Year: 1870

The masked figure in the center of
the room, in producing match, had
unwittingly thrown back one side of
its cloak. By the sickly fame just
turning to white Foster Houghton
saw, thus revealed, the twisted chain
he had played with in his own boy
hood, the golden crescent with his
mothers hair, the massive key with
his seal, just as he had seen them on
his boys breast at sunset. In an in
slant more taper was lighted; the
curtain Of the cloak was drawn to-
gether again. But the secret it had
exposed was impressed upon two
hearts, as if they had been scared


with iron. AS drowning man thinks
of the crowded events Of lifetime,
Foster Houghton thought, in that mo-
ment Of supreme agony, Of dozen


links of circumStantial evidence-the


boys baffled desire for money, his an
cry words, his evil associates, his miss


ing revolver, his deliberate explana-


ton of night-long absence, his init


mate knowledge of the affairs of the


bank, except the secret combination


OF the lock which he had often teaSed


for in vain. Two things were stamp


ed upon his brain together, and he


was thankful that bis wife could know


the horror Of but one of them.


His own son was engaged in q plot


to rob the bank, by threats Of assas-


sination against those who gave him


life.


He himself was irrevocably enlist


ed in a plot to capture the robbers,


and so to bring his boy to infamy and


a punishment worse than death.


The discovery compel5 a pause in


the narrative. 1t made none in the


actual progress Of events. The man


who had spoken motioned the cashier


to rise, and assisted his trembling


hands in covering his limbs with one


or two articles Of clothing. The one


on the opposite side Of the bed, NOV


ing quickly and deftly as a sailor,


bound Mrs. Houghton where she lay,


without a touch of rudeness or indig-


nifty beyond what his task made nee


essary. A knotted handkerchief from


his pocket was tied across her mouth.


The third figure stood at the window,


either to keep a watch without or to


avoid seeing what took place within /;


but Foster Houghton's eyes could dis


cern no tremor, 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. I feel sure you


know what is healthy for you, but
still l will tie this rope round your


wrist to save you from any dangerous
temptation to try side street. Nun


Der Two, you will go below, and see
that the coast is clear


With one more look at his wile's
ewes. in which he saw outraged moth
erly affection where the strangers saw
only fright and pain, Foster Hough-
ton suffered himself to be LED from


the loom. One of the robbers had
, preceded him; one held him tightly


by the wrist; one, the one whose pres
I ence gave the scene its treble terror,
, remained only long enough to eXtin-
, guish the taper and to lock the door.
= The outer door was fastened behind
them also: and then the noiseless lit
tie procession (lor the cashier had


been permitted to put on his stock


ings only filed along the gravel walk,


through the pitchy blackness which a
Y mist gives to a moonless night, toward
? the solitary brick building occupied
e by the BIne River National Bank.
+ They passed the school house where
e Foster Houghton had carried his boy
t a dozen years before with a bright
/ new primer clutched in frightened lit.
i tie fingers; then the desolato old
h mansion of his own father, where the


lad had been potted and worshipped
= as fervently as at home a little far


ther on, the church, where the baby
e had been baptized, and where the
it youth had chafed beneath distasteful
J. sermons-its white steeple lost in the
) upper darkness; and, a few PAGES be
r yOnd, the academy, within whose wall;
C the cashier had listened with such
S pride to his Harrys eloquent decla
r nation Of "The Return of Regalus tC
l. Carthage" on the last commencement
a day. He thought Of these things a;
?. he passed, though so many other thot'i
e surged in his mind; and he wondered
d if another heart beside his own wal
t. beset with such "reminiscences on th
y silent journey.


e Before they reached the bank tn
A man who had gone in advance rejoin
If ed them.


Is at is all serene, he said, in Low
'e tone, but with a coarser voice and ut
p terance than his confederateS T.; moth
ig ing more than cat stirring. | hav
le unhitched the mare, and We should b
ii off in fifteen minutes


th "All right, Number Two," said tn
of leader. The swag will be in th
e. buggy in less time. Cashier, you ar
It. a man of prudence, | know. If yo
a work that combination skilfully an
IN promptly, noO hair of your head sha.


be harmed. If you make blundc
I'd that costs US minute, not only WI
IS. this knife be at home in your hear
IN but we will stop on our way back an
is set your cottage on fire. Our retrea
ok will be covered, and you know tn
r. consequences there before the alarl
'ir will rouse anybody. l have sworn
ck do it."


I'D Foster Houghton faHcied he saw
ed sludder in the slight figure -besid
ed him; but it might have been a puff
no wind across the long drapery.


to 40, blow tie threats" said Numbt
rv- Two. "The man values his life, an
tir he is going to open the safe quick'
th- than he ever did before. Open IL
nd door. young one, and let's be about it
his The robber who had not yet opene


his lips, and whose every motion tt


Al A.