The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-11-10

though SSL oll SIJI iilsSs 'CuNi
things do not transpire in a we'll reSu
lated bank save for some potent rea
son, and the quick mind Of the head
nf the United Bankers Protective as
ISOLATION seemed to analyZe the
situation in a flash. ! believe be
fore he had crossed the threshold
nf the private Office Of the presi-
dent of our institution, peculiarly
heavy crash had told him that one OF
the immense plate glass windows
back Of the CURRENCY pen had SUI
Tered; that the cry was that Of man
IN one of the cages; that the commo-
tion was the mingled shutting of the
feet OF the house officers drawn to an
irresistible focus by some extraordi-
nary occurrence.
1 was in the wake of Marvel
almost instantly, impelled by curl
N3sity and wonder. The president
s3f the bank had been going over
che list of average balances, weed
ing out some clients whose bust
ness affairs showing symptoms
of dry rot, was planning to have
them rot somewhere else, and
preparing a package to hand to some
unWary brother banker So far as Of
fetal ethics would permit. he peered
through the open doorway at the gath
ering crowd about the currency pen.
Marvel had parted the ranks in his
swift, effective way. / was close at
ais heels. A picturesque spectacle
greeted us.
Behind the railing a clerk was
dancing up and down in a frenzy of
uncomfortable excitement, one hand
indicating q man crowded close to the
outer counter slab of marble, the 9th
S. waving towards wrecked window,
while he kept shouting wildly:
stared. undisguisedly puzzled, at
abe man upon whom the gathering
rhrong were massing. He was thin to
the point of attenuation, his eyes
4witched from nervousness or weak
ness, and his face was very pale. How
ever, his colorless lips framed a
smile-a smile apologize, gentle,
submissive, slightly cynical and tri-
umphant 1t was the smile of man
down and out morally, physically and
financially, but that also of a person
making a desperate cast of fate, and
awaiting what might hinge upon the
hazard of the die. He challenged the
crowd pressing about him, not upper
turbed, but with no alarm visible in
his features. And then he made a
slight forward movement as Marvel
reached him. 1t was a gesture recog-
MIXING power and protection.
"a fair ending" he said, looking my
friend squarely in the eyes.
Marvel placed hand on the mans
arm. but scarcely with force. The
poor wretch, beside the husky officers
grouping about him, appeared like
some scarecrow bird in the net Of the
Eowlers. Even then he was taken
with violent fit Of coughing that
racked his frame SO that he was
forced to hold swaying to the brass
railing. He pressed a handkerchief
TO his lips. AS he lowered it | no.
sliced that it was streaked with blood
Quick. What was ito" spoke Mar
vel authoritatively to the clerk behind
The railing.
HE threw red pepper" spiuttered
,Ehe teller. Il lodged. See-where it
hit the slab. A little went in my eyes.
Before | could get my revolver he
pushed an arm over to the window
suard"
What did he get?''
Special package-sS0,009."
Where is it,"
The window-the street." rambled
'an the clerk. HE must have weight
I'D it, for it went through that window
like a cannon ball, and"
In a flash Marvel, both feet on the |
slab, swung over the wire netting, |
sssrang to the ledge of the window and |
was scanning the street. All that he |
saw was a gathering, gaping crowd |
and two policemen pointing to |
amounted officer down the roadway.
Automobile, l suppose" comment |
ed my friend, and was back at the |
side of the culprit by the route he
had left him. Get US out OF this |
crowd" he directed me, and | made |
~ path for him through the mob to the |
nearest office.
The prisoner needed no urging to |
follow the pressure OF Marvel's urging
hand Our cashier had come up. and |
ffsc door closed OH the four OF us.
What did you expect to make out |
OF this foolish break. Dam" inquired |
my friend, not unkindly.
Not ten years" responded the fell |
low, with a ghostly shadow of smile. |
There will be no trial. for the doctor |
has given me just ten days. I'm doped
with strychnine, or / coGldn't hold up
now. Get me where | can lie down. /
ar you'll have to carry me"
The man looked all he Indicated |
"A poor wretch in the last stages of |
He had partially col |
fapsed, and lay rather than sat in the |
big arm chair All the time. how
ever, there was Z certain coatented |
smile on his face.
You know me, Mr. Marvel" he OBJ |
served weakly-'not yet obituarized, !
although the records had It so. |
didn't pull this of for myself.