Year: 1870

I


The discovery compels pause in


the narrative. 1t made none in the ac-


tual progress of events. The man who


had spoken motioned the cashierto rise,


and assisted his trembling hands in


covering his limbs with one or two


articles of clothing The one on the


opposite side OF toe bed, moving quick


ly and deity as sailor, bound Mrs.


Houghton where she lay, without a


touch of rudeness or indignity beyond


what his task made necessary. A knot


ted handkerchief from his pocket was


tied across her mouth TIE third fig


ure stood at the window, either to keep


a watch without or to avoid seeing


what took place within; but Foster


Houghton's eyes could discern no tre-


NOR, no sign of remorse or 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 l viii
tie this rope round your wrist to save
you from any dangerous temptation TO


try side street. Number Two, you


will go below, and see that the coast is


clear"


With one more look at his wife's


eyes in which he saw outraged mother
ly affection whore the strangers saw
only fright and pain, Foster Houghton
suffered himself to be led from the
room, One of the robbers had pre-.
ceded him one held him tightly by the
wrist, one, the one whose presence
gave the scene its treble terror, re-
NAMED only long enough to extinguish
the taper and to lock the doc + The |
outer door was fastened behind them
also and then the noiseless little pro-
cession for the cashier had been per-
mitted to put on nis stockings only !
fled along the gravel walk, through the |
pitchy blackness which a mist gives to |
a moonless night, toward the solitary
brick building occupied by the Blue
Rivsr National Bank v .."


They passed the school-house where
Foster Houghton had carried his boy |
a dozen years before with bright new
primer clutched in frightened little fin
gers; then the desolate old mansion
of his own father, where the lad had
been petted and Horshipped as terveut-
ly as at homes a little farther on, the |
church, where the baby had been bap-
tized, and where the youth had chafed |
beneath dstasteful sermons, Its white
steeple lost in the upper darkness;
and, few PAGES beyond, the acade my,
within whose walls the cashier had
listened with such pride to his Harry's
eloquent defamation of "The Return
Of Regulus to Carthage" on the first
day. He thought of
these things as he passed, though SO
many other thoughts surged in his
mind; and he wondered if another
heart beside his own was beset with .
such "reminiscences on the silent jour
ney.


Before they reached the bank the
nan who had gone in advance rejoined
hem.


at is all creme" be said, in a low
.one, but with a coarser voice and utter
lnce than his confederates; nothing
more than cat stirring. | have un-
litched the mare, and we should be off
n fifteen minutes"


Can right, Number Two" said the
eader "The swag will be in the bug
" in less time. Cashier, you are a
nan of prudence, know. If you
work that combination skilfully and
promptly, not hair of your head shall
oe harmed. If you make blunder
hat costs us a minute, not only will II
his knife be at home in your heart, but
We will stop on our way back and set
,our cottage on fire, Our retreat will
De covered, and you know the conse-
Iueuces there before the alarm viii
'ouse anybody have sworn to do it."


Foster Houghton iancied he saw
hudder in the sIighter figure beside
limi but it might have been puff Of
Wind across the long drapery,


30, blow the threats" said Number
Two. "The man values his life, and
ne is going TO open the safe quicker /
han he ever did before. Open the p,
Ioor, young one, and let's be about it,"
The robber who had not yet opened t
is lips, and whose every motion the ,
asher still watched Stealthily, stepped O
onward to the bank door; and as he S
rev key from under his cloak the c
risoner caught another glimpse of the
hahn he could have sworn to among a c
hOusand.


The door swung open. The cash
ers heart was in his throat He had q
OF heard a sound of Bixby; but he t
new the village constable too well to
,ar, or hope, that he might have given /
p the chase. All four entered the a
uildng but before the door could be t
osed behind them there was a shout, '
cry of dismay, arush Of heavy feet, e
ash oflghtin lantern which cleaned !
ut a moment before it was extin- h
uished, the confused sound of blows r
nd oaths and the breaking of glass, d
unctuated by the sharp report of a r
istol. Foster Houghton could never c
i've a clearer account Of terrible o
linute in which his consciousness a
,emed nartlv bennmbed. He took no l.