The Little River news., 1917-11-10
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CRY, a crash, a general comnG

llOA, anu cCllO dllNk fcLlI ''A ANN't7--~
 A Resilius Marvel to his feet as
 though set on springs. Such things do not transpire in well reSu- lated bank save for some potent req son, and the quick mind of the head of the United Bankers Protective as- sociation seemed to analyze the situation in a flash. I believe be- fore he had crossed the threshold of the private office of the preSI- dent of our institution, 8 peculiarly heavy crash had told him that one of the immense plate glass windows back of the currency pen had sui fered that the cry was that of man in one of tho cages; that the cOmmo- tion was the mingled shuffling of the feet of the house officers drawn to an irresistible focus by some eXtraordi- nary occurrence.
 was in the wake of Marvel almost instantly, impelled by curi- osity and wonder. The president of the bank had been going over tho list of average balances, weed ing out some clients whose busi- ness affairs showing symptoms of dry rot, was planning to have them rot somewhere else, and preparing a package to hand 10 some unWary brother banker. Sc far as of fcial ethics would permit, he pcfred through the open doorway at the gath ering crowd about the currency pen. Marvel had parted the ranks in his >Uift, effective way. I was close at |, is heels A picturesque spectacle greeted us
 Behind the railing a clerk Was dancing up and down in a frenzy of uncontrollable excitement, one hand indicating a man crowded close to the cutter counter slab of marble, tho oth. eI waving towards a wrecked window, while he kept shouting wildly:
 stared undisguisedly puzzled, at the nan upon whom the gathering thr0rg wore massing. He Was thin to the point of attenuation, his eyes twitchcd from nervousness or weak ness, and his face was very pale. How evcr, his colorless lips framed a gmiIe-a smile apologetic, gentle, submissive, slightly cynical and tri- umphaat It was the smile of a man down ard out morally, physically and financially, but that also of a pcTsGn king q desperate cast of fate, and
 ing what might hinge upon the
 [ tf the die. He challenged the
 pressing about him, not unper- rt-bod, put with no alarm visible in his features. And then he made a slight forward movement as Marvel reached him. It was gesture recog- nizing po-,er and protection.
 "A fair ending" he said, looking my friend sluarely in the eyes.
 Marvel placed hand on the man 5 arm, bat scarcely with force. The poor wretch, beside the husky officers grouping about him, appeared like some scareerow bird in the net of the fowlers. Even then he was taken with violent fit of coughing that racllod his frame so that he was forced TO hold swaying to the brass railing. lie pressed a handkerchief 10 his Ii. }. As he lowered it l no- ticcd. that it was streaked with blood "Q4ick. What was it?" spoke Mar ftI dutllOl itdliN SlJ u liiS NiNt iN bN +Ai-hN the railing.
 He threw red pepper!' splutterea the teller. T lodged See-Where it ait tie slab. A little went in my eyes Before I could get my revolver he pushed an arm over to the window guard
 What did he get?"
 Especial package-SS0.OOO."
 7hITe is it?'
 -1.. Nandow-the street." rambled m the clerk. He must have weight d il, for it went through that window ike a cannon ball. and"
 In flash Marvel, both feet on the lab. swung over the wire netting, prang to he ledge of tho window and ias scanning the street. All that he aw was a gathering, gaping crowd nd tWo policemen pointing to lounted officer down the roadway.
 Automobile, I suppose" comment my friend, and was back at the ide of the culprit by the route he ad left him. Get us out of this rowd," he directed me, and made path for him through the mob to the
 rest office.
 r"'soner needed no urging to
 pressure of Marvel's urging
 'Our cashier had come up, and
 GOT closed on the four of us.
 That did you expect to make out
 his foolish break, Dan?" inquired ly friend, not unkindly.
 Not ten years" responded the fel- 'w, with ghostly shadow of a smile. There will be no trial, for the doctor as given me just ten days. I'm doped ith strychnine, or I couldn't hold up ow. Get me where can lie down, you'll have to carry me-"
 The man looked all he indicated
 DOT wretch in the last stages of
 ar+M He had partially col
 "a lay rather than sat in the
 m chair. All the time. how
 there was a certain contented
 le on hia8faee.
 lou know me. MT. Marvel" he ob- terved Weakly-"not yet obituarized.