Tombstone epitaph., 1915-08-15

Christopher Poe was determined, after many abortive attempts, to take a long needed vacation. But instead of going by train. as he had intended, he took a boat to New Orleans in or. der to ge. all the benefit possible out of his holiday. The moment he stepped on board he threw on all thought of business. and mingled with the passengers under the name of Hardy. enjoying the trip to the dregs. In the smoking saloon he made friends with several men. among them a very congenial spirit named Farley, who always seemed interested whenever any banking subject was mentioned. On the last night before reaching New Orleans Farley and Poe made two Of group of half dozen, sitting around table in the smoking-room. talking idly. almost gossiping. as men do aboard steamers.
 The conversation was abruptly cut short. as a man on deck looked in and announced a passing boat. Everybody went out at once to see the ship, for events are few on shipboard: and when Poe returned to the smoking. room, he found only Farley.
 Well. MT Hardy" greeted Farley Sit down, and tell me some more about bank burglars. You seem to be the only one of us that's really on the inside. Not a professional bank. breaker yourself?"
 "Oh. no; I've only got 1t out O! books so far. I'm not letter-perfect yet" answered Poe. concealing a yawn. T dare say all the theories are quite wrong"
 'I don't believe you got a bit of it out of books" answered Farley quiz. zically. Tell me, now, how do you know SO much about bank sneaks, for irstance?"
 Well. If you want the truth. I'm a banker. and we've suffered some al the hands of sneaks; that's what first interested me in their methods"
 "Good' I thought as much. Shake hands on 1t. I'm a banker too" Far ley extended his hand eagerly, and Poe clasped it listlessly
 What banky" asked Poe.
 The Traders National, New CT leans." answered Farley.
 "Oh. yes, I believe you're our COT respondents down here. I've got a letter of credit to your bank. in fact. said Poe. feeling in his pocket. and bringing out a credit letter from hi: own bank in New York
 Well. that looks all right" smiled Farley T thought from the first you were a banker. I hope you'll be ir some time tomorrow to see us. We don't have to worry about losing money down here. except on cottor loans The Traders National is as tmpenetrable as Gibraltar; we've never been threatened with a break and never suffered any loss of actua cash"
 Then that's just the time to looi put" remarked Poe. The wors storms come after a calm. you know.
 Next morning the boat arrived ir New Orleans. and Poe left withou seeing his friend Farley again. H. sent his luggage to an obscure room Ing-house on Bourbon street, anc walked for some distance along thu dock-bcard.
 It was noon before he reached thu roomiug-house. strange. roaming Spanish building. opposite the Ol' Abeinthe house.
 Putting his luggage In order. Po' changed to a lighter suit. and started for the Traders National bank to ge funds on his letter of credit.
 As he entered the bank. a pervad ing air of excitement attracted his at tention. He was about to ask for Mi Farley. when the door of the presi dents office opened. and he recoe uized his steamer companion
 "Oh. Mir. Hardy" exclaimed Fai lev. Come in here a moment. It something on the line we spoke last night"
 Poe entered the presidents ofhct and Farley. his face anxious. leane toward him. exclaiming:
 Well. it has just happened A ban sneak got away with twenty thousan dollars not fifteen minutes ago. Tn hank was damned with customer cashine checks for weekly pay-rolli trausacting the usual weekend bus mess. Somebody got away Wit twenty thousand-dollar bills. shot our paying-teiler. Jackson. and slippe through the crowd unnoticed."
 Give me the details" said Pc with interest
 ~Jackson's desk was piled wit money; in the lot was thin packas of thousand-dollar bills which ha been taken from the safe this nor ing for convenience of Spanish shi owner. Gonzales. who wanted go certificates of large denominatic vith which to transact . foreis aesI.- explained Farley.
 Jackson. in arranging his non' this morning. had put the bundle bie bills at the extreme left of D Aesk and during the busy mornir bours 1t had gradually been pusn' close up against the narsow. stron steel grating surrounding his cae and protecting him perfectly fro .,y of the usual attempts of snea ;.:s-cs. Az Jackson had picked -, s,,ch severai times mistaking