LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1521, 2 January 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

HOW OUE BANK WAS ROBBED, By T. S. G. Concluded. ‘ I don’t think I’ll go out to dinner, sir,’ said he, gazing at me with a strange exposition. ‘ Why not I’ quoth I drowsily, 1 Well, sir, I don’t feel very bright to-day and I’d rather stop indoors ; and if you’d be so kind as not to mention to Bennett as I’ve come back. But you don’t look very well yourself, just now’ c Lance, that stout has made me most confoundedly sleepy.’ * Well, have a bit of a nap, sir. I’ll geo the place is all right—only I don’t want Bennett to know I’m here.’

All right, all right,’ I replied, rather shortly, for I wanted to be left to mv self; yet I was somewhat surprised at his wish for concealment in so trivial a matter.

Again I saw the man pass out and partly close the door, and once more I drifted into a heavy but pleasant slumber. Soon I was a denizen of dreamland, and a sharer in its grotesque and fantastic imaginings. I thought I was clinging to the telegraph wires that stretch li so webs over London, and performing thereon athletic feats in itnpos able positi ns ; then I flew through the air towards my home at Wood Green, spinning as 1 went a thread of wire by which to return —a useless precaution, as I was at once transported to the desert of Sahara, where I found myself on a camel’s back careering across the burning plain. But in my dreams the face of the camel was the face of tho ex policeman Lance, and ever and anon strange grating noises'seemed to be borne post us on the wind. The pace began to slacken ; and as I spurred on my steed to fresh exertions, I seemed to feel the prick of the rowel in my own flesh. It became sharper and more painful,- and gradually camel desert chase faded from my vision, and the Bank once again dawned on my awakening senses. But though my aerial steed and his surroundings had all disappeared, the spur unaccountably enough re maiued, as my nether limbs were painfully reminding me. It. was no dream this time—l was wide awake. Quickly glancing round, I discovered Lance crouching down beside my chair, and vigorously applying a pin to the calf of my leg. To this proceeding I was about to enter an indignant protest, when a significant gesture warned me to remain mute. His face was white with unwonted excitement, as he rose noiseless’y to his feet, and beckoning mo to the small aperture in tho wall used for the transmission of books and papers between manager and clerks, bade me 1 ok upon a spectacle that made each individual h or up n my head to stand erect. The drawer containing the stamps and gold was being tampered with before my very eyes in broad daylight. Stooping down with his back towards us was a man softly but swiftly forcing the lock with a chisel. But the man—the thief—who was he ? I knew at a glance that long lean form. It was Bennett. We both shrank back.

‘ Take off your boots, sir,’ he whispered in a low voice. I noticed that his own feet were shoeless. ‘ Creep round outside the counter, and wait till I give the word—then over and help me.’ 1 nodded assent; and then I saw Lance crawl out upon hands and knees into the office, behind the shelter of a long high desk, at the end of which he would be within a few feet of Bennett. I crept away to the oth,er entrance of the manager’s room, which led into a large space appropriated to the public, and gliding noiselessly along, I arrived where I knew I must be opposite the thief at hia work. Click, click, went the chisel against the brass lock. It was apparently a work of time and difficulty, though the sound of crushing wood - work betokened the near accomplishment of the deed. How long the time seemed ! Had Lance been able to get close to him undiscovered? I judged so, J as the chisel still continued its grating work. Sometimes it stopped for a moment, and then I knew that the naan was watching the manager’s room, to see that I was safe under the influence of the narcotic administered in my pint of sto-.c, Click, click, crunch! and the whole lock appeared to come away, the drawer being at the same time drawn softly open. ‘Now,’ thought I, ‘ here goes.’ Not yet I I could hear the mellow chink of the small bags of gold as they avere hurriedly transferred to tha man’s pockets; then the stiff ruffle of many sheets of stamps told of a like destination, I listened breathlessly. Suddenly there was a yell of mingled fright and rage, and vaulting at one bound across the counter, 1 saw .Dennett falling backwards, his throat clutched by the practised hands of the ex-policeman, who held on with a will, having sprung upon him silent'y from behind. The half-strugled man rffvuggi«d like a fiend, dealing me several ugly kicks with his h ng legs as I attacked him from the front. But the odds were too many, and furthermore, he had been taken by surprise ; in a few minutes be was overpowered, and his hands and fast were securely fastened. Not a word had been uttered since the commencement of the conflict but now Lance looked up and said in a stem voice—- ‘ < <>t l bs scoundrel at last—next thing s a n lcr.ee man. Will you go, sir, or shall I V ft- re there was a fierce attempt in free himse'f by die nrod-rate thief. ‘ Perhaps I’d better stop with him 5 continued Lance—- ' you’ 1 G ' c - table in a minute at the station in old J. wry ’ Seizing, my hat. 1 was off in a twinkling, end returned in double quick time to the hank, ac omnamed by a stalwart member of the City police. A few moments saw the I ° iceman, my«< If and our chapfallen priconcr marching quietly to th- station, where L made the charge and h ft him to the soli tnde of a cell till Monday morning. On my return to the b uk the night watchman had arrived, and 1 prepared to go homo. ‘ Why, Lance yon must have suspected the beggar before this?’ f exol timed. ‘I e th light it sometimes, sir,’ he laughed. ‘ Knew I comii cop him /jam's

day/ Then, with a frown— ‘ Mean, sneaking skunk i I believe he meant to try to put it on me or the watchman here.’ ‘ Well, all’s well that ends well, Lance, and it was a clever catch of yours. Wo have a nice stcry for Mr Spofforth to-mor-row. Good night.’ ‘ Good night, sir ’

When I walked into the bank the next morning, I found the story was already known. Little knots of men were eagerly discussing the event, and I as well as l.ance soon became the centre of an animated crowd. At eleven o’clock I was summoned to the board-room, to the Committee of Directors, who complimented me upon the capture, as if I, and not Lance, had been the hero of the day. In the morning news* papers there was a graphic account of the ‘■freat Bank Robbery/ concocted by some übiquitous penny-a liner, which my wife read and re-resd wish mingled pleasure and alarm, Bennett was eventually sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment, which we all considered far too lenient a judment. The ex-policeman came in for the head messenger’s berth, with a house rent free, and a present of £SO, In addition to much very unmerited praise, I received a bonus of £IOO, which, as my domestic circle was shortly to be increased contributed in no small degree to the satisfaction of the household at Wood Green.