Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-06-15

fumes. Then they got the better Of
him.
May ! open another window n
he inquired weakly.
'Sure. That1l be fine" Harvey
eyed the second cigar which lay I'M
lighted on the desk. "Ain't you going
to smoke yours?"
9TH try n of my own. If you don't
| mind"
AS the banker moved toward the
window, Jim sighed relievedly. He
rescued the unused cigar and tucked
1t back In his breast pocket with real
affection. Jim's cigars were a source
of perpetual worry: he was always
afraid that some day some one would
smoke one of them.
Ffske seated himself again. You'd
like to hear about the robbery" he
asked.
"Yeh-if you want"
isn't that what you came for7'
.Reckon SOL
Then why don't you ask me some
questlons7'
Gosh! Mr.. Fiske-how do | know
what to ask I'm waiting for you to
tell me, and you're waiting until you're
sure didn't escape from some ZOO"
Randolph Fiske threw back his head
and laughed. you win. Harvey. Now
shoot |"
Jim's face did not change.
"When?a
DAY before yesterday-May first
at ten minutes after two O'clock"
How much7"
THE robber got away with approx
imately one hundred thousand dollars
In currency"
Harvey blinked. LOT OF cash for
a little bank like this
"Plenty. We were making up the
pay roll for the Marland mills. They
pay on the third"
AStfck-upr querIed the detective.
"Yes."
"Tell me all about It."
FIske rose and invited Harvey to
follow him. They passed from his
private office into the bank proper.
Under the amazed eyes Of Miss Helen
Seward, Fiske conducted Harvey to
the front door and gestured to the
broad thoroughfare passing east and
west.
"That Is Archer street. said Fiske~
THE north and south street Is Oak.
Oak Is a shopping street. but Archer
Is the main traffic artery. Lots OF cars
going by here all the time. You will
notice that this hank Is the only COM
mercial establishment on Archer street.
Do you follow met"
EASY" grunted Jim. "You sure do
talk explicit"
Fiske stepped back into the bank.
Our banking business starts at nine
In the morning and stops at two. At
two o'clock daily-and On Saturday
at twelve-We get rid of our last Gus
toner. Then we conceal the interior
Of the bank by pulling the shades-so.v
He stepped behind the open door
and pulled q shade which rose up
from the bottom OF the door. The
heavy green shade rose along the glass
surface until 1t was higher than a
mans head.
There are similar curtains on both
windows he went on. "As soon as we
get the last customer out, we pull the
curtains up, and then all of the en-
ployees except two or three go out
for a bite OF lunch. They invariably
90 out the back door. That door,
which Is behind my office, opens onto
a little alley through which you can
pass into Oak street. Day before yes
terday the bank was free OF customers
at two o'clock. We drew the curtains
and shut the front DOORS"
"Were they locked7"
mo. They never are. We have
safety vaults In the basement and
they are open until five o'clock. There
has to be some way for clients to get
Into the building. We merely shut
the doors and draw the curtains to
keep our banking clients out"
Fiske turned away. but Harvey ex-
amlned the door. He saw that 1t was
equipped on the inside with a heavy
spring lock. He turned and followed
the banker.
Back In Fiske's Office, the banker re-
sumed his story. Harvey lolled In q
chair. apparently asleep. But occa-
siona1ly his eyes uncurtained for a
moment and he regarded the banker
gravely before closing them again.
MAY first was a perfect day. said
Fiske. Warm and sunshiny and al
most like summer As / said, we shut
the door and drew the curtains at two
sharp, SO that the Interior OF
the bank was effectually concealed
from anyone on the street. At the
time everybody went out to
lunch except Miss Seward and myself,
Miss Seward is my secretary. She
was the one who brought you In here
"Ohl" said Harvey. And then
mice young lady"
There was no hint OF humor Ia his
heavy face, but Fiske chuckled de-
ughtedly.
'Eficient-and sour" he explained.
'sBut mighty loyal"
II knew she must be something
eaCyh - A~Af-A -