The daily Alaskan., 1915-01-07
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
 By M. QUAD Copyright, 1914. by the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.


 donal bank in a western town. He had secured the place through having the friendship of the president But there had been ring" against him in the bank. Without the president behind him, even after he had held the place for three or four years, he would have been fired by those in authority.
 The seventh year was drawing to close when old John was caught up A stranger presented q check which he hesitated to pay and about which he consulted the cashier. Later on the cashier stated that he had ordered it to be held pending examination. Old John said that he had been ordered to pay 1t at once. The check was paid, and, being spurious, the bank was $500 out of pocket.
 The president being in Europe, the board took the case under advisement, and "by order" the old man was fired out into the world to begin life nnew. There were resolutions. of course. and one of them was to the effect that the bank presented him with the snm of $lOO for long and faithful services. He put on his hat without protest, and he left the bank without taking the money. At his humble home an old, anxious wife met him anu, wifcliEe. gave him sympathy and encourage ment first of all
 "Never mind. John: never mind." she kept saying We have q few dol lars ahead. &nd you are only iiity-tive years old. and something good is sure to turn up. You have fought too long to give up now"
 But the weeks went by and nothing turned up The business world has very little use for an old man who has no capital. John FoSdick's savings were gradually used up, the gencr' osity of his few friends exhausted, and there came a day when the question oi food and fuel heCamp u serious one. He was not one tu sponge or turn begyar. If the world would not let him earn his food. at least uC would go out uf il and hope that his going would open the hearts of men toward his widow After pOnderiug for an hour he started ont with tue hrm m tentlun of drowning himself in the riv or. II was a clustering November day. and as be passed the bank with bowed head, bent shoulders and well worn garments even those who had dcpriV. ed him of his place felt a touch of sympathy. He was making for the suburbs and a highway bridge and wondering how long it would take to drown and what men would say or him when dead when hC caught sight of men and horses SkulGing behind an abandoned factory. It was singular, bound on such a mission as he was, that he should have seen or wondered and speculated on why those men and horses were there. but he had scarcely passed the old factory when he sud denly turned about and ran for the business part of the town with speed that astoniShed himself
 In the vaults of the First National bank was a sum close upon $3,OOOOOO deposited there temporarily by d rail road company. Outside the vault was n big safe containing $25.00O more. It was a quiet afternoon, with few people moving about Over 100 of the men living In town had gone over to the new town of Prairie Flower to an que. ton of real estate There hadn't been better opportunity for years 10 make a dash at the bank. It was civilized young city. but within striking distance of No Mans Land and hundred dcs perate outlaws.
 Of a sudden old John FOSdick, bare headed and his gray hair flying, burst into the bank. He was speeches. with his running, but he did not try to use his voice. He dashed open the gate and seized the heavy doors of the safe and closed them with a bang. Sev eral employees tried to seize him, but he shook them off. and Just as firing and yelling were heard on the street be slammed the doors of the vault. He had only turned from il when four border rufians rushed into the bank, each with q pistol in hand, while three others remained outside and fired at every pedestrian in sight.
 Hands up and money out!' shouted one of three who entered the bank, and in an instant every official and employee was covered.
 "Gentlemen, the bank Is closed for today" said John Fosdick.
 "0pen the safe and vaults or I'll blow your brains out!"
 "I have a key to neither"
 You liar! Take that"'
 The old man sank with a bullet in his brain, and the white faced cashier would have opened safe and vault with his own hands but for the arrival of assistance. A few citizens had gathered and killed one of the watch CTS and wounded another. This caus- ed stampede on the part of the des- peradoeS. They did not even grab the money packages in sight, but hastened to get away as fast as possible. John