Year: 1870

The discovery compels pause in tn


narrative 1t made none in the actua


progress of events. The man who ha


spoken motioned the cashier to rise, an,


assisted his trembling hands in coverin,


his limbs with one or two articles of cloth


ing. The one on the opposite side of tn


bed, moving quickly and deftly as sail


or, bound Mrs. Houghton where she lay


without a touch of rudeness or indignt,


beyond what his task made necessary.


knottcd handkerchief from his pocket wa


tied across her mouth. The third figure


stood at the window, either to keep watcl


without or to avoid seeing what took place


within; but Foster Houghton's eyes coult


discern ne tremor, no sign of remorse ol


hesitation, in its bearing.


Now, cashier" said the one voice


which alone had been heard since the stroke


of the clock, 'you will have to consider


yourself ready, for we have no time to


spare. l feel sure you know what is


healthy for you, but still | will tic this


rope round your wrist to save you from


the dangerous temptation to try side


street. Number Two, you will go below,


and sec that the coast is clear"


With one more look at his wife's eyes,
in which he saw outraged motherly affcc-
ton where the strangers saw only fright
and pain, Foster IToughton suffered him
self to be led from the ROOM One of the
robbers had preceded him; one held him
tightly by the wrist; one, the person
whose presence gave the scene its treble
terror, remained only long enough to ox-
tinguish the taper and lock the door. The
outer door was fastened behind them also !;
and the noscless little procession (for the
cashier had been permitted to put on his
stockings only) filed along the gravel
walk, through the pitchy blackness which
a mist gives to moonless night, toward
the solitary brick building occupied by the
Blue River National Bank.


They passed the school-housc where
Foster lIoughton had carried his boy
dozen years before with a bright new
primer clutched in frightened little fin
gers then the dcsolate old mansion of his
own father, where the lad had been pctted
and worshippcd as forvcntly as at home;
little farther on, the church, where the
baby had been baptized, and where the
youth had chafed beneath distasteful SER
mons,-its white stecple lost in the upper
darkness; and, few PAGES beyond, the
academy, within whose walls the cashier
had listened with such pride to his Har-
ry's eloquent defamation of The Return
of Regulus to Carthage" on the last Com
mcncement day. lie thought of these
things as he passed, though so many other
thoughts surged in his mind and he Won
dercd if another heart beside his own was
besct with such "reminiscences on the 81
lent journey.


Before they reached the bank the man
who had gono in advance rejoined them.


"It is all serene" be said, in low
tone, but with a coascr voice and utter
ance than his confederate's; nothing
more than cat stirring. unhitched the |
mare, and we should be off in fifteen min
utes."


All right, Number Two" said the
leader The swag will be in the buggy
in less time. Cashier, you are man of
prudence, 1 know. If you work that
combination skillfully and promptly, not
a hair of your head shall be harmed If
you make Il blunder that costs us a minute,
not only will this knife be at home in your
heart, but we shall stop on our way back
and set your cottage on fire. Our retreat
will be covered, and you know the conse-
quences there before the alarm will rouse
L have sworn to do IT,"


Foster TToughton fancied he saw a
shuddcr in the slighter figure beside him
but it might have been puff of wind
across the drapery.


40, blow the threats" said Number
Two. "The man values his life, and he
is going to open the safe quicker than he
ever did before. Open the door, young
one, and let's be about it." The robber
who had not yet opened his lips, and
whose every motion the cashier still
watched stealthily, stepped forward to the
bank door; and as he drew u key from
under his cloak the prisoner caught an
other glimpse of the chain he could have
sworn to among thousand.


The door swung open. The cashiers
leart was in his throat. He had not
heard sound of Bixby; but he knew the
'illage constable too well to fear. or hope,
hat he might have given up the chase.
All four entered the building; but before
he door could be closed behind them there
vas shout, cry of dismay, rush of
lcavy feet, fash of light in lantern
which cleaned but a moment before it was
the confused sound of blows
md oaths and the breaking of glass, pune
uated by sharp report of pistol Fos-
cr Houghton could never give clearer
ccount of terrible minute in which his ,
Consciousness seemed partly benumbcd
Ie took no part in the struggle, but SEEM i
d to be pushed outside the door; and
here, as the tumult within began to di- {
ninish, Silas Bixby came hurriedly to
i'm, dragging masked figure by the
houlder G
''Houghton, you must help little We 7
ave got the better of 'em, and my men S
re holding the two big fellows down. But t
he fight is not out of them yet, and you
,ust hold this little ono three minutes