San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-15

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glance around his cage. The payrolls
of dozen concerns were all neatly
arranged awaiting the arrival of mes
sengers with their firm checks.
Keller was a methodical young man.
Always cool and calm, he was clock
like in his punctuality. His firm chin,
his strong nose, his steady blue eyes,
were, to the discerning, sufficient in
dication of his integrity. Also, one
felt that there could be no question
of his courage. And his ability in his
chosen career seemed proved by the
fact that at 20 he had achieved so
responsible n position in one Of the
largest banks in the world.
He saw the uniformed porter un-
lock and open the huge steel doors of
~, bank, and Turner, the young mes
senger of the Caraway Company en-
tered Almost simultaneously ennis
saries arrived from the Wilton Com
pany, the MacEnany concern, and the
other big clients of the bank. Each
one, Keller noted, was accompanied
by husky guard.
Keller reached automatically for the
bundles of bills labeled "Caraway,
Then, almost as automatically, his
hand swept below the counter and
touch the switch that dropped, with
jcrring crash, the steel grating
whose interlaced bars would protect
him from assault and robbery. His
other hand gripped his ready pistol,
and through the bars he aimed the
weapon. For half a dozen men had
entered the bank after the messenger
from the Elspeth store.
Keller had heard a cry from the
uniformed porter. He had seen the
porter struggling with one of the late
arrivals. He had acted with instant
decision; the banks money was pro-
tected against the marauders. For
Keller had only TO dodge down behind
his counter to be out Of range Of any
possible bullet, and the steel grating
could be raised only by the switch in
side the cage. No threat could make
Keller touch that switch again.
But he did not hide behind the
counter. Instead, he pointed his re-
volver at a man struggling with the
Wilton guard. The man heard his
hoarse cry and Immediately ceased his
struggle. The uniformed porter had
backed the man, whose attack upon
him had caused his outcry, into a cor
l...er, and blew upon shrill police
whistle.
Within three minutes after the
attempted robbery had begun, the
bandits were lined up against one wall,
were disarmed, and were penned, in
by a dozen bank detectives and en-
ployes. Keller pressed the switch
that caused the. heavy steel grating
to ascend into tie ceiling. He laugh
ed as he did so. In moment the
police, sumomned By the porter's
whistle, would arrive and take away
the ridiculous bandits.
Indeed, the police, arrived sooner
than he had deemed possible. A whole
platoon of them, sixteen in all, head
ed by sergeant, raced up the banl;
steps with drawn revolvers and night
sticks in their hands. The sergeant
took one comprehensive glance at the
situation, then ordered the massive
doors closed.
From the inner offices the presi-
dent, the secretary, the treasurer and
4 other officials Of the bank had come.
The sergeant seemed to recognize the
president. He called him by name.
"Get everybody in here, Mr.. Dana, "
he commanded brusquely. Every
body. Looks like an inside job to
me-"
"That's absurd" said Dana. His
heavy jowls shook with Indignation.
"Every man in this bank-every wom-
an. tools absolutely trustworthy.
h Whyr-and he pointed at the six cow
ering figures against the wall, "they're
k.ail outsiders.
How'd they know all these pay
/ roll people were to be here at GER
4 tain hour, with the cash ready for
them? Get everyone here; / want to
4 look at them"
Dana felt the justice Of the ser
geant's attitude, even though he could
have informed the police officer that
Information as to the time OF sending
for payrolls could be easily picked up
by any client of the bank who kept
his eyes open. He ordered an under
ling to summon the rest of the en-
ployes.
While they were coming the SER
geant and five of his men advanced
to the prisoners. They slipped hand
cuffs on each Of them and hustled
them roughly into the center of the
bank lobby. The sergeant looked at
the other customers of the bank.
\ ANY of these mixed up in this?"
\ he demanded of Keller.
The paying teller peered through