and out amoug
hose trees. and under branches with
our face in the name! I told you about
he forest OF dead gums7 1t looked per-
ectly ghostIy in the moonlight"
Did the mare carry you all the way
ack to MeIbourne?''
Every rod. pole. or perchI l had her
'en seen TO at cur hotel and returned
er to the doctor IN the evening He was
tickled to hear had been
ushed: next morning he brought me the
aper to show me what l had escaped
{ ieaI'
Without suspectinS anything?'
"Ah!' said RafFies. as be put out the
as; that's a point or which I've never
lade up my mind I'm inclined to think
e suspected something. though rot the
sGr thu 1 wasn't expecting him. and
fear my appearance may have increased
Is suspicious"
l asked him why.
Il used to nave rather a heavy mus