Year: 1878

an hour slipped by like minute as we
talked over the wires of every topic un-
der the sun. He called himself " Lion"
and L, for nonsense, signed myself " Ell
ephant,'' laughing as l did SO at the re-
Election of my tiny figures in the office
mirror.


Beyond Dryden, and only five miles
from Baysville, was c., a large COM
mercial town, the nearest railway sta
ton, and where an office was always
open for the accommodation of travellers.
AS 1 have said, Tom Knight was the
night watchman of Baysville Bank
building, and lonely spot he had of
it. The last mail came by stage at four
O'Clock in the afternoon and the post
office was vacated at six. The bank
closed at three, and by six every office
was deserted for the night.


AT seven Tom was on duty and grand
pa, who was restless at night, was in the
habit of taking down some coffee and
luncheon, as the building was only a
stones throw from the house.


On the December night 1 have already
mentioned, it had stormed heavily all
day, and had taken new class at the
academy, coming home later in the day
than usual and excited over my increase
in salary.


Everybody else had gone to bed, and
1 was lingering over the fire with Mrs.
Knight, dreading to plunge into my
cold, room where had allowed the fire
to go out.


The clock struck twelve and Mrs.
Knight, lifting her face from over the
fire, said:


Do call grandpa, Olive; he's asleep
on the sofa in the sitting-room. I'll
have Toms basket ready by the time
grandpa has his coat and hat on. hate
to call him, for he was complaining of
rheumatism all day and the ground is
very wet, though the storm is over.


"Let him Sleep" 1 said "I'll run
over with the basket. 1t is but a few
steps.


"But it is so dark; are you not
afraid ?''


"Not a bit; I'll slip on my water
proof and rubbers, and draw the hood
of my cloak over my head"


"Well, if you will, though I'm afraid
Tom will scold at my letting you CO."


"I'll put down the basket and run,
and he will never know who left it,


eco into the rear basement door; he
laovac tbot oman for orro m 1,Do


81 know"


/ grasped the handle of the basket,
and hurried over the space between the
building and the house, and stole softly
in at the basement door, in pursuance
of my plan to drop the basket and
run.


In my rubber shoes my steps were
noiseless, and had scarcely passed the
threshold when L stood rooted to the
floor in terrible amazement.


Somebody was talking.


/ crept forward and listened. There
was man in the vault, and a light
shone under the door,


While L listened, some one said:


"There is a confounded draft here
did you shut the door, Smith ?''


" Yes, but the wind might have blown
it open"


1 had just time to dart under the
staircase and crouched down, when the
door of the vault opened and man came
out.


He crossed the entry, drew two heavy,
noisy bolts, fastened the door by which
1 had entered, and returned without
closing the vault door.


could look in by the dim light and
see two men working at the safe locks
by the stream of light thrown from a
dark lantern.


There was the outline of man bound
and gagged upon the floor, but 1 could
only conjecture that it was Tom, for 1
could not see distinctly.


There L was nicely Gagged, for it would
be impossible for me to draw those heavy
bolts without attracting notice. And the
bank being robbed, that was evident
How could prevent it ? L could not
go out could not reach Tom. Sud.
denly remembered the telegraph office
on the second floor. If 1 could sum.
mon help from c.. 1t was only five
miles, and there was a long job for the
burglars before they could open the
safe.


could creep around the staircase. II
one of those busy men turned his head
was lost. softly crept out on all fours