The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-12-15
It was about week after that when

1t was about week after that when
Joe received very important commits
sion from the local bank. He was to
exchange Eve thousand dollars In bank
notes for the, same amount in gold at
the Butlerville bank. Joe had In the
past been entrusted with even larger
sums and there was not an i0ta OF
suspicion or doubt as to his fidelity
and safety by his employers. Joe ex-
ecuted his various errands at Butler
Vile before he went to the bank. The
gold was packed In piece Of Sjre net
ting and then slowed in q heavy canvas
satchel, and with this under his feet
on the front seat started on his return
journey.
It was late afternoon when Joe
struck off across what was known as
the swamp road. He had been made
uneasy several times from noting thae
four suspicious looking men were ap
parently following him. They skunk
from cover in his rear, gained on him
by detour, and Joe made up his mind
that they had some unaccountable
knowledge Of the treasure he carried
and were after it.
He was less than five miles from
home when he became assured Of the
fact that the men were closing in upon
him. Looking back, he observed two
Of the men starting on run In his
direction. Viewing the road ahead,
Joe noticed the other two peering from
q thicket.
"Tn beat themi' he muttered reso-
lutely, and suddenly turning the horse
from the main road he dashed off along
a mere trail, confusing and 7distancing
his pursuers until the vehicle struck
rut and both hind wheels smashed into
fragments.
All four Of his would-be despoilers
were to be seen making for the
wrecked cart, and at break-neck speed.
Joe jumped from the vehicle, seized
the satchel and darted down an OBJ
scure footpath. His heavy burden i'm
peded rapid progress, however. Joe
noted that two of the men had circled
about to head him off. He made q des-
perate resolve, took in his surround
ings closely, gave the satchel fling
into the deep water at the side Of the
path aud, unhampered now with the
weight Of the gold, made run in the
direction of home.
Joe had just cleared copse Of will
lows when q report rang out. He felt
cracking, tearing sensation inside
of his head. The missile had struck
a section Of the skull, denting It with.
out decorating, but strange numbness
momentarily spread over him. Then
strange light-headedness succeeded.
He fled like some wild being. He was
white and breathless as he dashed into
the yard Of the home Of his-married
sister.
"Quick, Lizzie" he gasped, sinking
to the doorstep, telephone the bank
and then the police. Tell them was
pursued by some thieves and
There Joe sank senseless. 80 they
found him when two men from the
bank and the marshal arrived. Joe
reused up. He seemed none the worse
for the escapade, the details of which
he narrated with perfect conference.
At the point where he had thro4n the
satchel Of gold into the water, how
ever, he paused blankly, stumbled over
his words, and when the banker
anxiously inquired where was the spot,
Joe shook his head in dazed way
with the words: II can't remember"
Nor did he in the course Of a week,
or month. Perfectly lucid on any
other subject, the bullet that had
grazed on his skull seemed to have
knocked out the one important item
Of his adventure. The swamp was
searched, Joe went over 1t with the
bank people, but with no encouraging
discoveries.
ave had no right to leave you to
take the responsibility Of all that
money without guard" the banker
reproved himself. IF you ever locate
it, Joe, you shall have half as re-
ward"
But this incentive had no result.
There was corner knocked away In
the memory Of the honest fellow and
nothing could straighten it out.
Joe Bangs resumed his old business
and was trusted and liked as Of old.
The doctors marvelled, but he was as
clear-headed and sensible as ever ex-
cept as to the hiding place Of the gold.
For Joe one happy result of his ad-
venture transpired. Pretty Marie Dris-
coll became his fiancee after long
counting. All that postponed the we'd
ding was the fact that Joe's savings
had not yet reached the amount he
deemed necessary to start housekeep-
ing.
One summer afternoon Joe was
waiting for Marie, who was to ride
over to Butlerville with him. The air
was drowsy and Joe fell asleep walt
ing on bench outside Of the house.