Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-06-20

ness OF the morning after. But In tb
darkness he oversight and let the tow
waken before him. He was reused b
the sound of knocking on his door.
"Who is it?" he asked.
ITS observation-disclosures Jones. Sa,
Mac, the bank amt open and we can
rouse Milton. Thought I'd come +
you, seeing as you're president of tn
shebang."
In three minutes Macdonald toine,
the marshal and walked down will
him to the bank. He unlocked tn,
front door and turned to the littl,
crowd that had gathered.
Better wait here, boys. Gopher ant
Will go In. l expect everything i.
all right but Wen let you know about
that as soon as we find out"
The bank president opened the door
let the officer enter, and followed him.
self.
The sun had not yet risen and the
blinds were down. Macdonald struck
a match and held it I'D.
Banks been robbed" he announced
quietly.
Looks like" agreed Jones. His
voice was uneven with excitement.
The Scotch-Canadian lit another
match. In the flare of it he saw that
the steel grill cutting off the alcoye
was open and that the door had been
blown from the safe.
The marshal clutched at the arm of
the banker. did you see-that?" he
whispered.
His finger pointed through the dark
ness to the other end of the room. In
the faint gray light of coming day
Macdonald could see a huddled mass
On the floor.
There has been murder done. I'll
get light. Don't move from here,
Jones. l want to look at things before
we disturb them. There's no danger.
The robbers have been gone for hours"
BY the light of another match the
mine-owner crossed the room into the
sitting room Of the cashier Presently
ne returned with lamp and let its
light fall upon the figure lying slumped
against the wall. A revolver lay close
TO the inert fingers. The head hung
forward grotesquely upon the breast.
Inc dead man was Milton. His en-
ployer saw nothing ridiculous in the
twisted neck and sprawling limbs. The
cashier had died to save the money
entrusted TO his care.
Macdonald handed the lamp TO the
marshal and picked up the revolver.
Every chamber was loaded.
They beat him to it. They were
probably here when he reached home. |
My guess is he heard them right away
got his gun, and came In. He's still |
wearing his dress suit. That gives US
the time, for he left the club about
midnight. Soon as they saw him they
cropped him. wouldn't have had this
happen for all the money In the safe"
How much was there In it?"
Il don't know exactly. The books
Will show. I'll send Wally down to
look them over"
shot right spang through the heart,
looks like" commented Jones, follow
Ing with his eye the course of the
wish I'd been here instead of him,
"acuonald said grimly. His eyes soft
ened as he continued to look down at
me employee who had paid with his
lie Tor his faithfulness. 1T wasn't an
even break. Poor old fellowl You
weren't built for job like this, Robert
Milton, but you played your hand out s
o finish. That's all any man can
TO-" "a" ,
de turned abruptly away and began t
examining the safe. The silver still 5
1000 sacked In one large compart- I
nent. The bank notes had escaped the
hurried search of the robbers, but the [
'olo was practically all gone. One
ack had been torn by the explosion
mo single pieces of gold could be
ound all over the safe.
macdonald glanced over the papers
apidiy. The officer picked up one Of
ozens scattered over the floor. II was
mortgage note made out to the bank
y miner He collected the others.
the bandits had torn off the
1bber, glanced over one or two TO
- ivy huu any cdSQ value, and
'ssed the package into the air as a
lsgusted gambler does pack of
lrds
The bank president stepped to the
'or and threw 1t open. He explained
e situation in three sentences.
Il can't let you in now, boys, until
o coroner has been here" he went on
tell the crowd. But there is one
ny you can all help. Keep your eyes
EN-. If you have seen any suspicious 4
aracters around, let me know. Or Z
anyone has left town In a hurry
been seen doing anything during the
ybt that you did not understand at
, time"
4 man named Fred Tague pushed to
} front. He kept feed corral near
edge Of town. II can tell you one RI
n who mushed out before five o'clock
morning-and that's Gid Holt"