Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-01-08
CHAPTER XXIV.
Macdonald Follows Clue.

shcbang"
The mln"-Owncr got up and began
to dress. probably OVERSIGHT. same
az did
That's the point. We looked through
tn" window Of his bedroom and his
bed .,in't been slept in"
In three minutes Macdonald Joined
the marshal and walked down with
him to the bank. He unlocked the
front door and turned I" the little
crowd that had gathered.
"Iiettcr wait here boys. Gopher AMI
will 20 In. I expect everything Is
all right. but well Let you know about
that az soon as "" 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 w"r. down. Macdonald struck n
match and held 1t up. The wood burn
ed and the flame flickered out.
Banks been robbed" he announced
quietly.
Looks like" agreed Jones. His
voice was uneven with excitement
The Scotch Canadian lii another
match. In the iar" Of II they saw
that the steel grill cutting off the al
cove was open and that the door had
been blown from the safe. 1t lay on
the floor among Il litter of papers. sill
yer. fragments OF steel, and bits Of
candle.
The marshal clutchcd at the arm Of
the banker. Did you sec-that?" he
whispered.
His finger pointed through the dark
ness Ia the other end OF the room. In
the faint gray light OF coming day
Macdonald could see huddled mass
on the floor.
There has been murder done. I'll
get light. Don't move from here,
Jones. I want to look at things be-
fore we disturb them. There's nQ
danger. Phe robbers have been gone
:-..S.1oIlE -.
Gopher had as .1nch nerve rs the
next man--w when the sun was shining
and he could soc what danger he was
facing. Rut there was something
sinister and nerve raCking here. He
wanted tu throw open the door and
shout the news TO those outside.
Hy the light of another match the
mine owner crossed the room into the
sitting room OF the cashier. Present
" he returned with lamp and let its
light fall upon the figure lying slump
eel against the wall 4 revolver lay
close to the inert fingers. The head
hung forward grotesqucly upon the
breast
The dead man was Milton. His en-
plnycr saw nothing ridiculous In the
twisted neck and sprawling limbs. The
cashier had died to save the money en-
trusted TO his care.
Macdonald handed the lamp to the
marshal and picked up the revolver
Every chamber was loaded.
They beat him TO 1t. 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 felt the club about
midnight. Soon as they saw him they
dropped him. Likely they heard him
and were ready. l wouldn't have had
this happen for all the money In the
safe"
How much was there in it,"
81 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,
following with his eye the course OF
the wound.
Wish I'd been here instead OF him"
Macdonald said grimly. His eyes
snftcncd US he continued to look down
at the employee who had paid with
his life for his faithfulness. 1T
wasn't an even break. Poor fellow!
You weren't built for a job like this.
Robert Milton. but you played your
hand out to a finish. That's oil any
man can do.
lie turned abruptly away and be-
gan examining the safe. The silver
still stood sacked in one large COM
partment. The bank-notes had es-
capped the hurried search Of the rob-
bers. hut the gold was practically all
gone. One sack had been torn by the
explosion and single pieces OF gold
could be found all over the safe.
Macdonald glanced over the papers
rapidly. The officer picked up one Of
dozens scattered over the floor. It
was mortgage note made out to the
bank by q miner. He collected the
others Evidently the bandits had
torn off the rubber, glanced over one
or two to see II they had any cash
value, and tossed the package into the
air as disgusted gambler does pack
Of cards.
The bank president stepped to the
door and threw it open. He explained
the situation in three sentences.
Il can't let you in now. boys. until
the coroner has been here" he went
on to tell the crowd. But there is
one way you can all help. Keep your
eyes open. II you have seen any sus-
p,cious characters around> let me
know. Or IL any one has left town In q
hurry-or been seen doing anything
during the night that you did not un-
derstand at the time. Men can't do
thing like this without leaving some
clue behind them even though the
snow has wiped away their trail"
A man named Fred Tague pushed
TO the front. He kept q feed corral
near the edge Of town. Il can tell you
one man who mushed out before five
o'clock this mornins-and that's Gid
Holt"