The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-08-21

regard to him. for 1t seemed that II
he was still on my track ! should have
Seen something Of him. 1t was evi-
dent that he had lost me without
having found an opportunity to turn
me over to one Of the rebel command
ers or rob me | was getting nearer
all the while to federal territory, and
II l could once get within 1t would feel
comparatively safe.
l was doomed Il disappointment.
Tanpico seemed for me the easiest
point to reach. and from there l might
90 by sea to Vera Cruz. Both places
were then in federal hands. but be-
fore l reached Tampico it was be-
sieged by rebels. At Victoria l heard
Of the rupture between Huerta and
the United States.
Puzzled as to what to do. ! stopped
where I was. ! was In rebel terri
tory and could not get into the fed
eral lines. Foreign refugees were leav-
ing Mexico when they could. and I
was tempted to do the same. But
had lived a long while In the country.
and II | were to 60 away from 1t | did
not know how l would make a living.
was walking through the town one
day when suddenly ] encountered my
shadOwer face to face. On this occasion
he seemed as much ratified at the meet
ing as l.. He started, put his hand to
his hip. thought better Of the move
ment and did not draw his weapon. |
followed his movements exactly
you villain! I exclaimed. Raise q
finger against Inc and ] will kill you"
'lf you do my secret will be buried
with re. he said. very much excited.
gathered courage. For some rea-
son.. either because he was unaided or
because we were on a public street. ]
seemed to have the advantage. con
Guided to permit him to explain his
object toward me II he would without
%betraying my ignorance of it. I glared
at him and said nothing.
II am ready to restore the whole
amount" he said. mot that you could,
In the present state of the country.
compel me to do 50 or imprison me-
Tor the crime.
Go on" | said without indicating
that l did not know what he was talk
ing about
The fact is" he continued. that !
have not had a moments peace Of
mind since I took the money"
THAT is the usual result with new
criminals" l put in. still ignorant Of
what money he referred to.
cent spent The bills are In packages
just as they were taken from the
safe"
A sudden light broke in on my dull
brain. This man who l supposed had
been shadowing me had considered me
his shadower. Truly. a guilty con-
science needs no accuser.
where are they3" I asked.
III never tell until | am promised
immunity from prosecution"
Twill you be content with such q
promise from met"
He thought awhile before replying to
this. then said: II suppose I'll have to
be content. You we're an Official of
the bank. In these times We can't
choose our methods. Ny principal mo-
tive is to get the matter Oh my hands
and Oh my conscience"
VERY we'll: 20 far a. my promise Of
immunity goes I will give it. and
think It will be respected BY the others
concerned. II the whole amount taken
is restored l am quite sure you will
not need to fear prosecution"
Come to my room and draw up the
papers"
went with him and. 10 We sat fac
ing each other. listened to his recital
as to how be came to take the money:
"One OF the clerks in the bank was
. friend Of mine. ! had been for years
in the employ Of q safe and lock com.
pany. The clerk suggested how easy
It would be for him to admit me to the
safe and for me to pick the lock and
take enough money to make 10 rich
We both fell under the temptation. On
pretense Of being behind With ha
books he worked at night. took me in
when no one but himself was there.
and I opened the safe and took the
money.
II carried it northward. crossed the
Rio Grande and buried it in a metal
box in the state of Texas. The clerk
who admitted me to the bank became
panic stricken at what be had done
and would not accept q cent Of 1t. |
dared not spend It. for l knew detec.
tives watching me. as they
watched all intimate friends Of the
banks force. And that's the reason
why the secret service men never got
m to who took the money. None Of II
was v e spent"
The man concluded by saying tina,
he had known ] was an Oficer Of the
bank and asked me to tell him how !
had spotted him. Then | confessed
that was perfectly ignorant. of hia
being the thief Of the money lost until
he told me that he was. But he wal
so relieved t" get the matter OF bis
mind that he di! not regret the mis-.
take