Tombstone epitaph., 1915-07-18

so~Aeu tue massive Q0or to the oank behind the last clerk, at about hve o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. He glanced idly at the two old women who had begun scrubbing at the mid die Of the big banking room. half an hour before, and called them to hurry, as they must leave before fve-fifteen, at which minute Beggs had to signal daily 10 the central station of the Burglar Insurance company, thus in- forming them that the bank was closed for the night and it was time to set the automatic electric alarm. protecting the door. windows and safe.
 As the clock struck five. he made his customary round of the big cage-divid- ed room. Having finished. he leaned lazily against a paying teller's window in the corridor. for he had missed his usual amount of sleep that day. Then his elbow slipped otf the support, he said something uncomplimentary con corning the ledge. damned his elbow back into place. and yawned again.
 His mouth never closed. At that Instant gag was thrust between his weary jaws from behind, a hand ciutched his throat. he grew giddy and reeled. A moment later. when his eyes popped open, he found himself fiat on the floor. staring Into the dead white. ghoulish face of man with close-cropped light hair and hungry, watery, hollow eyes. the pupils greatly dilated. The man was dexterously trusting him up with all the skill of champion English rope-wrestler. It had happened in half a minute; Beggs had gone down without a cry Out of the tail of his eye he suddenly saw the scrub-woman who had been working near him stagger to her feet, a soapy hand clutching at her heart. and her eyes fixed in horror
 She had no more than risen. when the dead-faced man whirled and caught her a staggering blow full in the face. which sent her spinning over her pail of water: she struck with a clap on her head. hitting a marble corner. With a sudden. frightened start the man rushed to the rear of the bank. where Beggs knew the other scrub-woman was working. He had passed out of Begg's scope, for the watchman had been placed face down, against the wall
 A shrili feminine shriek came from the rear; a stool was kicked over. There was the splash of water and the hollow plop of pail. as though the second scrub-woman had thrown the thing nearest at hand at her as- sailant- Then came a blow. a scream, a moaL and all was silent in the big Merchants National of Boston.
 John Beggs stared at the floor and his legs, which were all he could see, except the motionless body of the old woman near him. And while he was wondering, the dead-faced man sud denly appeared behind him in thick stockinged feet and forced a moist sponge beneath Begg's attenuated nose.
 In two minutes time. John Beggs was dreaming that he lay in large bed of beautiful roses. Then somebody suddenly turned Niagara loose upon him, and stuck a red-hot iron down his sizzling throat.
 Then he opened bis eyes for the first time. muttered, Remember, she is still your mother" and looked into the wondering blue eyes of police man, who was forcing brandy down his throat. and mopping his brow with the scrub woman's cloth
 The cashier of the bank. routed from bed. came hurrying in, dismissed the group of watchmen, detectives, and strasglers, who had wandered in at the open door of the bank, and asked abruptly for the policeman's tale, while John Beggs was trying to get his swollen tongue back to speaking size
 .I was walkin' the beat at three thirty this mornin'," replied the officer who had revived Beggs. When come in front of the bank. couldn't believe my eyes. The door was open, an there was a black body lyin' through 1t, holdin' it open-there was A hole in the head-it was dead-it's down there by the stairs now. sir. came in, and found the watchman chloroformed, and I was afraid he was dead too"
 And who looked st the safer cried Cribben. the cashier. turning to a representative of the Burglar lnsur- snce company, who had taken charge of affairs before his arrival
 T did. It's gutted.> was the sisni- Scant reply. We got an alarm auto matjcally at the main ofhce about three-nfteen: the signal came from opening the door. suppose. Then l .phooed you, and came over here at once. but the policeman was already working over the watchman-"
 There was considerable consterna- lion and confusion, during which the cashier found his safe utterly empty. and secured John Begg's account Of au that h1d happened. to his knowl edge.
 -You say both scrubwomen were killedr" qucried Cribben sharply. ~Vbere's the other body?"
 -There weren't no other body!' put |. she policeman, evidently astounded by vexg's account of the crime.