Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1898 — PAYING THE PENALTY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PAYING THE PENALTY

■rival onae*widow and her son In thrfeity by the*lake. * \ Eats has now besa- araneeted with the Gyeat W&tem Bang for nearly itwo feSrs7aqdSery studiously has he enefeavored to win the foil confidence of all in any way connected with that instilsaiion. Nor has hq (failed, j- % > Aa the y#nng on the p® t of leaving the bank fßr loach at the ioon hour on .the twenty-seventh of June, 1355, Lawrence Terry, the cashihtv **B to ! dm: “Earl, will you step over to the TJ don Express office and ask them to senq an agent at four o’clock tor a money p ickage?/ You know twenty thon|aifl 4 ust Jbq sent <to that drift & MJ&l&ei” | “Certainly,” said. Earl. } m Earir .... / “Yes, sir.*” to <the door of Mr. Kellogg’s private office. > “Business will be slack for an hou? or two. Janette complaining this morning—I wish you Would junto wtojthe lyatriaigi,sunn bpttoAhdfihorito Me Bow she is gettmg on. J would go myself, but I have some letters to write. . > “Here,” 1 a* the turning away, “hand this note to your mothers’ Earl placed the missive in his pootet and hastened froih the bank. the firsLjg my, mfel And fret I do not seem to be specially happy in jhe approaching unlljfi' * f My daughters rmse no objections; though I can see that the idea is not pleasing to them. “Qh, well, it will tfe rtfr Aflfeifi>est.J I shafi, on.;the day named,-lose onafe-of my JfPftJerg,.Coe,Laura wilL4>esib« bride of Lawrence, .There will be a double wedding. « * “Some day Janette will wed. Poor girl! I trust that she is not on the way to invalidism.” Mr. Kellogg resumed his writing and the time sped on. It was half after two when Earl returned to the" bank. “Well, young man, how did you find my daughter?” was reclining on a sofa in the parlor, reading, and stated that she felt easier, jl trust it is nothing serious. She appeared bright and cheerful.” I “Oh, I presume she will be as well as usual in \thq morning.” | “Here is a reply your -note, sir.” -.“Y eB , yes;” and Kellogg was soon jscanning these lines written by the widow: | “Dear Stephenr-Janeite seems ‘ nearly as well as ever.j<’l think it must hUTC been a slight attack Laura requests me tp add—‘Comuhhme early;’ and TYra; know s how willing torrid the wordq. promised wife, u “ELINOR.” The banker smiled as he placed the note in his pocket and glanced at the clock. “I am happier there than in any other spot on earth,” he thought. And at half after three he left the bank. At four o’clock, Philip Elsworth, one of the trusted Union Express agents, entered the bank, and porter Lockwood locked the doors. “You are on time, Mr. Elsworth,” said Terry. “I am just ready to make up the package.” r “All right. I will stand at the window while yon run over the bills. I guess I .can keep track of them.” “Oh, yes, I will give you plenty of time. You would hardly care to receipt for a pig in a box or for wild cat money; but there is none here; the bills are all standard.” “I am sure of that,” said Elsworth; “but duty is duty. Go ahead!” The cashier placed several packages of bills on the table back of Ih&.iyindow and shelf abdvts f# Wtmie theJißeiit could readily aeaa eaeitbiH. He ran them, laying them aside in onofethbusand dollar lots, checking the from the sghedule he had made out, as He proceeded. . A The denomination's one 1 hundred dollars,. fifty dollars; twenty dollars, tfen dollars aAd five (folios; so it,'Consumed some time to accbtoplisb the .task, “It ip all O. K.,” 'safd' the agent. “Make up your package.” .i Terry hastily pinned a narrow strip of white paper around each one thousand dollar lot, marked on this strip with his pencil, “$1,000,” under the figures placed the initials of his name, and with the aid of a heavy sheet of manilla paper and a strong cord, the twenty packages were soon converted into one. Earl all this time had been standing at his desk scarcely four feet distant, apparently running over some columns of figures and paying no attention to the work that was going on at his elbow. On the upper left hand corner of the package, Mr. Terry placed the figures “$20,000.” “One minute more,” he said," “until I label it;” and turning, he approached the open vault, leaving the package on the table. -“I will be making out the receipt,” observed the agent. “I cannot find —oh, yes, here they are!” And the cashier soon came forward with a printed slip to one side of which he applied mucilage, then pressed it down on the center of the package before him. The outer surface of the slip bore in printed letters these words: “Central Bank, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.” “There you are, Mr. Elsworth,” said the cashier, placing the package in the window. “Here is your receipt,” and the agent passed from the bank aB the porter opened the door, “It is five o’clock,” said Terry presently. “Mr. Sloan,” he continued, speaking to the bookkeeper, who had been posting his ledger at a desk facing the front windows, at some distance away, “are you through for to-night? It is beginning to rain. I thought the clouds that have been above us all day would empty their cargo by night.” “I have just finished my work,” Sloan said, closing the ledger. “Well, if you will bring forward your books we will soon be on the outside of the bank. Wait for me, Earl; I promised Laura to take tea with her to-night.” “Luckily I have my rubber coat here,” said Earl. “It may save me a drenching.” Ten minutes later the bank was closed and four men under umbrellas were hastening' itfway. A block from the bank a patrol wagon dashed by them. “A case of drunk and disorderly somewhere,” observed Earl. “Yes, if nothing worse,” said Terry. After crossing the Chicago river, Sloan »nd the porter turned west, while Earl and the cashier passed on their way to the banker’s residence. It was 5:30 when they entered the door. Earl proceeded at once to his room, not stopping in the hall to remove his rain ebat. ‘ « i Laura hkd met the twb young men, and she, with Terry, entered the,parlor, where they found Janette yet reclining i©n the sofa and her father seated beside her with an anxious expression on hiss's ° ~ “Oh, there is no necessity of sending for the doctor, papa; I feel sure that I shall be quite restored by to-morrow. The presence of a physician would make me nervous,” were the words she was saying as the lovers entered the room. “Well, dear, I will listen to you for tonight,” said Mr. Kellogg; “but unless you are entirely recovered by that time, I will summon Dr. Hewit.” “I think you should, papa,” remarked Laura. "I may be needlessly alarmed, but I am much concerned about Janette.”

“I would nbthtri iny f Httle S&ter that sooa wHI be, asufferef,’’ said Lawrence, “and I am quite ready to Sttlnfhon 1 the doctor,pstanter,” in •- f “Not, to-pight, Lawrence, if yon love wMlnf, ‘‘The future bridesmaid of your jotCTided has no intention of becoming an Bat a few minutes passed before the widow i abd •'faeri'sdß altered the par lor, where ail the itanates wete soon depYoi ing the rainy : weather and Janette’* illness, which would keep the- family party from attending a theatrical performance t tat evening.. “Why,” said Janette, “the rest of 3on can go. Why. remain at home on my recount? As for thfi^cain —the carriage *lll protect yon.” w mmum j 1 going,,with **l would not drfeam of 'such\a thing,” said tha widow ,* ; * , ttfohgh 1 ani' confident our pet *!iU soon. be.herself adaiif> 1 “Why. suddenly ..exclaimed Lhora; is a dftfhingL.np |to “Let us-see,” ’*ai<f the ’banker,/raiig to his feet and cfossing to‘ ; the Window where Laura was “Why, Lawrence, it is Jacob-Aaidtews,' agent of the UnionExpjpss, apd Inspector Huht of tlte polled coming rapidly ' tin the "walk?; Something is amiss. Did ytm'ship’that money to,the Centroh Bank^V- ; u j “GertainJy .i Elsworth called for ft** ! All eyes being; attracted -in 'the “direction of the two op the walk; none save Janette noticed how; siridealy Bar! started 1 his. chqat pr.,th» meaning glatatte between'hiir - seif *nd;his mother.- J *» ** |« Mr. Refiogg.metthe agent arid?the'police official pt the <Jooe., f-oou 1 mi i--“What' >■ *•>*'• 14 : - “Is the bank cashier harp, M». -Kellogg? Is the teller here?’ the ageqt excit“Yes, ye*,' they are* here, Rut‘•’Pleas© allow Us tV ‘your .library and summon them.’* " s 1 Mr. Kellogg; aniddy opened tßfc'Library door and sumtupoed the two young -men. j The usually placid countenance 'of Earl in one moment had lost much of-itacom-l posure, • and fiis sallow complexion hedj somewhat paled!' 'Perhaps he had J>een working;‘too hffrd*-of I&te. Perhaps, his! confinement to the hank hhd been too con-, stant. But the five men were all morfe ori less 'excited. , j * “Ple&Se close the, library door,” said! Inspectdr Huht. ’ ", : ,vf‘NoW-^—beghn fhb banker. , ... , Ui t: “At four o’clock our ‘fefeent" ijisworth called at the* Great Western' 'Bank and received .and receipted, for’ a money" package of twenty thousand dollars. ’At* 4 he left the bank with it in his possession. At 4*45 his unconscious bpdy was discovered in the Alley between Washington and Randolph streets. He had been waylaid, knocked senseless and 1 fobbed.’ 1 (x . , I “Robbed!” exclaimed’ the banker and cashier. . . .* it ; " “Robbed r unconsciously b exclaimed Earl*' . . lf)i ..j .iu . “Robbed,” reiterated sthe agent, “and of that package of twenty dollars.”' “Great heavens] and-in-the-open light of day!” said Mr. Kellogg^.“Have you any clew—any suspicions as to who perpetrated the deed?’ “As yet none. "Our 4 r ?ts PftH is her*;- ; to ascertain If during the day, oy at any ,timfe Within the pastWeek.a suspicious charac:. ter, >or suspicious Chara'cter*, have, been seep loitering about the bUnk.” said tb« police Official, “this nonbery was planned. . The express agehts wete watched. The robber, was aware that EhfWbrth bore a money package from tbe.b*nk.”" ■' 1 * “I certainly have not noticed any suspicious character in the vicinity of the bank,”., said Mr. Kellogg. l !1 ' ; “Nor have I,” asserted Terry. 1 ' “I—l have no recollection of seeing any one whose appearance would arouse suspicion,” Said Earl. “But Elsworth, Mr. Andrews, did he not see the man who assaulted him? Did he regain consciousness? Surely he was not killed?” “As I stated, he was found in the alley in an unconscious condition. Exactly how long he. had lain there, we, as yet, are unable to state.” *- “Certainly not more than five minutes,” declared Inspector Hunt. “But who discovered him?” asked the banker. - - “On account of the rain,” said the inspector, “there were few people on the streets, and they were hurrying along under umbrellas—none passing through that alley. A clerk in a real estate office, going oUt by the back door, found the body in the; alley. < “He>ht first supposed it to ease of drunk and down,’ but on closer inspection, recognized Elsworth, who he knew to he one of the collecting agents for the Union Express. He at once gave the alai-m, summoned a police officer, and notified the express company officials.” “Elsworth was borne to a convenient drug store. Mr. Andrews, Dr. Thorp and myself arrived there not five minutes later. A blow on the back of the head had knocked the collector senseless. The doctor applied restoratives and he revived sufficiently to state that on account of the rain he was taking the shortest cut through the alley to the express office with a twenty thousand dollar package. “He stated that only the cashier, the teller, the bookkeeper and porter were in the bank when the package was made up; also that he was not aware of being watched either on his entrance to the bank or egress from the same. ~ “He was assaulted from the rear. Tfcfc robber stole up behind him and struck-him-' a fearful blow slightly to the right pf.tpe center of the head. His soft hat probably saved his life. The scalp' w'a'A ciit through, but there is no fracture. cr -'\ “Elsworth stated that hg., encountered’ but one man in going from the bank and; that he passed him before‘"reaching the. alley. As he turned into tfbe : alley, this map was a few feet behind-him. Be glanced toward him, he, waa of a dark complexion, black hajr and mustache, was well dressed, * #ofe a derby, had on a dark sack coat ahd was ‘harrying both a cane and umbrella. ■♦*.« • “ “He believes that &&ya>.'bae*' loaded, and that the man stealthily jg£ole up behind him, struck bltfw that rendered him unconscious, seeUted thwack 1 age and fled.” y , -r - f *** “The rain,” said Mr. ‘fwoHld have rendered it an easy matter.” ~ rr , if “Of course,” said the Inspector, worth had but a hasty glaaCC at the* Alan’s ‘ features. His umbrella was raised, and’ as the agent glanced toward he tißcd it .forward, so he might not be able, to identify him.” ' * ' ' ■; “A large or small man?” asked the banker. »*-<*■ ‘ “About five feet,; eighty; Elsworth* thought—lie height of the teller here,*’! should say. Yes, and of his complexion. Lucky, young man, that I know who you are, and that you were in tfi6 'bknklaf ttie time'the assault was committed, ffiFyhu would just about fill Klsywrth’-s description. Only he stated ,th*± vm%naafipeared all of forty yAri oT age.” “Fortunate for m*?- tfiW,” 1 sa'id' ’ Ears. “that I remained in th« bonk Adfil ttf' WSs closed, and that -Ma. 84oan, myself and the P° r t£|v || dg^rJgj^ v in a £QM£ “Yes,” Bald Terry, “and a patrol wagon dashed by us ere we had covered a block.” “I saw you,” said the inspector. “I was in the wagon. y We were then on our way to the scene of the crime.” “Twenty thousand is a good haul for the highwayman, and a big loss,” observed Mr. Kellogg. “Oh, no loss to you,” stated Agent Andrews. “You hold our receipt.” “It will be no loss to the company,” the inspector said. “We will have the thief mi money also, within, twenty-four hours. - J £ *

Our whole detective force and u half the police are on the case now.” , r “Might it’ not have hangeron about the saloons of the neighharhoqd who committed the crime?” asked Terry: “No,” said the ibspector; “though the places are being investigated.” “Let us go, Mr. Andrews,” he contio- , p*d. “We can learn nothing here. I wiflM drive over west add see the porter. know where he resides. 'He may have noted some loiterer about the bank.” 3 i VHe would have been more apt to do,yct ’than any other connected with it,” observed Mr. Kellogg. t'“ “You have a schedule of the bills that made up that package, Mr. Terry?’" “Why, yes, of the banks; but not as to the number engraved on the bills.”. “No tracing the bills then. All the more importance of speedy action.” “I sincerely regret this misfortune that has befallen your company, Mr. .Andrews,” said the Jnutker at the outer door, '“but—’" “Oh, my dear sir, I am aware of that)’* returned the agent. “Rest assured that we regard you as one of our best friends. Twenty thousand dollars will leave our office for the Central Bank of Milwaukee at eight o’clock to-night, and though the packages will not contain the bills Elisworth receipted’ for,” I assure you the money will meet the demands of the Central’s draft.” “Many thanks!”, exclaimed the banker. “And any aid we can render yoH in bringing the wretch t;o the bar of justice <and ‘reetrveripg the'money, will be gladly ren'deredf’ .. “I know it.’*_ ... * A* moment later Andrews and the inspector were Be&ted in their carriage, which passed,from,view as Robert enter:, ed the jgqte- * “Why, father, what——” “Wait, boy; there is the bell summoning us to. tea. .1 will have to go over'it all at. the table. Come.” • > i * As the party proceeded to £he dining ’ room, even accompanied by Janette, EUnor Kellogg and her soil managed to loiter behind. ‘ . j There was an appearance of great anxiety on the pkft of the widow, but the smile fend satisfied expression on the.countenance of her son, caused it to be dispersed in an instant, and as they entered this dining room these three words nearly ‘escaped from the madam’s lips: “All is well.” 3 r ,IT<? be continued.) 9 \