The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 283: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY. the best girl in the land to promise to be my wife.” Mrs. Pomeroy wiped her eves, after the worst of the shock was over, and looked at the cloek, and at the peace- ful-looking lamp on the mantel, which sported a new chimney. 219 “You dare!” she breathed, shaking a nervous fist at the lamp. The clock ticked busily on. Four o'clock came and went, and nothing happened. Mrs. Poineroyv sat down im the kitchen window to watch the bend of the read. THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY. BY SEWARD W. HOPKINS. The man who lost his fortune, and the varying vicissitudes through which he passed in endeavoring to earn his bread. EE Ee Ee oe ee ee ee SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. JAMES MERRILL, of Chicago, who tells the story, loses his fortune through the treachery of those he trusted. He goes to New York and tries in vain to obtain a position, just as he has endeavored to do ‘im his native city. In a boarding-house he falls in with one Jarvis, a gambler, who has rather peculiar views of honesty. But he treats Merriil white, and is indirectly the means of his obtaining a position with the Mutual Bankimg Refund Association, of which Peter Wilkins is at the head. Although Merrill does not quite understand all the methods of the concern, he consents to enter it, and his gentlemanly manners and ability as a letter writer contribute in big measure to the success of the enterprise. Merrill becomes a shining light in society, a feature in his life much encouraged by his partner, Wilkins, and when he announces his engagement to Marjorie Elsmere, the daughter of the president of the great Metropolis Bank, Wilkins’ delight is unbounded. About this time another get-rich-quick concern goes to the wall, but Wilkins declares this is only the just fate of an imitator. other side just before the affairs of the concern reach a crisis. He proposes extending their field of operation to London, and departs for the Merrill 13 arrested on a warrant sworn out by several dissatisfied depositors and then discovers that Wilkins has decamped with all the funds from the bank, leaving him to face jail and a very ugly condition of affairs. CHAPTER VIII. TWO YEARS IN SING SING. OT until I was lodged ina cell at the police station did I begin to real- ize the extent of the disaster that had befallen me. “ Officer, this is an outrage on an honest man!” I said. “* May I not have the privilege of sending to my friends ?”’ “ D’no,” answered the policeman. “I ain’t heard no request made to do 1t.” “But I would like to despatch a note to Mr. Elsmere, president of the Me- tropolis Bank.” “Friend of yours?” “ Certainly; my prospective father- in-law.” * Well—will he help ve out?” “Yes, he is verv weaithy and promi- nent in financial circles. I wish I could get a letter to him at once.” AT Te TA * Well—er—Iod have to do it on my own time. Is it worth anything? ” Tl eive you five dollars.” “All rmght. Dil go in an hour.” I turned to my dreary cell, thinking that an hour or two at the most would be the limit of mv disyrace. The eap- tain had shown no feeling of compas- sion, but berated me for stealing from the poor. In an hour the policeman returned with pencil and pad. | wrote to Mr. IeIsmere, telling hin where I was and explaining matters generally. It was late in the dav when the police- Inan came on duty ayain. “JT gave Mr. Elsmere vour letter,” he sald. “What did he say?” “ Didn't say nothing. Just grunted.” ““ But he has not come. Did he sav nothing at all?” *This story began in the December tssue of THE ARGOSY, which will be mailed to any address on receipt of 10 cents. rere gle COLIMIG ) DOO SS) (GO) awa in